Hello, mis queridos visitantes. Welcome to another blog post in which we will dissect the Spanish language for you to make it easier and more fun to learn!
Just like in English, there are many phrases and idioms in Spanish that are frequently used in conversation. While these expressions can be helpful for building vocabulary, they can also be a source of humor when translated into English.
I remember getting together with friends and translating Spanish idioms or sayings literally into English. The results were so bizarre that we would laugh for hours. Surprisingly, when we translated English idioms into Spanish, they didn't make much sense either, and we would laugh even more. I was also surprised in how many idioms are literal translations in both languages.
So, I've taken the time to give you some of our translated but uninterpreted idioms for you to laugh with us, and then I will give you the actual meaning and the equivalent in English. Let's take a look at some of the most common Spanish sayings and their English equivalents.
"No hay mal que por bien no venga." –
No harm will come without something good. Or the English equivalent "Every
cloud has a silver lining."
This phrase is a
classic reminder to look on the bright side of any situation. But let's be
real, sometimes that silver lining is more like a bronze or copper lining.
Either way, keep your head up!
"A quien madruga Dios le ayuda." –
The one that wakes up early will be helped by God or "The early bird
catches the worm."
Or in other words,
if you snooze, you lose. But let's not forget that night owls can thrive too!
Maybe the early bird catches the worm, but the night owl catches the mouse.
"Más vale tarde
que nunca." - "Better late than never."
This saying is a
great reminder that it's never too late to get started. Unless you're trying to
catch a flight or meet a deadline, in which case, please be on time.
"El que mucho abarca poco aprieta." –
The one that tries to grab too much, will not hold strong enough. That
sounded really weird. A better interpretation is: "Jack of all trades, master of
none."
This saying is a
warning against spreading yourself too thin. But why settle for being a jack of
all trades when you can be a master of one and a half?
"Ojos que no ven, corazón que no
siente." – What the eyes can’t see, the heart won’t feel. Or the
English equivalent "Out of sight, out of mind."
This phrase can be
true, but it also applies to things we don't want to think about. For example,
if you ignore the pile of laundry in the corner, eventually it becomes part of
the furniture.
"Dime con quien andas y te diré quién eres"
"No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano." – Translated literally means "You can wake up early as much as you want, the sun won’t rise sooner." Or in more English words: "Rome wasn't built in a day."
This saying reminds us that good things take time. So don't get discouraged if you don't see progress right away. Just keep working at it, and eventually, you'll build your own Roman empire.
"Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres." - Tell me who you are going with and I will tell you who you are. A better interpretation says "A man is known by the company he keeps."
This phrase highlights the importance of choosing your friends wisely. But sometimes, it's more fun to hang out with the bad influences. Just make sure you don't get caught!
"No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy." - "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." This one is exactly the same in English and Spanish.
This saying is a reminder to be proactive and get things done. But let's be honest, procrastination can be pretty tempting. Just make sure you have a good excuse ready when your boss asks why that report is late.
"A falta de pan, buenas son tortas." When bread is missing, cakes are good - "Beggars can't be choosers."
This phrase is a reminder to be grateful for what we have. But sometimes, we really want that fresh baked bread instead of the leftover cake. Hey, a person can dream.
"Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos." – This one is quite creepy, it literally translates "Raise crows and they will take your eyes out" or its better interpretation in English: "Give someone an inch and they'll take a mile."
This saying is a warning to be careful who you trust. But let's not forget that sometimes, it's okay to give someone a little leeway. Especially if they're a cute puppy or a small child.
I hope these
humorous translations of common Spanish sayings brightened up your day and gave
you a laugh! Remember, language learning doesn't have to be all serious
and boring. Adding a little humor to your study can make it more enjoyable and
memorable.
This is our philosophy and we live to make learning Spanish, something that you won't even realize. Send us a note or communicate with us via LinkedIn, our Facebook page, Twitter or Contact Us here in our website. We will be very happy to help you achieve your Spanish learning goals.
¡Diviértete aprendiendo español! (Have fun learning Spanish!)
