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Spanish Sayings or ‘Refranes’

Here’s a good way to learn some Spanish sayings and get a good laugh! We’ve provided you with equivalent sayings in English, but we also include a literal translation of each saying, which can be very humorous.

Original Spanish Saying:A buen hambre no hay pan duro
Literal Translation:To good hunger there’s no hard bread.
English Equivalent:Beggars can´t be choosers.
Original Spanish Saying:Ser un gallito.
Literal Translation:To be a little rooster.
English Equivalent:To be cocky.
Original Spanish Saying:A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
Literal Translation:For lack of bread, the cakes are good.
English Equivalent:We’ll just have to make do.
Original Spanish Saying:El tiempo lo cura todo.
Literal Translation:Time cures everything.
English Equivalent:Time heals all wounds.
Original Spanish Saying:En las malas se conocen a los amigos.
Literal Translation:In the bad ones, friends are met.
English Equivalent:A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Original Spanish Saying:Hacer de tripas corazón.
Literal Translation:To make heart from guts
English Equivalent:To pluck up your courage
Original Spanish Saying:Hierba mala nunca muere.
Literal Translation:Bad grass never dies.
English Equivalent:The devil looks after himself / his own.
Original Spanish Saying:No hay dos sin tres.
Literal Translation:There is no two without three.
English Equivalent:Misfortunes always come in threes.
Original Spanish Saying:Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
Literal Translation:The devil knows more for being old than for being the devil.
English Equivalent:There’s no substitute for experience.
Original Spanish Saying:Dime con quien andas, y te dire quién eres.
Literal Translation:Tell me who you walk with and I’ll tell you who you are.
English Equivalent:You can judge a man by the company he keeps.
Original Spanish Saying:El que la hace, la paga.
Literal Translation:The one that does, pays.
English Equivalent:You’ve made your bed and now you have to lie in it.
Original Spanish Saying:No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
Literal Translation:Not for much to get up early dawn earlier.
English Equivalent:The sun is not hurried by early risers.

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