"Dichos" are the wise sayings of the Spanish speaking people. Just learning Spanish is not enough, you must also have a good understanding of these sayings because everyone throws them into their conversations. Here is my collection tod date:
A cada puerco le llega su Noche Buena. To every pig comes his Christmas Eve. No matter how fat and well off you are, someday you will pay for it all. Those who seem to have it best, will come off the worst.
A donde el corazon se inclina, el pie camina.
Where the heart inclines, the foot walks. You can tell what a person loves by where he goes.
A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando.
Praying to God and hitting with the hammer. Covering all the bases. Doing everything necessary to ensure success.
A juventud ociosa, vejez trabajosa.
To leisurely youth, laborious old age. If you are lazy now, you will have to work harder later.
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.
Who rises early, God helps. God helps those who get started early.
Acabándose el dinero, se termina la amistad.
The money running out, the friendship ends. Describes those who are your "friends" only as long as you have money.
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
Shrimp that sleeps, the current carries it away. If you don't stay alert to and act on opportunities, you will miss them.
Como el apóstol 13, come y desaparece.
Like the apostle 13, eats and leaves. Describes guests who come only for the food, or people who stay only for the part of the event that benefits them.
Con virtud y bondad se adquiere autoridad.
With virtue and goodness authority is acquired. People will be more likely to do what you say if they perceive you as being virtuous and kind.
Consejo es, de sabios
perdonar injurias, y olvidar agravios.
The council of the wise is to pardon injury and forget grievances.
De dinero y bondad, siempre la mitad.
Of money and goodness, always in the middle. Your interests are better served by being motivated equally by goodness and money, rather than being motivated completely by one or the other. (I'm not sure this is the intended meaning, but it is what I get out of it.)
De tal palo, tal astilla.
From such a stick, such a splinter. The way a child behaves is a reflection of the way his or her parents behave.
Del dicho al hecho, hay mucho trecho.
From the word to the deed, there is a great distance. It is one thing to say something will be done, and quite a different thing to get it done.
Despacio voy, porque de prisa estoy.
Slowly I go because I am in a hurry. Proceeding methodically often gets faster results than rushing.
Donde hay gana, hay maña.
Where there is the desire there is the ability. If you really want to do something, you can find a way to do it.
El diablo sabe más por viejo que por diablo.
The Devil knows more because he is old than because he is the Devil. Wisdom and knowledge increase with increasing age. (i.e., The Devil owes his knowledge more to his age than to any supernatural powers.)
El mal escribano le echa la culpa a la pluma.
The poor writer places the blame on the pen. People naturally blame their problems on something or someone else, rather than accept any responsibility themselves.
El mejor espejo es el ojo del amigo
-The best mirror is the watchful eye of a friend. Hopefully your friends are honest, but not too brutal! They keep you in check and when you find a good one you've got to keep them for the long run.
El que no monta no cae
"He who doesn’t mount (ride) does not fall." The only way not to have an accident is to do nothing.This Spanish proverb explains that many things have to be learned for yourself, even if it's the hard way.
El que da primero, da dos veces.
He who strikes first strikes twice. Whoever is first has an advantage over all who come after.
El que mucho habla, mucho yerra.
Who much speaks, much errs. The more you talk, the more you will make mistakes.
El que por su gusto corre, nunca se cansa.
Who for his pleasure runs, never tires. When you do something for pleasure, it is not tiring.
El que quiere baile, que pague músico.
Who wants dance, should pay musician. The one who wants something done should be the one who takes the responsibility for making it happen.
El que quita la ocasión, evita el ladrón.
Who takes away the opportunity, avoids the robber. If you take precautions, you will avoid problems.
El sapo, a la sapa, tienela por guapa
The He toad sees the She toad as beautifulThis sayings is used like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder
En boca del mentiroso, lo cierto se hace dudoso.
In the mouth of a liar, what is certain becomes doubtful. Once someone has been caught lying, it is hard to believe anything else that person says.
Gato escaldo del agua fría huye.
A scalded cat from cold water runs. People often draw the overly broad lessons from their experiences. (i.e., The cat should have learned only to avoid hot water.)
Hazme las cuentas claras, y el chocolate espeso.
Make for me the accounts clear and the chocolate thick. Whatever else might be confusing, the books had better be straightforward. A similar saying is "Las cuentas claras hacen buenos amigos." (Clear accounting makes good friends.)
Honra y dinero se ganan despacio y se pierden ligero.
Reputation and money are earned slowly and lost quickly. Reputation and money are hard earn and easy to lose.
La mejor palabra es la que no se dice.
The best word is the one that is not said. Sometimes, refraining from speaking is better than anything you could say.
La palabra es plata, el silencio oro.
The word is silver, silence gold. Silence is more valuable than words.
Lo que bien se aprende, nunca se pierde.
What well is learned never is lost. If you learn something well, you will never forget it.
Más vale poco y bueno que mucho y malo.
It is worth more little and good than much and bad. More is not always better. It is better to have less and happiness than more and misery.
Mejor solo que mal acompañado.
Better alone than poorly accompanied. It is better to be alone than to be with the wrong person.
Nadie es profeta en su propia tierra.
No one is a prophet in his own land. People place a higher value on exotic things and exotic people than on familiar ones. To quote Baltasar Gracián: "Everything foreign is held in esteem, whether it came from afar, or because people see it only after it is well formed and has reached perfection. Some people were scorned in their own little corner but achieved worldly eminence. They are honored by their own people because they look at them from a distance and by foreigners because they came from afar."
No es más rico el que más tiene, sino el que menos necesita.
He is not richer who the most has, but who the least needs. Someone who is satisfied with a small amount is richer than someone who is always craving more.
No hay atajo sin trabajo.
There is no shortcut without work. It takes work to avoid doing work.
No hay curva mala pasándola despacio.
There is no bad curve, passing it slowly. You can avoid mishaps by proceeding with caution.
No tengas como vano el consejo del anciano.
Do not consider useless the advice of an old person. Do not ignore the advice of someone who speaks from experience.
Perro que no camina, no encuentra hueso.
Dog who doesn't walk, doesn't find a bone. If you want something, you need to make efforts to get it.
Poco a poco se anda lejos.
Little by little one goes far. Frequent, small steps can accomplish the same result as (or better results than) a one-time Herculean effort.
Por el árbol se conoce el fruto.
By the tree the fruit is known. Children are very much like their parents.
Querer es poder.
To want to is to be able to. If you really want to do something, you will be able to do it.
Quien con el lobo se junta a aullar aprende.
Who with the wolf associates, to howl learns. A person can be judged by the company he or she keeps (i.e., by the people he or she hangs out with).
Si quieres el perro, acepta las pulgas.
If you want the dog, accept the fleas. If you wanted something, don't complain about it once you get it.
Una buena acción es la mejor oración.
A good deed is the best prayer. One's faith is best expressed by one's actions.
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