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.
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| Word | Literal Meaning | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No hay mal que por bien no venga | There is no bad thing that does not come for good | A bad situation can bring something good. | Perdí el tren, pero conocí a Ana. No hay mal que por bien no venga. | I missed the train, but I met a friend. Every cloud has a silver lining. |
| No hay mal que por bien no venga. | Every cloud has a silver lining. | Good can come from bad. | Perdí el tren, pero conocí a una amiga nueva; no hay mal que por bien no venga. | I missed the train, but I met a new friend; every cloud has a silver lining. |
| No hay rosa sin espinas. | Every rose has its thorn. | Good things have drawbacks. | El nuevo trabajo paga bien, pero no hay rosa sin espinas. | The new job pays well, but every rose has its thorn. |
| No todo lo que brilla es oro | Not everything that shines is gold | Things can look good but be bad. | Ese trabajo parece perfecto, pero no todo lo que brilla es oro. | That job looks perfect, but not everything that shines is gold. |
| Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente | Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel | If you do not know about a problem, it does not bother you as much. | No le conté lo que pasó; ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente. | I didn’t tell him what happened; out of sight, out of mind. |
| Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente. | Out of sight, out of mind. | Absence reduces worry. | No le conté la mala noticia; ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente. | I didn't tell him the bad news; if you don't see it, you worry less. |
| Perro ladrador, poco mordedor. | His bark is worse than his bite. | Threat is worse than action. | No te preocupes por él; perro ladrador, poco mordedor. | Don't worry about him; his bark is worse than his bite. |
| Quien calla otorga. | Silence implies consent. | Not speaking can mean agreement. | Le preguntaron si estaba de acuerdo y no respondió; quien calla otorga. | They asked him if he agreed and he didn't answer; silence implies consent. |
| Quien la sigue la consigue. | Persistence pays off. | Keep trying to succeed. | Sigue estudiando; quien la sigue la consigue. | Keep studying; if you keep trying, you’ll succeed. |
| Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta | Who covers too much, squeezes little | If you try to do too much, you do nothing well. | Quiere estudiar, trabajar y viajar al mismo tiempo; quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta. | He wants to study, work, and travel. If you do too much, you do nothing well. |
| Quien mucho duerme poco aprende. | Early to bed and early to rise. | Too much sleep wastes time. | Si sigues durmiendo hasta tarde, no aprovechas el día: quien mucho duerme poco aprende. | If you keep sleeping late, you won't make the most of the day: sleeping too much wastes time. |
| Quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades. | You reap what you sow. | Actions have consequences. | Si sigues mintiendo, recuerda que quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades. | If you keep lying, remember that actions have consequences. |
| Zapatero a tus zapatos. | Stick to your own trade. | Mind your own business. | No opines sobre mi trabajo; zapatero a tus zapatos. | Don't comment on my job; stay in your own lane. |
