C2 · Vocabulary
Proverbs and sayings
Proverbs and sayings: 15 Spanish words with translations and examples. Level C2.
- Más vale tarde que nunca
- Better late than never
Por fin te has sacado el carné. ¡Más vale tarde que nunca!
You've finally got your licence. Better late than never!
- A caballo regalado no le mires el diente
- Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
El móvil es viejo, pero a caballo regalado no le mires el diente.
The phone is old, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Acepta la oferta: más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.
Take the offer: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
- En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo
- The cobbler's children go barefoot
Es informático y su ordenador no funciona: en casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo.
He works in IT and his own computer doesn't work: the cobbler's children go barefoot.
- No hay mal que por bien no venga
- Every cloud has a silver lining
Perdí el tren y conocí a mi mujer: no hay mal que por bien no venga.
I missed the train and met my wife: every cloud has a silver lining.
- Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres
- A man is known by the company he keeps
- Perro ladrador, poco mordedor
- His bark is worse than his bite
No te preocupes por sus amenazas: perro ladrador, poco mordedor.
Don't worry about his threats: his bark is worse than his bite.
- Quien calla, otorga
- Silence gives consent
¿Nadie se opone? Pues quien calla, otorga: queda aprobado.
Nobody objects? Silence gives consent: it’s approved.
- Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente
- What you don't know can't hurt you
No le cuentes lo del coche: ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
Don't tell him about the car: what he doesn't know can't hurt him.
- Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta
- Don't bite off more than you can chew
Deja algún proyecto: quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
Drop one of your projects: don't bite off more than you can chew.
- A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda
- The early bird catches the worm
Llegué el primero y conseguí el mejor sitio: a quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.
I got there first and got the best spot: the early bird catches the worm.
- Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho
- Easier said than done
Prometió cambiar, pero del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
He promised to change, but that's easier said than done.
- Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos
- To nurture a viper in your bosom
- Agua pasada no mueve molino
- It's water under the bridge
Olvida aquella discusión: agua pasada no mueve molino.
Forget that argument: it's water under the bridge.
- Cada loco con su tema
- To each their own