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Spanish > Spanish Level 3 > 3.5 Spanish Proverbs > Flashcards

3.5 Spanish Proverbs Flashcards

Learn the Spanish counterparts to over 100 of the most common proverbs.

1
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Beggars can’t be choosers.

A

A mucha hambre, no hay pan duro.

For a hunger so great, there is no bread that is too hard. A variant of this expression is Al hambre de siete dias, no hay pan duro

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2
Q

Translate to Spanish:

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

A

A diario una manzana es cosa sana.

It’s a healthy thing to have an apple daily

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3
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Home is where the heart is.

A

A donde el corazón se inclina, el pie camina.

Toward wherever the heart is inclined, the foot will walk

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4
Q

Translate to Spanish:

You have to strike while the iron is hot.

A

A la ocasión la pintan calva.

Opportunity is painted as being bald. This proverb refers to the Greek mythical figure, Caerus, the youngest child of Zeus, and the personification of fortune, luck, and opportunity. He was often depicted as bald, though with hair in front, the better to grab as he came toward you.

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5
Q

Translate to Spanish:

A fool and his money are soon parted.

A

A los tontos no les dura el dinero.

Money doesn’t last for fools

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6
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Every dog has its day.

A

A todos les llega su momento de gloria.

A moment of glory comes to everyone

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7
Q

Translate to Spanish:

It never rains, but it pours.

A

Al que no quiere caldo, dos tazas.

Two cups for he who doesn’t want broth. A variant of this expression is No quieres caldo, ¡pues tomas tres tazas!

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8
Q

Translate to Spanish:

The chickens have come home to roost.

A

Aquellos polvos traen estos lodos.

That dust brings this muck

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9
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Long absent, soon forgotten.

A

Ausencia al más amigo presto le pone en olvido.

Absence makes even the closest friend forgotten

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10
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Let bygones be bygones.

A

Borrón y cuenta nueva.

A smudge and a new account. Here, cuenta nueva takes on the meaning “a new start”

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11
Q

Translate to Spanish:

To err is human, to forgive divine.

A

Consejo es de sabios perdonar injurias y olvidar agravios.

It is the advice of wise men to forgive insults and to forget offenses

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12
Q

Translate to Spanish:

We’re all a little crazy in one way or another.

A

De cuerdo y loco todos tenemos un poco.

We all have a little sanity and little craziness

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13
Q

Translate to Spanish:

You can judge a man by the company he keeps.

A

Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres.

Tell me whom you go with, and I’ll tell you who you are

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14
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

A

Donde hay humo, hay calor.

Where there’s smoke, there’s heat

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15
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Poverty breeds discontent.

A

Donde no hay harina, todo es mohína.

It’s all sad where there’s no oatmeal. Note the atypical accent mark in mohína, meaning “the dumps” or “the sulks”, which is used to rhyme with harina, or “oatmeal”

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16
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Nothing succeeds like success.

A

El éxito llama al éxito.

Success attracts success

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17
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

A

El mejor halago es que lo imiten a uno.

The best praise is for one to be imitated

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18
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Actions speak louder than words.

A

El movimiento se demuestra andando.

Movement is demonstrated in action

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19
Q

Translate to Spanish:

You’ve made bed, and now you’ll have to lie in it.

A

El que la hace la paga.

Whoever does it pays for it

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20
Q

Translate to Spanish:

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

A

El que la sigue la consigue.

Whoever chases it gets it

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21
Q

Translate to Spanish:

The early bird catches the worm.

A

El que madruga coge la oruga.

(The bird) who rises early catches the caterpillar. In the Spanish proverb, el que is referring to el pájaro.

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22
Q

Translate to Spanish:

April showers bring May flowers.

A

A abril con sus chaparrones, sigue mayo con sus flores.

After April with its downpours, comes May with its flowers

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23
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Better late than never.

A

Más vale tarde que nunca.

Late is worth more than never

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24
Q

Translate to Spanish:

Better safe than sorry.

A

Más vale prevenir que lamentar.

It’s worth more to prevent than to regret

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25
# Translate to Spanish: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando. ## Footnote A bird in the hand is worth more than one hundred flying. A variant of this expression is *Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando*
26
# Translate to Spanish: Birds of a feather flock together.
Dios los cría y ellos se juntan. ## Footnote God raises them, and then they unite
27
# Translate to Spanish: Curiosity killed the cat.
La curiosidad mató al gato.
28
# Translate to Spanish: The devil is in the detail.
El diablo está en los detalles.
29
# Translate to Spanish: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Traten a los demás tal y como quieren que ellos los traten a ustedes.
30
# Translate to Spanish: There's no use crying over spilt milk.
De nada vale llorar sobre la leche derramada.
31
# Translate to Spanish: Don't judge a book by its cover.
Las apariencias engañan. ## Footnote Appearances are misleading. A variant of this expression is *El hábito no hace al monje.*
32
# Translate to Spanish: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
El fruto no cae lejos del árbol. ## Footnote Note that "fruit" is usually feminine, *fruta*, but it can also be masculine *el fruto*, in which case it means "product" or "result"
33
# Translate to Spanish: Better to be alone than in bad company.
Más vale andarse soltero que con mal compañero. ## Footnote It's better to go alone than to be with bad company
34
# Translate to Spanish: The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Al freir de los huevos lo verá. ## Footnote You'll see it once you fry the eggs
35
# Translate to Spanish: Everybody to whom much is given, much is expected.
Al que mucho se le confía, mucho se le exige. ## Footnote To whom much is entrusted, much is asked
36
# Translate to Spanish: Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda. ## Footnote God helps those who rise early
37
# Translate to Spanish: Daub yourself with honey, and you will never lack flies.
A quien se hace de miel las moscas le comen. ## Footnote Whoever makes himself of honey is eaten by flies
38
# Translate to Spanish: When there's a will, there's a way.
Más hace el que quiere que el que puede. ## Footnote He who wants more does more than he who can
39
# Translate to Spanish: Let sleeping dogs lie.
Mejor es no menearlo. ## Footnote It's better not to shake it up. A variant of this expression is *Mejor no revolver el asunto*
40
# Translate to Spanish: All talk and no action.
Mucho ruido y pocas nueces. ## Footnote A lot of noise for a few nuts
41
# Translate to Spanish: Misfortunes always come in threes.
No hay dos sin tres. ## Footnote There's no two without three
42
# Translate to Spanish: What you see is what you get.
No hay más cera que la que arde. ## Footnote There's no more wax than what is burned
43
# Translate to Spanish: Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.
No hay tempestad que mucho dure. ## Footnote There's no storm that lasts long
44
# Translate to Spanish: You're casting pearls before swine.
No se hizo la miel para la boca del asno. ## Footnote The honey wasn't made for the donkey's mouth (to eat)
45
# Translate to Spanish: You can't have your cake and eat it too.
No se puede tener todo. ## Footnote You can't have it all
46
# Translate to Spanish: Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Obra de común, obra de ningún. ## Footnote A job shared by everyone is no one's job
47
# Translate to Spanish: He who chastens one chastens twenty.
Quien a uno castiga a ciento hostiga. ## Footnote Whoever punishes one plagues a hundred
48
# Translate to Spanish: If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas.
Quien con perros se echa, con pulgas se levanta.
49
# Translate to Spanish: He who pays the piper calls the tune.
Quien paga elige. ## Footnote Whoever pays chooses
50
# Translate to Spanish: When it rains, it pours.
Siempre llueve sobre mojado. ## Footnote It always rains on someone wet
51
# Translate to Spanish: Different strokes for different folks.
Sobre gustos y colores no discuten los doctores. ## Footnote Doctors never argue about tastes and colors
52
# Translate to Spanish: You are what you own.
Tanto tienes, tanto vales. ## Footnote You have a lot, you're worth a lot
53
# Translate to Spanish: All things are easy that are done willingly.
Tarea que agrada presto se acaba. ## Footnote Work that pleases you is soon finished
54
# Translate to Spanish: Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.
Con esperanza no se come. ## Footnote You can't eat with hope
55
# Translate to Spanish: I don't care what people say as long as I get what I want.
Dame pan y dime tonto. ## Footnote Give me bread and call me crazy
56
# Translate to Spanish: What the boss says goes.
Donde hay patrón, no manda marinero. ## Footnote The sailor doesn't give commands where there's a captain
57
# Translate to Spanish: It's no crime to steal from a thief.
El ladrón que roba a otro ladrón tiene cien años de perdón. ## Footnote The thief who steals from another thief earns a hundred years of pardon
58
# Translate to Spanish: Time and tide wait for no man.
El tiempo pasa inexorablemente. ## Footnote Time passes mercilessly
59
# Translate to Spanish: Home is where the heart is.
El verdadero hogar es donde uno tiene a los suyos. ## Footnote A real home is where one has those he deems dear
60
# Translate to Spanish: One can't see the forest for the trees.
Los árboles no dejan ver el bosque.
61
# Translate to Spanish: No hunchback sees his own hump.
Ningún jorobado ve su joroba.
62
# Translate to Spanish: Two roosters do not crow in a henhouse.
No cantan dos gallos en un gallinero.
63
# Translate to Spanish: One can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
No se puede hacer tortilla sin romper los huevos. ## Footnote Tortillas aren't made without breaking eggs
64
# Translate to Spanish: Not every truth should be said.
No todas las verdades son para dichas.
65
# Translate to Spanish: All roads lead to Rome.
Todos los caminos llevan a Roma.
66
# Translate to Spanish: Each Tuesday has its Sunday.
Cada martes tiene su domingo.
67
# Translate to Spanish: Love is blind.
El amor es ciego.
68
# Translate to Spanish: The best scribe makes a blot.
El mejor escribano echa un borrón.
69
# Translate to Spanish: Think before you speak.
Antes de hablar, pensar. ## Footnote Before speaking, thinking
70
# Translate to Spanish: The best things in life are free.
Lo que no cuesta dinero, siempre es bueno. ## Footnote What doesn't cost money is always good
71
# Translate to Spanish: We all make mistakes.
El que tiene boca se equivoca. ## Footnote Whoever has a mouth makes mistakes
72
# Translate to Spanish: As you sow, so shall you reap.
Quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades. ## Footnote Whoever sows winds will reap storms. A variant of this expression is *Lo que siembres cosecharás.*
73
# Translate to Spanish: He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.
Quien a hierro mata, a hierro muere. ## Footnote He who kills with iron dies by iron
74
# Translate to Spanish: You never know what you've got till it's gone.
Nadie sabe lo que vale el agua hasta que falta. ## Footnote No one knows what water is worth until it's needed. A variant of this expression is *Nadie sabe lo que tiene hasta que lo pierde* (nobody knows what they have until they lose it).
75
# Translate to Spanish: If you keep your mouth shut, you won’t put your foot in it.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas. ## Footnote Flies don't enter closed mouths
76
# Translate to Spanish: If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.
Lo barato sale caro. ## Footnote What's cheap ends up being expensive
77
# Translate to Spanish: Necessity is the mother of invention.
La necesidad hace maestros. ## Footnote Necessity makes masters
78
# Translate to Spanish: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Loro viejo no aprende a hablar. ## Footnote An old parrot doesn't learn how to talk
79
# Translate to Spanish: Speaking of the devil...
Hablando del rey de Roma... (y él que se asoma) ## Footnote Speaking of Rome...and the one who's coming
80
# Translate to Spanish: If you want something done well, do it yourself.
Si quieres ser bien servido, sírvete a ti mismo. ## Footnote If you want to be well served, serve yourself
81
# Translate to Spanish: Time is money.
El tiempo es oro. ## Footnote Time is gold
82
# Translate to Spanish: A stitch in time saves nine.
Una puntada a tiempo ahorra ciento. ## Footnote A stich in time saves a hundred
83
# Translate to Spanish: Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.
No hay que vender la piel del oso antes de cazarlo. ## Footnote There's no need to sell the bearskin before you hunt the bear
84
# Translate to Spanish: The grass is always greener on the other side.
Nadie está contento con su suerte. ## Footnote No one is content with his fate
85
# Translate to Spanish: Every cloud has a silver lining.
No hay mal que por bien no venga. ## Footnote There is nothing bad that doesn't come from good
86
# Translate to Spanish: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
La ausencia es al amor lo que al fuego el aire. ## Footnote Absence is to love what fire is to air
87
# Translate to Spanish: When the cat’s away the mice will play.
Cuando el gato duerme, bailan los ratones.
88
# Translate to Spanish: The end justifies the means.
El fin justifica los medios.
89
# Translate to Spanish: Two heads are better than one.
Cuatro ojos ven más que dos. ## Footnote Four eyes see more than two do
90
# Translate to Spanish: All that glitters is not gold.
No es oro todo lo que reluce.
91
# Translate to Spanish: Brain is better than brawn.
Más vale maña que fuerza. ## Footnote Skill is worth more than force
92
# Translate to Spanish: Rome wasn't built in a day.
No se ganó Zamora en una hora. ## Footnote Zamora wasn't won in an hour
93
# Translate to Spanish: Out of sight, out of mind.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente. ## Footnote Eyes that don't see, heart that can't feel
94
# Translate to Spanish: One man's meat is another man's poison.
Lo que a uno cura a otro mata. ## Footnote What cures one kills another
95
# Translate to Spanish: It is raining cats and dogs.
Llueve a cántaros. ## Footnote It's raining pitcherfuls (of water)
96
# Translate to Spanish: A friend in need is a friend indeed.
En el peligro se conoce el amigo.
97
# Translate to Spanish: Is the coast clear?
¿Hay moros en la costa? ## Footnote Are there Moors on the coast?
98
# Translate to Spanish: How great it is to see you!
¡Dichosos los ojos que te ven! ## Footnote Blessed are the eyes that see you!
99
# Translate to Spanish: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Ojo por ojo, diente por diente.
100
# Translate to Spanish: Foolish words fall on deaf ears.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos. ## Footnote For foolish words, deaf ears
101
# Translate to Spanish: One should not bite off more than one can chew.
Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta. ## Footnote He who takes on much pushes out little
102
# Translate to Spanish: Loose lips sink ships.
Quien mucho habla, mucho yerra. ## Footnote He who talks much, much errs
103
# Translate to Spanish: Do the right thing without hope of reward.
Haz el bien y no mires a quién. ## Footnote Do the right thing and don't look to whom it's done
104
# Translate to Spanish: Things can't get worse.
No llegó la sangre al río. ## Footnote It's not as if blood has reached the river

Spanish Level 3 (26 decks)

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