The 80 most common Spanish proverbs (commented)

In Spanish, there is an infinity of proverbs that clearly show the richness of the Castilian language. They can be used in virtually any context and situation, offering multiple vital lessons.

Next We will see 80 commented Spanish proverbs; Although many of them are quite well known, others may teach us something new, as the expression “you won't go to bed without knowing one more thing” says.

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80 Spanish proverbs (and their meaning)

Below we will see several famous Spanish proverbs used every day by millions of people. Many of these proverbs are widely used in our day to day, while others, perhaps, are not so well known or have progressively lost use.. However, all of them teach us valuable lessons on how to face life, besides that with this extensive list we can expand our general culture a bit.

1. to cry, to the valley

It is a proverb that indicates that we do not want to hear the complaints and laments of others.

2. Who sings, his evil frightens

It comes to say that whoever is afraid must face them boldly, with good will.

3. The avarice breaks the bag

When you are too ambitious, you are likely to lose a lot along the way. Being too ambitious can lead to losses.

4. The one to follows her, get her

Whoever strives to achieve, who fights for it, can achieve his goal.

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5. In the variety is the spice

Doing the same thing over and over can be very boring. The best thing is to try and discover new tastes.

6. Mangy colt, beautiful horse

Over time ugly and old things can become beautiful.

7. Ass I see, ass I want

When you see something you don't have, you immediately want to have it. It is the desire and whim of something for the simple fact of not having it.

8. In the absence of bread, good are cakes

In the absence of something, you have to settle for what you have on certain occasions. Despite not having everything you want, you have to be practical and take advantage of what you already have.

9. Who put the bell to the cat?

It is a rhetorical expression that refers to the fact that nobody is willing to do a dangerous or, at least, very uncomfortable job.

10. Dead the dog, the rabies is gone

It means that when there is a problem for which you know the cause, you have to go for it, even if that entails collateral damage. It means eliminating the root problem.

11. Every dog ​​has his day

Everyone gets their end or their just deserved. This phrase is applied above all to people who have done some evil, such as thugs or criminals.

12. The thief believes that everyone is of his condition

It is said of someone who behaves in a reprehensible way and that same person thinks that everyone is going to behave the same, using it as justification for his behavior.

13. Like father Like Son

This proverb is used to highlight the resemblance between parents and children., both physically and, especially, behaviorally.

14. There is no worse blind than the one who does not want to see

This expression implies that those who do not want to know anything about a subject or a debate are capable of completely ignoring it. It is the act of not wanting to know anything about what is being talked about, ignoring the problem.

15. Better late than never

Better that something arrive one day, no matter how late it arrives, than that it never does. Better to settle for the delay than the absence.

16. Water that you don't have to drink, let it run

If something is not going to be used, better not use it. Used above all to avoid buying things unnecessarily.

17. The best hunter loses the hare

Even the most expert people in any subject can make mistakes since, no matter how much experience they have, they are still human.

18. There is no evil that lasts a hundred years

In life sometimes we feel bad or have a problem, but very rarely, the problem lasts forever. We live in constant changes, both for better and for worse.

19. Evil of many, consolation of fools

If many people are affected by the same thing, the comfort they receive is usually going to be quite impersonal.

20. The things clear and the chocolate thick

When something is said, especially if it is an opinion, it should be as clear and unambiguous as possible.

21. Where the captain rules, the sailor doesn't rule

This expression is used to highlight the hierarchyIn other words, if there are people who have different roles in any organization, family or group, there are those who have the power of decision and those who do not.

22. What's done, chest

We must be consistent and responsible with the consequences of our actions.

23. The world is a handkerchief

It is an expression used when an acquaintance is found in a place far away from where they met. For example, it can be used when we meet a relative from our same town when we are visiting the other side of the country.

24. Not so, not so bald

You should not have excesses or fall short.

25. Do not look at the teeth of a gift horse

It is used to say that there are those who object even when they are given something as a gift. You cannot expect to demand perfection in situations that are already an opportunity that should not be missed.

26. Out of sight, out of mind

It can be applied in an endless number of contexts, but it comes to indicate that when a bad action is not known by a person we care about, such as a lover, not knowing it will not hurt us.

27. Do good and don't look at who

You have to be good people, whoever you are with.

28. Politeness, does not remove the brave

You must be polite and speak correctly, but not for that reason not to freely express your opinion.

29. Who laughs last laughs better

This saying is said when someone celebrates, in a bad way, something without being completely sure that that something is not going to change.

30. If I have seen you, I don't remember

It is used referring to someone who pretends not to have seen us, although it is clear that he has done so and has recognized us, but he has preferred to pretend that he has not found out.

31. The early bird God helps

To get things in life you have to be responsible with the tasks and tasks. You have to sacrifice in life to get good results.

32. Old hen makes good soup

It is applied to the elderly person who, thanks to having lived a lot, you are expected to have a lot of good sense, experience and wisdom.

33. Doing and undoing is learning

Throughout learning, new things are learned, but what has been learned is also relearned and it is understood, when one makes a mistake, why it was wrong and how to solve it. By doing it again you will learn to do it well.

34. The bulls look better from the sidelines

This expression is used to refer to the fact that, seen from a distance, things look easier than they really are.

35. Whoever has a mouth makes mistakes

Human beings have opinions and, therefore, we can be wrong. That is, to the extent that we can all have an opinion, we can all be wrong.

36. Wherever you go do what you see

One has to respect the traditions and cultures of the local people where has it gone to.

37. He who does not cry does not breastfeed

You have to fight and not settle to get what you want.

38. In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king

People who stand out from others, that is, those who have a talent above the rest, even without being experts or well-known on the subject, may seem to be especially good at it. That is to say, within mediocrity who is a little better attracts attention and seems to be the one who manages the subject.

39. From the fallen tree everyone makes firewood

It indicates that people tend to criticize someone when that person is going through a rough patch or has made a mistake. People go after that person because he has become the butt of people's sharp tongues.

40. In the blacksmith's house, wooden spoon

Used to designate those situations in which someone who does have expert knowledge on a subject does not apply it in their closest circle. An example of this often happens to psychologists, who do not apply to themselves what they have learned during their studies.

41. Silence is consent

Whoever uses silence when asked if there are any objections is indicating that he is not against it, that is, that he gives her consent, even if he does not say so explicitly.

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42. Time heals everything, except old age and madness

Everything in life has a solution, except the passage of time. The "madness" thing was added to make the expression rhyme, although psychological disorders do have treatments that improve the course of psychopathology.

43. Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are

The identity of each one is closely associated and defined by the people with whom he relates.

44. If the river makes a noise its because water is running

When rumors are heard among the people, it is because part of what is said must be true.

45. Think wrong and be right

Sometimes being suspicious and misthinking about certain situations can lead us to the truth.

46. Better alone than in bad company

It's all very well to be friendly and outgoing, but we have to know who to accept in our lives. If we relate to someone who doesn't bring us anything in our lives or who even causes us harm, it's better to be without anyone than with him or her.

47. To bread, bread, and to wine, wine

As with the expression “clear water and thick chocolate”, if things have to be said, they must be said clearly and without double meanings.

48. To bad weather, good face

Against adversity, what should always be done is to put him in a good mood.

49. Who makes the law, makes the trap

Whoever has made the laws or who has stipulated what a system is like is, coincidentally, who knows how to circumvent it and that, furthermore, it has stipulated norms that give it certain privileges in comparison with the rest of the deadly.

50. A bird in the hand is worth hundreds in the bush

It comes to say that it is better to keep what you have than not risk it and lose everything.

51. cost an arm and a leg

It is used to refer to something that involves a lot of effort to obtain it, or that you have to pay a great price to get it.

52. Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today

No need to be lazy. It is better to do the obligations as soon as possible than not to leave it for later and make us more lazy.

53. Much ado About Nothing

With this expression, the situation in which someone talks a lot but does little is noted.

54. From said to fact there is a long way

From what has been said to what has been done in the end there can be a lot of difference.

55. You don't have to start the house from the roof

You don't have to start a job or a task with the last step. It is used to say that someone is starting badly from the outset.

56. Barking dog, little biter

It is used for those people who try to prove something by speaking but in the end they don't prove it with what matters, which are the facts.

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57. eye by eye, tooth by tooth

It is a phrase that comes to justify revenge. If someone has wronged us, it is fair to repay that wrong.

58. You will not go to bed without knowing one more thing

It refers to the idea that every day, however small and banal it may seem, something new is learned.

59. Do good and do not look at who

You have to always act well for everyone, without distinctions.

60. The fish dies by mouth

You have to be careful with what you do, since it is possible to screw up seriously.

61. Although the monkey dresses in silk, the monkey stays

As much as you try to change a person, their essence will continue to be there, defining them as they are.

62. Full belly happy heart

Happiness should not be sought beyond the pleasures of life, such as good food.

63. Music tames the beasts

This expression is said with an almost literal meaning: playing music calms us down.

64. Raise crows and they'll gouge out your eyes

It refers to how ungrateful and self-centered our own offspring can be.

65. If there is a deal, they can be friends dog and cat

Even if two people don't get along, or barely have a relationship, they can come to understand each other and do things together, they can even agree. That is to say, the common interests can be above the scuffles.

66. Weed never dies

It's hard to get rid of people who do the wrong thing, or who have hurt us.

67. rain on wet

It refers to when a person finds himself in an unpleasant situation, already problematic in itself and, on top of that, more problems accumulate, entering an endless spiral.

68. throw the stone and hide the hand

It refers to people who claim to be innocent, pure and chaste but on more than one occasion they have done things wrong, so there should be little to judge.

69. They paid righteous for sinners

In a conflict situation, who ended up losing were those who were not to blame for anything.

70. The devil knows more for being old than for being a devil

Another proverb that refers to experience and age. Sometimes, things are known for having lived a long time, rather than for being a specialist in the field.

71. A good listener, few words are enough

There is no need to explain things explicitly. Sometimes it is enough to listen to what has been said and for the person to understand, immediately, the details of the situation in question.

72. Jack of all trades, master of none

Those who set out to achieve many things do not focus on each one of them, they become saturated and fail to finish anything.

73. Caste comes to the greyhound

With a meaning similar to that of "like father, like son", being used to highlight the resemblance between relatives.

74. To foolish words, deaf ears

We must not allow what someone who does not know about the subject says to hurt us. He is ignorant, he does not know about our problem in its complexity.

75. Not all that glitters is gold

Not everything is what it seems to be, no matter how beautiful and good it may seem at first glance.

76. Love with love is paid

We must always give to others the same thing that they have given us, be it in terms of quality or quantity.

77. Faith moves mountains

People can go a long way if we are firm in our beliefs and act according to them.

78. The one who sows winds, reaps storms

Whoever is dedicated to spreading hatred and negativity, it is possible that at some point in his life someone will return all the bad things he has sown.

79. promised is debt

If you promise something, you must be consistent with what you promised.

80. What does not kill you, get you fat

Given the bad things that could have happened to us, such as having suffered an accident, poisoning food or a bad sentimental relationship, if that has not finished with us it will make us better prepared for life.

Bibliographic references:

• Baptist, J. (2015). Spanish proverb. Literary Criticism.
• Seville Munoz, J.; Crida Alvarez, C. (2013). Paremias and their classification. paremia. ISSN 1132-8940
• Susaeta S.A. (2019). Anthology of Spanish proverbs (Jokes, Curiosities, Riddles). Susaeta S.A.