Spanish is rich in refranes, traditional sayings that carry folk wisdom in a memorable rhyme or image. Knowing a handful of them helps you follow casual conversation and adds warmth to your speech.
Wisdom about time and patience
Más vale tarde que nunca.
Better late than never. Used exactly like the English equivalent.
Al fin terminó la carrera. Más vale tarde que nunca.
He finally finished his degree. Better late than never.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today.
Termina la tarea ahora. No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
Finish your homework now. Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
A quien madruga, Dios lo ayuda.
God helps those who get up early. The Spanish version of "the early bird gets the worm".
Me levanto a las cinco: a quien madruga, Dios lo ayuda.
I get up at five: God helps those who rise early.
Attitude and resilience
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
Literally "to bad weather, a good face". The Spanish answer to "grin and bear it" or "when life gives you lemons".
Perdí el trabajo, pero al mal tiempo, buena cara.
I lost my job, but you've got to keep your chin up.
Querer es poder.
Where there's a will, there's a way. Literally "to want is to be able".
Vas a lograrlo. Querer es poder.
You're going to make it. Where there's a will, there's a way.
Quien no arriesga, no gana.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Used to encourage someone to take a chance.
Postúlate al puesto. Quien no arriesga, no gana.
Apply for the position. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Appearances and reality
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
All that glitters is not gold.
Ese trabajo parece perfecto, pero no todo lo que brilla es oro.
That job looks perfect, but not everything that glitters is gold.
Las apariencias engañan.
Appearances are deceiving.
Parece muy tranquilo, pero las apariencias engañan.
He seems very calm, but looks can be deceiving.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
Literally "flies don't enter a closed mouth". A reminder to think before speaking.
Mejor no digas nada: en boca cerrada no entran moscas.
Better not say anything: silence is golden.
Cause and effect
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
Every cloud has a silver lining. Literally "there's no bad thing that doesn't come for a good reason".
Perdí el vuelo, pero conocí a mi esposo en el aeropuerto. No hay mal que por bien no venga.
I missed the flight, but I met my husband at the airport. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Más vale prevenir que lamentar.
Better to prevent than to regret. Equivalent to "better safe than sorry".
Pongamos el cinturón: más vale prevenir que lamentar.
Let's buckle up: better safe than sorry.
El que siembra vientos, cosecha tempestades.
He who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind.
Trató mal a todos y ahora nadie lo ayuda. El que siembra vientos, cosecha tempestades.
He treated everyone badly and now no one helps him. You reap what you sow.
Friendship and family
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
Tell me who you walk with, and I'll tell you who you are.
Sus amigos son buenos. Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
His friends are good people. You are who you hang out with.
De tal palo, tal astilla.
Literally "from such a stick, such a splinter". The Spanish "like father, like son".
El niño es igualito a su papá. De tal palo, tal astilla.
The boy is just like his dad. Like father, like son.
Using refranes naturally
Refranes are often introduced with expressions like como dice el dicho (as the saying goes) or ya sabes lo que dicen (you know what they say).
Ya sabes lo que dicen: más vale tarde que nunca.
You know what they say: better late than never.
Como dice el dicho, en boca cerrada no entran moscas.
As the saying goes, a closed mouth gathers no flies.
Related Topics
- Filler Words and Discourse MarkersB2 — Bueno, pues, entonces, o sea: the little words that keep Spanish flowing.
- False FriendsB1 — Spanish words that look like English but mean something very different.
- Greetings and FarewellsA1 — How Latin Americans say hello, ask how you are, and say goodbye.