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SPANISH PROVERBS

          Maybe as old as language itself, proverbs (better known as "dichos" o "refranes") are used by every culture to transmit generation after generation popular wisdom. They are easy to learn and when used properly teach a lesson to those who listen them.

 

 

          You will find intriguing the mention of candles, donkeys, saints, etc. Those were common things to talk about several years ago and still are part of life on some communities. You also will be surprised of how much you can learn about the Latin-American culture if you take some time and analyze them carefully.

 

          Here are some of the thousands that exist. It is hard to be accurate on the translations, but you will get the idea.

 

  • Más vale prevenir que lamentar.

    Explanation: It is better to be safe than to be sorry.

  • Perro que ladra no muerde. / Barking dogs seldom bite.

  • Mucho ruido, pocas nueces. / Too much noise, but too few nuts.

    Explanation: Too many threats or words, too few actions.

  • Al que madruga Dios lo ayuda. / God helps he who wakes up early.

  • A Dios rogando y con el palo dando. / Ask to God and hit at the same time 

    Explanation: If you work hard God will help you.

  • Farol de la calle, obscuridad de tu casa / There is a lighthouse on the street, but darkness at home.

    Explanation: Said when people don't practice what they preach.


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  • Con tiempo y un ganchito, hasta las de arriba bajan. / With patience and a bait, those (ladies) from upstairs may come down.

    Explanation: With some patience and effort, even the impossible can be done. Where there is a will, there is a way.

  • Si te digo que la burra es pinta, es por que tengo los pelos en la mano. / If I am saying that the donkey is gray, is because I have it's fur in my hand.

    Explanation: People may say this when they have proof of what they say.

  • Ni tanto que queme al santo, ni tan poco que no lo alumbre. 

    Explanation: Don't give either too much or too little.

  • Más vale malo por conocido que bueno por conocer / It is better to keep something old and bad but known, than something new and good but unknown.

    Explanation: People fear change, and they rather stay with known bad things than try new and good ones.

  • Más vale pájaro en mano que un ciento volando / A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

    Explanation: It is better to have one sure thing, that unreachable dreams.


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  • Nomás ven burro y se les ofrece viaje. / As soon as people sees a donkey they have a need to travel.

  • Ahora que ven a Dios bajito... / Now that God is closer... people take advantage of him.

    Explanation: Said when people are opportunistic.

  • La burra no era arisca, la hicieron a palos / The donkey is not hostile by nature, it became hostile after being beaten.

    Explanation: If people don't trust it is because of previous bad experiences.

  • Menos burros, más olotes / The smaller the number of donkeys (people) to compete against, the bigger the quantity of corn for each of them.

    Explanation: If there are less competitors, the ones that compete get more. (lets say, a bigger slice of the market)

  • Más vale gota que dure y no chorro que se acabe. / It is better a drop that lasts than a spout that ends soon.

  • Más vale paso que dure y no trote que canse. / Better walk for a while than run and get tired soon.

    Explanation: Use wisely your resources, or you may run out of them.

  • No todo lo que brilla es oro. / Not everything that shines is gold.

    Explanation: Some things are too good to be true.

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  • Cría cuervos y te sacaran los ojos. / Raise crows and they will peck your eyes

    Explanation: If you spoil your children, they will eventually hurt you.

  • Siembra vientos y cosecharás tempestades. / If you sow winds, you will harvest storms.

    Explanation: Gossips can get you in big trouble.

  • Piensa mal y acertarás. / Think that people are doing wrong and you will be right.

    Explanation: Be aware, people are bad by nature.

  • Hijo de tigre, pintito. / Son of the tiger has stripes

  • De tal palo tal astilla. / Like father, like son.

  • A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores / Fisherman make their day in troubled waters. 

    Explanation: People take advantage of troubled times. 

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  • El que nace para tamal, las hojas le caen del cielo.  / Corn leafs fall from the sky for whom is destined to be a "tamal" .

  • El que nace para maceta, del corredor no pasa. / He who was born to be a flowerpot, will always be in the hall

    Explanation: Said when some people, by nature, just can't do better and their destiny is written.

  • La familia y el sol, entre más lejos mejor. / The family and the sun, the farther, the better.

    Explanation: Stay away from parents when married.

  • Tanto va el cantarito al pozo hasta que se rompe. / So many times the little pot goes  to the well, that it eventually breaks.

  • Fué la gota que derramó el vaso. / The drop that spilled the glass of water.

    Explanation: People have a limited patience.

  • Salir de Guatemala para entrar a Guatepeor. / To get out of Guate"mala" just to get into Guate"peor"

    Explanation: Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

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  • La verdad no peca pero incomoda. / To tell the truth is not a sin, but it is uncomfortable to others.

    Explanation: Truth hurts.

  • Más vale tarde que nunca. / Better late than never.

  • Cuando el río suena, es que agua lleva. / When the river sounds, is because there's water in it.

    Explanation: There is truth on rumors.

  • Palo dado ni Dios lo quita. / Not even God is able to take away a hit already received.

    Explanation: The past can't be erased.

  • El que no oye consejos no llega a viejo. / If you don't follow advice, you won't live enough to get old.

    Explanation: Consider advice to have a safe, long life.

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  • Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo. / More know the devil because of being old, than for being the devil.

    Explanation: Experience is more important than any title.

  • No porque madruges amanece más temprano. / The sun won't rise sooner just because you got up earlier.

    Explanation: There are events in life that have their own timing.

  • El que en pan piensa, hambre tiene. / He who is hungry only thinks about bread.

    Explanation: Your acts reveal your intentions. 

  • Dime con quién andas y te dire quién eres. / Tell me who you are with, and I will tell you who you are.

  • El que con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña. / If you get along with wolves. you will learn to howl.

    Explanation: The people you are with influence who you are, and what you do.

  • Como es el sapo es la pedrada. / The size of the rock depends on the size of the frog.

    Explanation: The solution must be appropriate to the problem.

 

And remember....         

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  ( Family issues must be discussed within the family.)