December 5, 2024

Say it in Spanish: 35 proverbs that pack a punch

  1. A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.
    • “God helps those who rise early.” (Early risers have advantages.)
  2. Más vale tarde que nunca.
    • “Better late than never.” (It’s better to do something late than not at all.)
  3. El que no arriesga, no gana.
    • “He who doesn’t take risks, doesn’t win.” (You must take risks to achieve success.)
  4. Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
    • “The shrimp that falls asleep is carried away by the current.” (If you’re not alert, you may miss opportunities.)
  5. A mal tiempo, buena cara.
    • “In bad times, put on a good face.” (Stay positive in difficult situations.)
  6. Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
    • “Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are.” (Your companions reflect your character.)
  7. El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
    • “He who embraces too much, holds little.” (Trying to do too much can lead to failure.)
  8. No hay mal que por bien no venga.
    • “There is no bad from which good does not come.” (Every negative situation has a positive aspect.)
  9. La avaricia rompe el saco.
    • “Greed breaks the sack.” (Greed can lead to one’s downfall.)
  10. Cuando el río suena, agua lleva.
    • “When the river sounds, it carries water.” (Rumors often have some truth.)
  11. El que tiene boca se equivoca.
    • “He who has a mouth makes mistakes.” (Everyone makes mistakes; it’s part of being human.)
  12. Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
    • “Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel.” (What you don’t know won’t hurt you.)
  13. A caballo regalado no le mires el diente.
    • “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” (Don’t criticize a gift.)
  14. En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
    • “In the house of the blacksmith, a wooden knife.” (People often lack what they have the skills to create.)
  15. Quien mucho duerme, poco aprende.
    • “He who sleeps too much learns little.” (You must be active to learn.)
  16. A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
    • “To foolish words, deaf ears.” (Ignore meaningless criticism.)
  17. El que ríe último, ríe mejor.
    • “He who laughs last, laughs best.” (The final outcome is what matters most.)
  18. Donde hay patrón, no manda marinero.
    • “Where there is a boss, the sailor does not command.” (In the presence of authority, others cannot take charge.)
  19. Más vale un pájaro en mano que cien volando.
    • “A bird in hand is worth more than a hundred flying.” (It’s better to have a sure thing than to risk it for more.)
  20. Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
    • “Water that you won’t drink, let it flow.” (Let go of things that don’t concern you.)
  21. No todo lo que brilla es oro.
    • “Not all that glitters is gold.” (Appearances can be deceiving.)
  22. El que no sabe es como el que no ve.
    • “He who does not know is like he who does not see.” (Ignorance is a disadvantage.)
  23. A buen hambre no hay mal pan.
    • “To a good hunger, there is no bad bread.” (When you’re really in need, you’ll take what you can get.)
  24. Las apariencias engañan.
    • “Appearances deceive.” (Things are not always as they seem.)
  25. Un clavo saca otro clavo.
    • “One nail drives out another.” (A distraction can help you get over a problem.)
  26. El que siembra vientos, cosecha tempestades.
    • “He who sows winds will harvest storms.” (Your actions can have serious consequences.)
  27. No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver.
    • “There is no worse blind man than he who does not want to see.” (People often ignore what they don’t want to accept.)
  28. Cruzarse de brazos.
    • “To cross one’s arms.” (To be inactive or to do nothing in the face of a problem.)