Spanish Proverbs and Sayings

Traditional proverbs (refranes) and sayings (dichos) that reflect Spanish-speaking culture and wisdom.

Common Proverbs

No dejes para mañana lo que puedes hacer hoy. Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today. (Don't procrastinate)

Más vale tarde que nunca. Better late than never.

A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda. God helps those who wake up early. (The early bird gets the worm)

Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres. Tell me who you walk with and I'll tell you who you are. (You are the company you keep)

En boca cerrada no entran moscas. Flies don't enter a closed mouth. (Silence is golden / Keep quiet to avoid trouble)

Wisdom and Life Lessons

No es oro todo lo que reluce. Not everything that shines is gold. (All that glitters is not gold)

Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando. Better one bird in hand than a hundred flying. (A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush)

Al mal tiempo, buena cara. In bad weather, good face. (Keep a positive attitude in hard times)

Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho. From saying to doing there's a long stretch. (Easier said than done)

Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente. The shrimp that falls asleep gets carried by the current. (You snooze, you lose)

Effort and Work

La práctica hace al maestro. Practice makes the master. (Practice makes perfect)

El que persevera, alcanza. He who perseveres, achieves.

No hay mal que por bien no venga. There's no bad from which good doesn't come. (Every cloud has a silver lining)

Querer es poder. To want is to be able. (Where there's a will, there's a way)

Relationships

Amor con amor se paga. Love is paid with love.

Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente. Eyes that don't see, heart that doesn't feel. (Out of sight, out of mind)

Perro que ladra no muerde. Dog that barks doesn't bite. (His bark is worse than his bite)

Caution and Prudence

Mejor prevenir que lamentar. Better to prevent than to lament. (Better safe than sorry)

No hay que vender la piel del oso antes de cazarlo. Don't sell the bear's skin before hunting it. (Don't count your chickens before they hatch)

Hombre prevenido vale por dos. Forewarned man is worth two. (Forewarned is forearmed)

Short Wisdom

A mal tiempo, buena cara. (Stay positive in tough times)

Haz bien y no mires a quién. Do good and don't look at whom. (Do good deeds without expecting anything)

Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos. Raise crows and they'll peck out your eyes. (No good deed goes unpunished / Be careful who you help)

Regional Sayings

Al pan, pan y al vino, vino. (Spain) Call bread bread and wine wine. (Call it like it is / Be straightforward)

Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda. Even if the monkey dresses in silk, it remains a monkey. (You can't change your true nature)

Practice