Spanish Proverbs I

A

* A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando
o Translation: Praying to God but hitting with the mallet
o Interpretation: Pray to God but also do your part (work for it). This is the right interpretation of this proverb, or at least the only one officially accepted by the Real Academia de la Lengua (Spanish normative language regulation institution).
o Interpretation: Hypocrisy: being religious and at the same time not being good to other people. While this interpretation is widely spread among Spanish speakers, it is a common mistake, which is neither right nor officially accepted by the Real Academia de la Lengua (Spanish normative language regulation institution).
o Interpretation: Beg from God but never forget to strike your blows with your hammer.
o Italian: "Aiutati che Dio ti aiuta" , which is the same "Pray to God but also do your part", even is in a less violent way.


* A donde fueres, haz lo que vieres/Allá donde fueres, haz lo que vieres
o Translation: 'To where you go, do the things you see'
o Interpretation: Adapt yourself to the local customs.
o Equivalent English proverb: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."


* A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente/colmillo/dentado or A caballo regalado no le mires los dientes.
o Translation: Do not check the teeth of a horse given as a present
o Interpretation: Do not search for faults in a gift
o Equivalent English proverb: "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."


* A carro entornado, todos son caminos.
o Translations:
+ To a car that's half closed to your destiny to hell, all are roads.
+ To an upset wagon all are roads.
(entornado: turned inwards, twisted, overturned; carro: carriage, cart, wagon)
o Interpretations:
+ To the confused, panicked, gullible, or half-educated person, all answers seem equally valid.
+ To a corrupt person, everyone is a road (useable.)


* A enemigo que huye, puente de plata.
o Translations:
+ For fleeing enemies, a silver bridge.
o Interpretations:
+ To get rid of people you don't like sometimes you have to "help" them to leave.
+ Gallantry assists a defeated foe. (Don't kick adversaries when they're down.)
+ Insult a defeated enemy with silver bridges of ridicule.
+ Don't let the door hit you in the rump.


* Agua de mayo, pan para todo el año.
o Translation: 'Water in May, bread for the whole year'
o Interpretation: When it rains in May, there're good crops.

* Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
o Translations:
+ Water you should not drink, let it flow.
+ Water you are not going to drink, let it run
+ Let waters you will not be drinking run freely.
o Interpretations:
+ If you don't need something, leave it for others to use; be generous; avoid greed.
+ Don't take that which is not rightly yours.
+ Avoid dangerous situations; avoid foreseeable problems.
+ Save some for the fish.
+ Don't get in other people business
+ Don't take or covet something that doesn't belong to you or it's out of your reach.
+ Do not hoard what you can't or won't use.

* A la tercera va la vencida
* Translation: 'Third try is the successful one.'
* interpretation: You may fail in doing something, but you will have success on the third try.
o Equivalent English proverb: "Third time's a charm"


* Al buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.
o Translation: A good listener needs few words.
o Interpretations:
+ Erudition is brevity.
+ To a good listener, few words are enough (understanding comes easy).
+ To a careful listener, interpreting hidden or inferred meanings, oftentimes of veiled implications or innuendo, is easy;
o Equivalent English proverbs:
+ "Brevity is the soul of wit."
+ "Read between the lines."
+ "A word to the wise is sufficient."
+ "Talk less. Listen more."


* Al mal tiempo, buena cara
o Translation: Put a nice face to the bad times.
o Interpretation: Be positive even in bad situations.


* Al que le van a dar, le guardan y si llega tarde, le calientan
o Translation: He who is to receive, some is saved for him, and if he is late, it will be warmed up again.
o Interpretation:
+ Sometimes, people tend to get stuck with ideas and principles and make way for them through rain and storm.
o Whatever is meant for you, will be for you sooner or later


* A rey muerto, rey puesto
o Translation: 'To a dead king, a king crowned.'
o Interpretation: in monarchies it was important to have a continuous succession line. A new King was named right after the old one passed.
o Everyone is replaceable.


* A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
o Alt: A falta de pan, galletas
o Alt: A falta de pan, tortillas (Mexico, Guatemala)
o Alt: A falta de pan, casabe (República Dominicana)
o Translations:
+ If there's no bread, cakes will do.
+ In place of bread, cakes are good.
+ Alt. Trans.: If there's no bread, have crackers
o Interpretations:
+ Settle for the next best thing.
+ Beggars can't be choosers.
+ In times of need, kindness is especially sweet.
o Equivalent English proverb: "Any port in a storm."


* A papaya puesta, papaya partida. (Colombian saying)
o Alt: No hay que dar papaya...y a papaya puesta, papaya partida
o Translation: papaya that is served, papaya that is eaten
o Interpretation: If you leave yourself open to abuse, people will abuse you.

* A lo hecho, pecho.
o Translation: Of that which is/you have done, (take it on the) chest.
o Interpretations:
+ Accept the consequences of what you do (to the chest; like a man).
+ Deeds are honor; claim your victories.
o Equivalent English proverbs:
+ "Face the music."
+ "Take it like a man."


* A perro flaco, todo son pulgas.
o Translation: To a skinny dog, all are fleas.
o Interpretations:
+ If/when you are weak, it will seem that only problems surround you.
+ To the weak of character, all responsibilities are irritating.
+ To misers, all are parasites.
o Equivalent English proverbs:
+ "Misery loves company."


* A perro flaco se le suben las pulgas.
o Alt: A perro enfermo se le suben las pulgas.
o Translations:
+ Fleas jump on a skinny dog.
+ Fleas jump on a sick dog.
o Interpretations:
+ The weak attract problems.
+ To the weak of character everyone is irritating.


* Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza
o Translation: a tree that is born twisted never grows straight
o Interpretation:
+ It is hard to break old habits.
o Equivalent English proverb: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
o Equivalent English proverb: "As the twig is bent, the tree will lean."


* A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.
o Alt: Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.
o Alt Variation: Al que madruga, dios le ayuda; el que se apendeja dios lo deja. (A play with words that rhyme)
o Translations:
+ God helps those who get up early.
+ Alt.Var:God helps those who get up early, and leaves those who are too late
o Interpretations:
+ Initiative will be rewarded.
o Equivalent English proverbs:
+ "The early bird gets the worm."
+ "God helps those who help themselves."


* A quien Dios no da hijos, el diablo le da sobrinos.
o Translation:'If God doesn't give children to you, the devil will give you nephews'


* Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.
o Alt: Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona siempre queda.
o Translations: Although the monkey dresses in silk, she is still a monkey.
o Equivalent English proverb: "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
o Equivalent U.S.A. Interpretation: You can't take the ghetto out of them.
o Equivalent: A piggy with lipstick, stilla piggy

B

* Barriga llena, corazón contento.
* Barriga llena, no hay pena.
o Translation: "Full stomach, happy heart."
o Interpretations:
+ When one has eaten enough/much, one is happy.
+ Satisfaction ensures compliance.
+ Satisfy desires and ensure cooperation/dominance/security.

* Bueno es culantro, pero no tanto.
* Bueno es el cilantro, pero no tanto.
o Translation: Spices are good but not too much
o Interpretations:
+ There's no need to overdo it.
+ Garnishes are no substitute for the main course.
o Equivalent English proverbs:
+ "All things in moderation."
+ "Too much of a good thing."

C

* Caballo grande, ande o no ande
o Translation: 'Big horse, whether or not it can trot'
o Interpretation: A good thing, even if it can't do something basic


* Cae más rápido un hablador que un cojo.
o Alt:Se atrapa mas rápido a un hablador que a un cojo
o Alt:Se atrapa mas rápido a un mentiroso que a un cojo
o Translation: A loudmouth/big-talker will fall (on his face) faster than one legged man.
o Interpretations:
+ A braggart will quickly be revealed as a fraud when he can't back up what he says.


* Calladita se ve más bonita.
o Translation: You look prettier when you're quiet.
o Interpretations:
+ If you can't say anything nice (or intelligent), don't say anything at all

That's not very accurate. It is more like saying, if you don't know what you are talking about, you shouldn't express your opinion because you'll look stupid (and less attractive because of it) whereas the above translation is more about how you shouldn't give negative opinions because it is rude.


* Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente.
o Translation: The shrimp that falls asleep is swept away by the current.
o Interpretations:
+ You should never take things for granted nor cease to make an effort.
+ The unwary are overtaken (by events, progress, circumstance).
+ Don't rest on your laurels - you snooze, you lose.


* Caras vemos, corazones no sabemos.
* Alt: Se ven las caras pero nunca el corazón
o Translation: Faces we (can) see, hearts we don't/can't know.
o Interpretations:
+ We know what someone looks like but not what he thinks or feels.
+ Appearance can be deceiving.
+ Treachery can show a friendly face.
+ Don't judge a book by its cover.


* Casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
* Alt: En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
o Translation: In a blacksmith's house all knives are wooden
o Interpretations:
+ Someone doesn't work for him/herself.
+ Someone doesn't know how to apply their knowledge to their own life.
+ A strange circumstance

Equivalent in English:- "The cobbler's wife/children goes unshod".


* Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
o Translation: Raise crows and they will peck your eyes out.
o Interpretations:
+ People can be ungrateful - even if you hand-raise a crow, it can still peck out your eyes
+ If you take care of / raise / tolerate inherently indecent people, they will still take advantage of you at the end.
+ See also: Aesop's tale of the man and the frozen snake.


* Crea fama y acuéstate a dormir.
o Alt: Coge buena fama y échate a dormir.
o Translation: Create fame, and go to sleep.
o Interpretations:
+ First impressions go a long way.
+ Do things right the first time and your tranquility is assured.
+ Create something that brings you fame and live off the royalties.


* Cree que es la última coca-cola en el desierto.
o Translation: He/she thinks he/she is the last Coke in the desert.


* Al que no quiere caldo se le dan dos tazas
o Translation: Two rations are served to whom does not want any
o Interpretation: Sometimes is life you receive a double portion of something that you don't want, ie, a lesson that needs to be learned.

* "Cuando el mal es de cagar no vale guayaba verde."
o Translation: When you have diarrhia, Green Guava doesn't help. (Green guayas are said to give constipation)
o Interpretation: Too late to fix it.
+ English equivalent: "Too Little, Too Late"

* "Cuando el grajo vuela bajo hace un frío de carajo".
o Translation: When ravens are seen flyng low, it is cold for the sake of a prick.
o Interpretation: In a country context, seeing the way ravens fly is a clue for deducing the weather.


* Cuando el indio va de culo, no hay barranco que lo ataje.
o Translation: When the Indian (pejorative, meaning 'a fool') slides / falls on his butt, there is no ravine to escape through.
o Interpretations:
+ Stupid people trap themselves.
+ When a knave has other motives there's no way to stop him.


* Cuando el río suena, agua lleva.
o Translation: When the river makes noise, (is because) it's carrying water.
o Interpretations:
+ Every rumour has probably a true part.
+ English: Where there's smoke, there's fire.


* Cuando toca, toca.
o Alt: Cuando te toca, te toca.
o Translations:
+ When it's your time, it's your time.
+ When your time is up, it touchs you, it affects you.
o Interpretations:
+ You can't avoid some things / You can't escape fate.
+ You will get what you deserve.
+ When your time is up, it's up.


* Cura Gatica, predica pero no practica [Chile]
o Alt: El padre Gatica predica pero no practica
o Alt: El cura predica pero no aplica
o Translations: Priest Gatica preaches but doesn't practice (what he preaches) [Word game by rhyme]
o Interpretations: What he says is not what he does.
+ He doesn't practice what he preaches.
# Practice what you preach

D

* Dando dando palomita volando
o cuando le pasas algo a alguien y el te lo pasa a ti al mismo tiempo o en ese mismo instante
o Translation: You give it to me and I give it to you on the spot, no laters
+ Interpretacion: to hand over something to some one and viceversa at the same time or on the spot


* Dame pan y llámame tonto.
o Translation: 'Give me bread and call me stupid.'
o Interpretation: There's no problem if you call me stupid so long as you remember to give me bread to eat.
o English: Sticks and stones ... or Call me what you like, just don't call me late for dinner.


* Del árbol caído todos hacen leña.
o Translation: 'Everyone makes lumber from a fallen tree.'
o Interpretations:
+ Anyone can make a profit from someone's disgrace.
+ Opportunities need to be taken when they show up.
+ It is always easy to benefit from the loss of others.


* Del dicho al hecho hay un mucho buen trecho.
o Alt: Entre el dicho y el hecho hay un buen trecho.
o Alt: Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
o Alt: De decir a hacer hay mucho que ver.
o Translation: Between word and deed, there's a wide trench (journey).
o Interpretation:
+ Easier said than done.
+ There's a big difference between what people say and what they do.
+ Between saying and doing there is a great gap.


* De perdidos, al río. [Spain]
o Translation:'Since we are lost, let's go to the river'
o Interpretarion: Sentence used when people accept that something wrong is going to happen.


* De tal palo, tal astilla.
o Translation: 'A chip off the old block.'
o Translation: 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.'
o Interpretations:
+ This is mostly used to say that kids are just like their parents, good or bad.

* Dime de qué te alabas, y te diré de qué padeces.
o Alt: Dime de qué presumes y te diré de qué careces.
o Translations:
+ Tell me what you praise yourself of, and I'll tell you what you suffer from.
+ Tell me what you boast about and I'll tell you what you lack.


* Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres.
o Translation: Tell me who you hang around with and I'll tell you who you are.
o Interpretation: Your choice of friends or associates is sign of your character.
o Interpretation: Birds of a feather flock together.


* Divide y vencerás
o Translation: Divide and conquer


* Pueden más dos tetas que dos carretas.
o Alt: Pelo de cuca jala más que un tractor.
o Translation:
+ Two tits are mightier than two wagons.
+ A woman's pubic hair pulls more than a tractor.
o Interpretation:
+ The ability of women to get things in their favor due to their beauty and sexuality.

* Donde caben dos, caben tres.
o Translation: Where there is room for two there is room for three.


* Donde las dan, las toman.
o Translation: 'Where they give things, they can take them too'.
o Interpretation: Sentence used as a threat when some one wants to pay somebody back.


* Donde menos se piensa, salta la liebre.
o Translation: Hares always jump where they are least expected.

* Dios los cría y ellos se juntan.
o Translation: God makes them and they look for each other
o Translation: God raises them and they meet each other
o English equivalent: "Birds of a feather flock together."


* Dios castiga pero no a palos.
o Translation: God can punish but not with a stick


* Dios le da pan al que no tiene dientes
o Translation: God gives bread to whom can not bite
o Interpretation:
+ Used to complain about your own luck in comparison to a third person.
+ It has the meaning: I deserve something more than him, but luck is on his side


* Donde hay llanto, ahí está el muerto
o
+ Where there is crying, there is a corpse.
# Interpretation: this means that when people don't want to pay back, they are going to put a lot of excuses; for example: my aunt died, my car broke down, my dog had surgery, I just paid the rent, my house burned down ... they just don't want to pay back

E

* El flojo trabaja el doble
* El perezoso trabaja el doble
o Translation: The lazy works twice.
o Equivalent English Proverb: Lazy works twice as hard.


* El cojo le echa la culpa al empedrado.
o Translation: The crippled blames the cobblestones.
o Interpretation: A person will blame his misfortune on circumstances or other people rather than accept that he is to blame.


* El hábito no hace al monje.
o Translation: Cowl does not make the friar.
o Idiomatic translation: Don't judge the book by its cover. Or clothes don't make the man


* El perro del hortelano (que ni come, ni deja comer al amo).
o Translation: The farmer's dog (that neither eats, nor lets his master eat).
o Equivalent English proverb:
+ "The dog in the manger".

El que no oye consejo no lleva a viejo.

* Translation: He who does not listen to advice never gets old.
* Don't listen to people.

* El que calla, otorga.
o Translation: He who keeps quiet, grants/consents.
o Interpretation: Those who keep quiet after getting accused, usually admit guilt with their silence. Also used to imply that people that are asked something and remain quiet are silently accepting.


* El que madruga coge agua clara.
o Translation: He who rises early gathers clear water.
o Interpretation: First come, first served.
o Equivalent English Proverb: Early bird gets the worm.


* El que va piano, va lontano (mixed Spanish and Italian)
* Chi va piano, va lontano (quoted in Italian when speaking Spanish)
* Alt: Paso a paso se llega lejos
o Translation: Walk safe and slow to go far and well.
o Equivalent English Proverb: Slow and steady wins the race.


* El que todo lo quiere saber...todo lo quiere contar
o Translation: He who wants to know it all... wants to say it all.


* El que busca encuentra
o Alt:Buscar lo que no se ha perdido
o Translation: Who looks for something will find it


* El que quiera pescado que se moje el culo
o Translation: Anyone who wants fish should go get his/her butt wet.
o Interpretation: If you want something, get it yourself.


* El que sabe sabe
o Translation: Who knows knows


* El que no transa, no avanza.
* OR: Si no transas, no avanzas.
o Translation: He who doesn't scheme, doesn't get ahead. OR If you don't scheme, you don't get ahead.
o Interpretation: Usually used as a justification for illegal or questionable activities.


* El tiempo perdido los santos lo lloran
o Translation: The wasted time is cried for by the saints.
o Interpretation: time is money
+ be productive


* En abril, aguas mil
o Translation: 'In April, it rains a lot.'


* En boca cerrada, no entran moscas
o Translation: 'In a shut mouth, flies cannot get in'
o Interpretation: Sometimes silence is the best option.
+ Equivalent English proverb: Silence is golden.


* En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
o Direct Translation: In the house of a blacksmith, wooden knife.
o Interpretation:
+ Not always what he preaches is what he practices.
+ What should be, happens not to be.
+ That which is expected is not the case.
+ Looks may be deceiving
+ Equivalent English proverb: The cobbler's children go barefoot. OR The cobblers children run without shoes


* En guerra avisada no muere soldado.
* Alt: Guerra avisada, no mata gente.
o Translation: In a scheduled war, no soldiers will die.
o Interpretation: You've been warned so do not complain about the consecuences.


* En la sala una dama, una puta en la cama.
o Translation: In the living room a lady, a whore in bed. (Proverb of advice for brides to be)
o Interpretation: A lady in public and a freak in the bedroom.


* En tierra de ciegos el tuerto es rey
* Alt: En el país de los ciegos el tuerto es rey
o Translation: In land of blind people a one-eyed person is king
o Interpretation:
+ One eye will make you king so long as others are blind.
+ The value of your capacities is relative, and depends on the context.
+ Usually used for making vain people to come back to reality.


* Es más fácil ver la paja en ojo ajeno que la viga en el propio (taken from the Bible, Matthew, 7:3-5)
o Translation: It's easier to see the straw in someone else than the beam in oneself
o Interpretation:
+ Normally you see defects on other people easier than in yourself