Common Spanish Proverbs gives you a practical set of Spanish words and expressions in one place, so you can study useful vocabulary without digging through scattered sources.
Each row is designed for quick review with meaning, example usage, and any available pronunciation help. When you want an offline copy, use the free Download PDF button below the table.
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How To Read Spanish Proverbs
Spanish proverbs are rarely useful if you only memorize a direct translation. What really helps is understanding the literal image, the figurative meaning, and the kind of situation where a native speaker would actually say it.
That is why this list keeps the proverb, the literal meaning, and a learner-friendly explanation together. The example sentences show the proverb in context so it feels like a real expression instead of a puzzle.
Spanish Proverbs Quiz
Think you can pair a Spanish proverb with its meaning without peeking? Give the quick quiz below a go – no grades, just a friendly nudge toward the ones that need a second look.
Common Spanish Proverbs List
| Proverb | Literal Meaning | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan | For a good listener, few words are enough | A smart person understands quickly. | No hace falta que me lo expliques otra vez; a buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan. | You do not need to explain it to me again; a smart person understands quickly. |
| A caballo regalado no le mires el diente | Do not look at the tooth of a gifted horse | Do not criticize a gift. | —¿Te dieron un libro usado? —Sí, y además gratis. A caballo regalado no le mires el diente. | "They gave you a used book?" "Yes, and free too. Don't criticize a gift." |
| A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente. | Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. | Accept gifts graciously. | No te quejes del regalo; a caballo regalado no se le mira el diente. | Don't complain about the gift; don't look a gift horse in the mouth. |
| a falta de pan, buenas son tortas | If there is no bread, cakes are good. | If you cannot get the best, accept a good alternative. | No había tren, así que fuimos en autobús; a falta de pan, buenas son tortas. | There was no train, so we went by bus; if you can’t get the best, a good alternative is fine. |
| A mal tiempo, buena cara | To bad weather, a good face | Stay positive in hard times. | Perdimos el partido, pero salimos del campo con buena actitud: a mal tiempo, buena cara. | We lost the game, but we left the field with a good attitude: in hard times, keep a positive face. |
| A mal tiempo, buena cara. | Put on a brave face in hard times. | Stay positive in adversity. | Aunque el día salió fatal, ella sonrió y dijo: «A mal tiempo, buena cara». | Even though the day went terribly, she smiled and said, "Put on a brave face in hard times." |
| a otro perro con ese hueso | To another dog with that bone. | I do not believe your story. | ¿Que se te perdió otra vez? A otro perro con ese hueso, no me lo creo. | You lost it again? Tell that to someone else; I don't believe it. |
| a palabras necias, oídos sordos | To foolish words, deaf ears | Ignore stupid comments. | No le hagas caso a ese comentario; a palabras necias, oídos sordos. | Don't pay attention to that comment; ignore foolish words. |
| A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda | God helps the one who gets up early | People who start early often do better. | Salí temprano de casa y terminé todo antes del mediodía. A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda. | I left home early and finished everything before noon. People who start early often do better. |
| A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda. | The early bird catches the worm. | Early effort is rewarded. | Salimos a las seis de la mañana para llegar antes que todos; a quien madruga, Dios le ayuda. | We left at six in the morning to arrive before everyone else; the early bird gets the worm. |
| a río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores | In a stirred-up river, fishermen profit. | People can benefit from chaos. | Con la crisis, algunos compraron pisos muy baratos; a río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores. | With the crisis, some people bought apartments very cheaply; in chaos, some people profit. |
| Al mal tiempo, buena cara | To bad weather, a good face | Stay positive in hard times. | Perdí el trabajo, pero intento mantenerme tranquilo: al mal tiempo, buena cara. | I lost my job, but I'm trying to stay calm: keep a positive attitude in hard times. |
| cada oveja con su pareja | Each sheep with its mate. | People with similar interests stay together. | En la fiesta, los niños se juntaron por grupos; ya sabes, cada oveja con su pareja. | At the party, the children grouped together; you know, birds of a feather flock together. |
| cada uno sabe dónde le aprieta el zapato | Each person knows where the shoe pinches | Only each person knows their own problems. | No lo juzgues por haber dejado ese trabajo; cada uno sabe dónde le aprieta el zapato. | Do not judge him for leaving that job; only each person knows their own problems. |
| Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente. | You snooze, you lose. | Stay alert or miss opportunities. | No dejes para mañana la inscripción, porque camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente y luego se acaban las plazas. | Don't leave the registration until tomorrow, because you snooze, you lose, and then the spots will be gone. |
| Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos | Raise crows and they will peck out your eyes | If you help bad people, they may hurt you later. | Le ayudó durante años, y al final lo traicionó. Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos. | He helped him for years, and in the end he betrayed him. If you help bad people, they may hurt you later. |
| Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos. | You reap what you sow. | Bad deeds return to hurt you. | Le ayudó durante años y, cuando ella consiguió el puesto, lo dejó de lado; al final, cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos. | He helped her for years, and when she got the job, she pushed him aside; in the end, you reap what you sow. |
| cuando el río suena, agua lleva | When the river makes noise, it carries water. | Rumors usually have some truth. | Dicen que la tienda va a cerrar, y cuando el río suena, agua lleva. | They say the shop may close, and where there’s smoke, there’s fire. |
| Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho. | Easier said than done. | Words are not actions. | —Voy a aprender francés en una semana. —Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho; estudiar de verdad lleva tiempo. | "I'm going to learn French in a week." "Easier said than done; studying for real takes time." |
| Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres | Tell me who you walk with and I will tell you who you are | Your friends show what kind of person you are. | —Tus amigos siempre llegan tarde. —Ya ves. Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres. | "Your friends are always late." "Exactly. Tell me who you walk with and I will tell you who you are." |
| Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres. | Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are. | Company reveals character. | —¿De verdad quieres salir con él? —Mira con quién anda y te diré quién es; sus amigos siempre están metidos en líos. | "Do you really want to date him?" "Look at who he hangs out with and I'll tell you who he is; his friends are always getting into trouble." |
| donde hay confianza, da asco | Where there is trust, it becomes disgusting | With too much trust, people can become rude. | No le hables así a tu hermana; donde hay confianza, da asco. | Do not talk to your sister like that; with too much trust, people can become rude. |
| donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan | Where there was fire, ashes remain | Old feelings can stay. | Ya no son pareja, pero todavía se escriben de vez en cuando; donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan. | They are no longer a couple, but they still text each other from time to time; old feelings can stay. |
| el que busca, encuentra | Whoever looks, finds | If you search, you can find what you need. | Busqué mis llaves en el bolso y las encontré; el que busca, encuentra. | I looked for my keys in my bag and found them; if you search, you can find what you need. |
| el que la sigue, la consigue | Who keeps going gets it. | If you keep trying, you can succeed. | Buscó trabajo durante meses, y al final lo encontró; el que la sigue, la consigue. | He looked for work for months, and in the end he found it; if you keep trying, you can succeed. |
