Spanish proverbs
Proverb Resources
Vignali's Lettera

Spanish proverbs and sayings
with their English equivalents

300 Proverbs and Sayings / Proverbios y Refranes
Compiled by / Compilado por Berta Alicia Chen
Revised 5 Aug 2000

SPANISH ENGLISH
A beber y a tragar, que el mundo se va a acabar. Eat, drink and be merry (for tomorrow we die).
A buen(a) hambre, no hay mal pan / pan duro, (ni falta salsa a ninguno) /no hace falta condimento.

A mucha hambre, no hay pan duro.

Al hambre de siete dias, no hay pan duro.

Beggars can't be choosers.

For a good appetite there is no hard bread.

A cada puerco le llega su sabado / San Martin. Everyone gets his comeuppance in the end / just deserts sooner or later.
A diario una manzana es cosa sana. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
A donde el corazon se inclina, el pie camina. Home is where the heart is.
A donde te quieren mucho no vengas a menudo. A constant guest is never welcome.
A falta de pan, buenas son (las) tortas / las tortas son buenas. We'll just have to make do.
A la ocasion la pintan calva. You have to make the most of the chances that come your way.

You have to strike while the iron is hot.

A los tontos no les dura el dinero. A fool and his money are soon parted.
A mas honor, mas dolor. The more danger, the more honor.
A palabras necias, oidos sordos. Take no notice of the stupid things people say.
A pan de quince dias, hambre de tres semanas. Beggars can't be choosers.

For a good appetite there is no hard bread.

Hunger is good kitchen.

Hunger is the best sauce.

Hunger never saw bad bread / food.

When one is hungry everything tastes good.

A quien cuida la peseta nunca le falta un duro. Look after the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves.
A quien Dios ama, le llama. Whom the gods love die young.
A quien no le sobra pan, no crie can. Never spend your money before you have it.
A quien Dios quiere para si, poco tiempo lo tiene aqui. Whom the gods love die young.
A rey muerto, rey puesto. As soon as one goes out the window, another comes in the door.
A todos les llega su momento de gloria. Every dog has its day.
Abundancia y soberbia andan en pareja. Plenty breed pride.
Al buen pagador no le duelen prendas. A good payer will not object to leaving a deposit.
Al desdichado hace consuelo tener compania en su suerte y duelo. Two in distress makes sorrow less.
Al freir sera el reir (y al pagar sera el llorar). At the game's end we shall see who gains.
Al que no quiera(e) caldo / taza, (se le dan) taza y media / dos / tres / siete tazas. It never rains, but it pours.
Al vivo la hogaza y al muerto, la mortaja. We must live by the living, not by the dead.
Algo es algo; menos es nada. Half a loaf is better than no bread.
Amar es tiempo perdido, si no se es correspondido.

Amar y no ser amado es tiempo mal empleado.

Amar, horas perdidas, sino son correspondidas.

Amor no correspondido, tiempo perdido.

Of all pains, the greatest pain, is to love, but love in vain.
Amigo y vino, el mas antiguo. Old friends and old wine and old gold are best.
Amor con amor se paga; y lo demas con dinero. Love does much, money does everything.
Amor no respeta ley, ni obedece a rey. Love laughs at locksmiths.
Aquellos polvos traen estos lodos. The chickens have come home to roost.

You're suffering the consequences now.

Ausencia al mas amigo presto le pone en olvido.

Ausencias causan olvido.

Long absent, soon forgotten.
Borra con el codo lo que escribe con la mano. Her left hand doesn't know what her right hand is doing.
Borron y cuenta nueva. Let bygones be bygones.
Cada uno en su casa, y Dios en la de todos. Each to his own and God watching over everyone.
Cada uno es / era de su padre y de su madre. They are / were all different.
Cada uno habla de la feria segun le va en ella. Everyone sees things from his / her own point of view.
Cada uno sabe (a) donde le aprieta el zapato. Each person knows where problems lie.
Chancho limpio nunca engorda. A few germs never hurt anyone.
Comer hasta enfermar y ayunar hasta sanar. He that eats till he is sick must fast till he is well.
Comida hecha, compania deshecha. When good cheer is lacking, our friends will be packing.
Comiendo entra la gana. Appetite comes with eating.
Como (que) dos y dos son cuatro. As sure as eggs is eggs / (God made) little green apples / night follows day / the day is long.
Como quien oye llover. It's like water off a duck's back.
Con el tiempo y la paciencia se adquiere la ciencia. Patience, time, and money accommodate all things.
Con esperanza no se come. Honor buys no meat in the market.

Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.

Con la honra no se pone la olla. Honor buys no meat in the market.
Con paciencia y con mana, un elefante se comio una arana.

Con paciencia y saliva, un elefante se tiro a una hormiga.

Little strokes fell great oaks.
Con su pan se lo coma. It's his / her own lookout / tough luck.
Con un cambio de actividad se renuevan las energias. A change is as good as a rest.
Consejo es de sabios perdonar injurias y olvidar agravios. To err is human, to forgive divine.
Consejo no pedido, consejo mal oido. Never give advice unasked.
Cortesia de boca gana mucho a poca costa / mucho consigue y nada cuesta.. A soft answer turneth away wrath.
Cria fama y echate a dormir. Give a dog a bad name (and hang it).
Cuando de vista te pierdo, si te vi ya no me acuerdo. Long absent, soon forgotten.
Cuando hay hambre, no hay mal pan / pan duro. Any port in a storm.

Beggars can't be choosers.

For a good appetite there is no hard bread.

Hunger is good kitchen.

Hunger is the best sauce.

Hunger never saw bad bread / food.

When one is hungry everything tastes good.

Cuando la fuerza manda, la ley calla. When drums beat, laws are silent.
Cuando menos piensa el galgo, salta la liebre. Things often happen when you least expect them to.

Where we least think, there goes the hare away.

Cuanto menos se diga, mejor / menos hay que rectificar. Least said, soonest mended.
Cumpla yo y tiren ellos. Do what is right, come what may.
Da lo mismo (una cosa que otra). (It's) Six of one (and half a dozen of the other).
Dame pan y dime tonto. I don't care what people say as long as I get what want.
De casi no se muere nadie. A miss is as good as a mile.
De cuerdo y loco todos tenemos un poco. We're all a little crazy in one way or another.
De lo perdido saca lo que puedas. Make the best of a bad bargain / bad job / bad situation / it.
De musico, poeta, y loco, todos tenemos un poco. We have been fools once in our lives.
De noche, (todos) los gatos son pardos. No one will notice (in the dark).
De (sabio) poeta y loco, todos tenemos un poco. We have been fools once in our lives.
De todo hay en la vina del Senor. There's nothing so queer as folk.
De un castigo, cien escarmentados. He that chastens one chastens twenty.
Desgracia compartida, menos sentida. Two in distress makes sorrow less.
Dime con quien andas, y te dire quien eres. You can judge a man by the company he keeps.
Dime no con quien naces, sino con quien paces. Birth is much, but breeding is more.
Dios que da la llaga, da la medicina. God sends cold after clothes.
Donde hay hambre, no hay pan duro. Any port in a storm.

Beggars can't be choosers.

For a good appetite there is no hard bread.

Donde hay humo, hay calor. There's no smoke without fire.

Where there's smoke, there's fire.

Donde hay patron, no manda marinero. What the boss says goes.
Donde menos piensa el galgo, salta la liebre. Things often happen when you least expect them to.

Where we least think, there goes the hare away.

Donde no hay harina, todo es mohina. Poverty breeds discontent.
El amor todo lo puede. Love will find a way.
El casado casa quiere.

El casado quiere casa, y costal para la plaza.

Married people need a home of their own.
El dinero llama (al) dinero. Money goes where money is.
El errar es humano, (el) perdonar, divino. To err is human, to forgive divine.
El exito llama al exito. Nothing succeeds like success.
El hambre no encuentra peros al condimento. Any port in a storm.

Beggars can't be choosers.

For a good appetite there is no hard bread.

Hunger is good kitchen.

Hunger is the best sauce.

Hunger never saw bad bread / food.

When one is hungry everything tastes good.

El ladron que roba a otro ladron tiene cien años de perdon. It's no crime to steal from a thief.
El mal entra a brazadas y sale a pulgaradas. Mischief comes by the pound and goes away by the ounce.
El mayor aborrecimiento, en el amor tiene su cimiento. The greatest hate springs from the greatest love.
El mejor halago es que lo imiten a uno. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
El movimiento se demuestra andando. Actions speak louder than words / voice.
El muerto al hoyo y le vivo al bollo. Dead men have no friends.
El mundo es de los audaces. Faint heart never won fair lady.
El mundo es un panuelo. (It's a) Small world!
El necio es atrevido y el sabio comedido. Fools rush / walk in where angels fear to tread.
El pecado se paga con la muerte. The wages of sin is death.
El que algo quiere, algo le cuesta. He that would have the fruit must climb the tree.
El que hace la paga. You've made bed, (and) now you'll have to / you must lie in it.
El que hurta / roba al / a un / otro ladron tiene cien años de perdon. It's no crime to steal from a thief.
El que la sigue la consigue. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
El que madruga coge la oruga. The early bird catches the worm.
El que nace para medio nunca llega a real. If you don't have what it takes you won't get on in the world.
El que nace para mulo del cielo le cae el arnes / policia del cielo le cae el bolillo. He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.

You can't escape your destiny.

El que no mira, no suspira. Long absent, soon forgotten.
El que no trabaje, que no coma. No bees, no honey; no work, no money.

No mill, no meal.

El que se fue a / para la villa perdio su silla y el que se fue a Torreon su sillon.

El que se fue a Sevilla, perdio su silla / para Quito perdio su banquito.

If you go away, you can't expect people to keep your place for you.

If you leave your place, you lose it.

El remedio puede ser peor que la enfermedad. Sometimes the remedy is worse than the disease.
El saber no ocupa lugar. One can never know too much.
El sol brilla para todos. We are all equal in the eyes of the Lord.
El tiempo lo cura todo. Time heals all wounds.

Time is a great healer.

El tiempo pasa inexorablemente. Time and tide wait for no man.
El tiempo restaura las heridas. Time heals all wounds.

Time is a great healer.

El trabajo compartido es mas llevadero. Many hands make light work.
El verdadero hogar es donde uno tiene a los suyos. Home is where the heart is.
El viejo que se cura, cien anos dura. A creaking door hangs longest.
En casa de carpintero, puerta de cuero.

En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.

The shoemaker's son always goes barefoot.
En el amor y la guerra, todo hueco es trinchera. Any port in a storm.
En el termino medio esta la virtud. More than enough is too much.
En esta vida caduca el que no trabaja no manduca. No bees, no honey; no work, no money.

No mill, no meal.

En las malas se conocen a los amigos. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
En los nidos de antano, no hay pajaros hogano. Things have changed.

Time doesn't stand still.

En tiempos de guerra, cualquier hoyo es trinchera. Any port in a storm.
Ensuciandose las manos, se puede hacer uno rico. Where there's muck, there's brass / money.
Entre bueyes no hay cornadas. There's honor among thieves.
Entre ruin ganado poco hay que escoger. Small choice in rotten apples.
Es como hablar a la pared. It's like talking to a brick wall.
Es el mismo perro con diferente collar. It's the same people under a different name.

Nothing has really changed.

Es igual uno que otro. (It's) Six of one (and half a dozen of the other).
Es peor el remedio que la enfermedad. It just makes things worse.
Espaldas vueltas, memorias muertas. Long absent, soon forgotten.
Excusa no pedida, la culpa manifiesta. He who excuses himself accuses himself.
Fue peor el remedio que la enfermedad. It just makes things worse.
Gusta lo ajeno, mas por ajeno que por bueno. The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence.
Hacer de tripas corazon. What can't be cured must be endured.
Hay de todo en la vina del Senor. Live and let live.

There's nothing so queer as folk.

Hay mas felicidad en dar que en recibir. It's more blessed to give than to receive.
Hay mucho mas donde elegir. There are plenty more fish in the sea.
Hay que dejar tiempo para el esparcimiento. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.
Hay ropa tendida. Walls have ears.
Haz el bien sin mirar a quien / y no acates / mires a quien. Do what is right, come what may.
Hierba mala nunca muere. The devil looks after himself / his own.
Hombre de muchos oficios, pobre seguro. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Hombre precavido, vale por dos. One good forewit is worth two afterwits.
La abundancia mata la gana. Abundance of things engenders disdainfulness.
La ausencia es al amor lo que al fuego el aire: que apaga el pequeño y aviva el grande.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
La comida, a reposar; y la cena a pasear. After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a mile.
La compania en la miseria hace a esta mas llevadera. Two in distress makes sorrow less.
La distancia es el olvido. Long absent, soon forgotten.
La ira es locura, el tiempo que dura. Anger is a short madeness.
La mejor felicidad es la conformidad. Bear and forbear.
La mujer honrada, la pierna quebrada y en casa. A woman's place is in the home.
La necesidad hace maestros. Necessity is the mother of invention.
La perdiz por el pico se pierde. If you talk too much you're likely to give yourself away.
La plata llama la plata. Money goes where money is.
La posesion es lo que cuenta. Possession is nine parts / points / tenths of the law.
La primavera la sangre altera. Spring is in the air.

The sap rises in the spring.

La prudencia es la madre de la ciencia. Discretion is the better part of courage / valor.
La risa es el mejor remedio. Laughter is the best medicine.
La salud es la mayor riqueza. Health is better than wealth.
La suerte esta echada. The die is cast.
La verdad a medias es mentira verdadera. Half the truth is often a whole lie.
Ladron que roba a otro ladron tiene cien anos de perdon. It's no crime to steal from a thief.
Larga ausencia causa olvido. Long absent, soon forgotten.
Las cosas no se arreglan con palabras elocuentes. Fine words butter no parsnips.
Las cosas suelen empeorar antes de mejorar. The darkest hour comes / is past / is that before the dawn.
Las cuentas claras hacen los buenos amigos. Let's get things clear.
Las mentiras tienen las patas cortas. (The) Truth will out.
Las palabras se las lleva el viento. Actions speak louder than words / voice.
Las penas con pan son menos. All griefs with bread are less.
Lejos de ojos, lejos del corazon. Long absent, soon forgotten.
Ley pareja no es dura / rigurosa. A rule isn't unfair if it applies to everyone.
Lo mejor es ser franco. Honesty is the best policy.
Lo mismo Chana que Sebas-tiana. (It's) Six of one (and half a dozen of the other).
Lo pasado, pasado esta. Let bygones be bygones.
Lo poco agrada y lo mucho enfada. A constant guest is never welcome.
Lo que es moda no incomoda. You have to suffer in the name of fashion / to be fashionable.
Lo que no se ve, pronto se olvida. Long absent, soon forgotten.
Lo que pienses en comprar, no lo has de alabar. He that blames would buy.
Lo que se mama de nino dura toda la vida. The child is the father of the man.
Lo que se pierde en una casa se gana en otra. It's a question of swings and roundabouts.

What you lose in / on the swings, you gain in the roundabouts.

Los genios pensamos igual. Great minds think alike.
Los mirones son de piedra. If you want to watch, you'd better keep quiet.
Los trabajos vienen al trote y se van al paso. Mischief comes by the pound and goes away by the ounce.
Mal de muchos, consuelo de todos / tontos. Two in distress makes sorrow less.
Mal que no tiene cura, quererlo curar es locura. What can't be cured must be endured.
Mala hierba nunca muere. The devil looks after himself / his own.
Mas apaga la buena palabra que caldera de agua. A soft answer turneth away wrath.
Mas discurre un hambriento que cien letrados. Hunger drives the wol out of the woods.
Mas puede la pluma que la espada. The pen is mightier than the sword.
Mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo. There's no substitute for experience.
Mas se perdio en Cuba. It's not the end of the world.

Worse things happened at sea.

Mas vale antes que despues. One good forewit is worth two afterwits.
Mas vale dar que recibir. It's more blessed to give than to receive.
Mas vale estar solo que (estar) mal acompanado. It's better to be on your own than with people you don't like.
Mas vale la salud que el dinero / la riqueza. Health is better than wealth.
Mas vale mana que fuerza. Brain is better than brawn.
Más vale tarde que nunca.
Better late than never
Mayor dicha es dar que recibir. It's more blessed to give than to receive.
Mejor es no menearlo.

Mejor no revolver el asunto.

Let sleeping dogs lie.
Merced recibida, libertad vendida. Who receives a gift, sells his liberty.
Mucho ruido y pocas nueces. All mouth and no trousers.

All talk and no action.

Muerto el perro, se acabo la rabia. The best way to solve a problem is to attack the cause / root of it.
Murmurador a la oreja, antes place que molesta. Where there's whispering, there's lying.
Nada mejor que un ladron para atrapar a otro ladron. Set a thief to catch a thief.
Nada que valga la pena se logra sin crear conflictos. You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.
Nadie esta contento con su suerte. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Ni tanto que queme al santo, ni tanto que no lo alumbre. Try to strike a happy medium.
No dan a quien no acude. He that would have the fruit must climb the tree.
No dejes camino por vereda / camino viejo por camino nuevo. A little thing in hand is worth more than a great thing in prospect.

Better keep now than seek anon.

We would be better off to have than to have coming.

No hay dos sin tres. Misfortunes always come in threes.

These things always come in threes.

No hay mal (ni bien) que cien anos dure / dure cien anos, (ni cristiano / cuerpo / enfermo que lo aguante / resista). Nothing goes on for ever.
No hay mas cera que la que arde. What you see is what you get.
No hay mas de temer que una mujer despechada. Hell has / hath no fury like a woman scorned.
No hay mejor maestra que la necesidad. Necessity is the mother of invention.
No hay miel sin hiel. No bees, no honey; no work, no money.

No mill, no meal.

There's always a catch.

No hay peor cuna que la de la misma madera / del mismo palo. Servants make the worst masters.
No hay tempestad que mucho dure. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.
No se hizo la miel para la boca del asno. You're casting pearls before swine.
No se oia ni (el vuelo de) una mosca. There wasn't a sound to be heard.

You could have heard a pin drop.

No se puede servir a dos senores. You can't serve God and Mammon.
No se puede tener todo. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
No se puede trabajar sin materia prima. You can't make bricks without straw.
No se sabe si algo es bueno hasta que se lo pone a prueba. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
No solo de pan vive el hombre. Man cannot live by bread alone.
No tiene raices en ningun sitio. Home is where he hangs his hat.
Nunca dejes camino por vereda / camino viejo por camino nuevo.

A little thing in hand is worth more than a great thing in prospect.

Better keep now than seek anon.

We would be better off to have than to have coming.

Nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena. Better late / later than never.

Never too late to do well.

Nunca llueve a gusto de todos. One man's meat is another man's poison / another's poison.

You can't please everybody.

Obra de comun, obra de ningun. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Ojos que no ven, corazon que no llora / siente. Long absent, soon forgotten.
Paga lo que debes, sanaras del mal que tienes. Out of debt, out of danger.
Palabras no sacan sangre. No offense taken when none is meant.
Palos porque bogas, palos porque no bogas. You can't win them all.
Para amigos, todos; para enemigos, uno solo. One enemy is too many; and a hundred friends too few.
Peor es nada. Half a loaf is better than no bread.
Perdiendo aprendi: mas vale lo que aprendi que lo que perdi. Learning is better than house and land.
Persevera y triunfaras. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Never say die. .

Pesadumbres no pagan deudas. A pound of care will not pay a pound of debt.
Piensa el ladron que todos son de condicion. Evildoers always think the worst of others.
Piensa mal y acertaras, (aunque alguna vez te equivocaras). If you think the worst, you won't be far wrong.
Por el hilo se saca el ovillo. It's just a question of putting two and two together.
Por un perro que mate, mata-perros me llamaron. Give a dog a bad name (and hang it).
Primero es la salud que el dinero. Health is better than wealth.
Procura lo mejor, espera lo peor y toma lo que viniere. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Puedes darle un consejo a alguien, pero no puedes obligarlo a que lo siga. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Que cada palo aguante su vela. Each of us must face our own responsibilities.
¡Que pequeno es el mundo! . (It's a) Small world!.
Quien a los suyos se parece en nada los desmerece / honra merece. Like breeds like.
Quien a uno castiga a ciento hostiga. He that chastens one chastens twenty.
Quien canta sus males espanta. Problems don't seem so bad if you keep cheerful.
Quien comenta, inventa. Where there's gossiping, there's lying.
Quien compra ha de tener cien ojos; a quien vende le basta uno solo. The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the seller but one.
Quien con ninos se acuesta, cagado amanece / se levanta. If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas.
Quien con perros se echa, con pulgas se levanta. If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas.
Quien en tiempo huye, en tiempo acude. He that fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.
Quien espera, desespera. Hope deferred makes the heart sick.
Quien hace la ley hace la trampa. Every law has a / its loophole.
Quien hurta / roba al / a un ladron tiene cien anos de perdon. It's no crime to steal from a thief.
Quien lengua ha, a Roma va. Better to ask the way than to go astray.
Quien mal anda, mal acaba. If you live like that, you're bound to come to a bad end.
Quien paga elige. He who pays the piper calls the tune.
Quien poco tiene pronto lo gasta. A moneyless man goes fast through the market.
Quien por su gusto padece, (que) vaya al infierno a quejarse. You must face the consequences of your actions.
Quien quiera saber, que compre un viejo. If you wish good advice, consult an old man.
Quien quita lo que da al infierno va. Give a thing and take a thing, to wear the devil's gold ring.
Quien roba una vez roba diez. Once a thief, always / ever a thief.
Quien teme la muerte no goza la vida. Cowards die many times.
Rinen a menudo los amantes, por el gusto de hacer las paces. Lovers quarrels are soon mended.
Santa Rita, Santa Rita, lo que se da ya no se quita. Give a thing and take a thing, to wear the devil's gold ring.
Se pilla al mentiroso antes que al cojo. (The) Truth will out.
Si con desear bastara ... If wishes were horses (, then beggars would ride).
Si te he visto / vi / vide, (ya) no me acuerdo. Long absent, soon forgotten.
Si vale la pena hacerlo, vale la pena hacerlo bien. If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well.
Si, quitate de en medio. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Siempre llueve sobre mojado. When it rains, it pours.
Sobre gustos y colores no discuten los doctores / no han escrito los autores.

Sobre gustos, no hay nada escrito .

Different strokes for different folks.

Each to his own.

There's no accounting / disputing for taste.

Tan cierto como dos y dos son cuatro / que yo me llamo X. As sure as eggs is eggs / (God made) little green apples / night follows day / the day is long.
Tanto monta, monta tanto, (Isabel como Fernando). It makes no difference.

It's as broad as it is long .

Tanto tienes, tanto vales; nada tienes, nada vales. You are what you own.
Tarea que agrada presto se acaba. All things are easy that are done willingly.
Tenga yo salud, y dineros quien los quisiere. Health is better than wealth.
Tetas de mujer tienen mucho poder. Beauty draws more than oxen.
Todos los dias se aprende algo. A man may learn wit every day.
Tomar las cosas a pechos, da fin a los hechos. Anger and hate hinder good counsel.
Vida sin amigos, muerte sin testigos. Friendless in life, friendless in death.
Visita cada dia, a la semana hastia.

Visita rara, convidado amable.

A constant guest is never welcome.
Ya que estamos en el baile, bailemos. In for a penny, in for a pound.

See also

Dictionary of Proverbs and Sayings
5,000 proverbs and sayings and their equivalent translations or
interpretations in Spanish

Diccionario de Proverbios y Refranes
5,000 proverbios y refranes y sus traducciones o interpretaciones
equivalentes en ingles

Compiled by / Compilado por Berta Alicia Chen

E-mail: info@proverbios.com
http://www.proverbios.com

 

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