Common Spanish Sayings with Free PDF

Common Spanish Sayings 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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Word	Literal Meaning	Meaning	Example	Translation
¡Por supuesto!	Of course!	Agreement	—¿Puedes ayudarme mañana? —¡Por supuesto!	"Can you help me tomorrow?" "Of course!"
¡Qué bien!	How great!	Positive reaction	¿Aprobaste el examen? ¡Qué bien!	You passed the exam? How great!
¡Qué guay!	How cool!	Spain slang	Ese concierto estuvo genial. ¡Qué guay!	That concert was great. How cool!
¡Qué horror!	How awful!	Reaction	¡Qué horror! Se rompió todo en la cocina.	How awful! Everything broke in the kitchen.
¡Qué lástima!	What a pity!	Sympathy	Perdiste el tren, ¡qué lástima!	You missed the train, what a pity!
¡Qué mal!	How bad!	Negative reaction	Se canceló el viaje, ¡qué mal!	The trip was canceled, how bad!
¡Qué onda!	What's up!	Mexican greeting	¡Qué onda! ¿Cómo te fue en la entrevista?	What’s up? How did the interview go?
¡Qué padre!	How cool!	Mexican slang saying	Tu coche nuevo está increíble. ¡Qué padre!	Your new car is amazing. How cool!
¡Qué pena!	What a shame!	Sympathy	No pudiste venir a la fiesta, ¡qué pena!	You couldn't come to the party, what a shame!
¡Qué sorpresa!	What a surprise!	Reaction	¡Qué sorpresa! No sabía que venías hoy.	What a surprise! I didn't know you were coming today.
¡Sale!	Deal! / OK!	Mexican agreement	—¿Nos vemos a las ocho? —¡Sale!	—Shall we meet at eight? —OK, deal!
¡Salud!	Cheers! / Bless you!	Toast or sneeze	¡Salud! —dijo Ana al brindar con sus amigos.	Cheers! Ana said as she toasted with her friends.
¡Simón!	Yeah! (Mexico)	Mexican yes	—¿Vas al concierto? —¡Simón!	—Are you going to the concert? —Yeah!
¡Suerte!	Good luck!	Well-wishing	Mañana tienes la entrevista, ¡suerte!	You have the interview tomorrow, good luck!
¡Vale!	OK! / Got it!	Spain agreement	—Nos vemos a las ocho. —¡Vale!	“See you at eight.” “OK!”
¡Vamos!	Come on! / Let's go!	Encouragement	¡Vamos! ¡Todavía puedes ganar el partido!	Come on! You can still win the game!
¡Vaya!	Wow! / Oh!	Wow!	¡Vaya! Qué rápido llegó el paquete.	Wow! The package arrived so fast.
A caballo regalado no le mires el diente	Do not look at the tooth of a gifted horse	Do not complain about a free gift.	Me regalaron esta chaqueta; a caballo regalado no le mires el diente.	They gave me a jacket for free. Don’t complain about a free gift.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.	Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.	Accept gifts graciously.	Me regaló su bicicleta vieja; a caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.	He gave me his old bike; don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
A grandes males, grandes remedios.	Desperate times call for desperate measures.	Big problems need bold fixes.	La empresa está en crisis; a grandes males, grandes remedios.	The company is in crisis; big problems need strong solutions.
A mal tiempo, buena cara	To bad weather, a good face	Stay positive in hard times.	Perdimos el partido, pero a mal tiempo, buena cara.	We lost the game, but stay positive.
A mal tiempo, buena cara.	Put on a brave face in hard times.	Stay positive in adversity.	Aunque llueva todo el día, a mal tiempo, buena cara.	Even if it rains all day, stay positive in hard times.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos	To foolish words, deaf ears	Ignore stupid or rude comments.	No le contestes; a palabras necias, oídos sordos.	Do not answer him. Ignore rude words.
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda	God helps the one who gets up early	If you start early, you have a better chance of success.	Salimos a las seis; a quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.	We left at six; the early bird gets the worm.
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.	The early bird catches the worm.	Early effort is rewarded.	Se levantó a las cinco para estudiar; a quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.	He got up at five to study; the early bird catches the worm.