Spanish Sayings with No English Equivalents
As with any language, Spanish comes with an ample variety of dichos, or sayings in English, with nuanced meanings based on context, region, and the background of the speaker. In many cases, these popular sayings cannot be translated into English word-for-word. To master some of these idiomatic colloquialisms is to better understand the more subtle aspects of communicating in Spanish. It may also be a bit of fun to whip them out when talking to Spanish-speaking locals in Latin America or Spain. In this article, we’ve picked some of our favorites to share with you!
A lo hecho, pecho.
The literal translation of A lo hecho, pechois in the face of deeds done, present a full chest, but it is used by Spanish-speakers as a way of saying what’s done is done, and you’re going to face the consequences whether you like it or not. Let’s check out how this would look in an actual dialogue between two people:
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
Literally translating to flies don't enter a closed mouth, you’ll most likely hear this phrase, en boca cerrada, no entran moscasif a friend is urging you to keep quiet. The true meaning of this common Spanish saying would be something like, sometimes, it’s best to keep your mouth shut. Check out the dialogue below for an example of how to use it.
A mal tiempo, buena cara.
You’ll most likely hear the phrase, a mal tiempo, buena carafrom a friend or advisor who’s trying to give you a pep talk when you really need one. The literal translation of this phrase, in bad times, put on a good face, is not too far off from it’s actual meaning either, which would be to face obstacles with your head held high.
Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres.
Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eresliterally translates to tell me who you hang out with, and I’ll tell you who you are, which is also a good translation of its meaning. This Spanish proverb is frequently cited by Spanish-speakers all over the Americas and Spain when making reference to discovering one’s true nature.
Más vale ser cabeza de ratón que cola de león.
If you’ve ever had the feeling that you’d rather be the leader of a small team than a small cog in a giant machine, than you should learn the phrase más vale ser cabeza de ratón que cola de león. While the literal translation is it’s better to be the head of a rat than the tail of a lion, it's used by Spanish-speakers to mean that it’s better to be the leader of a modest community than an insignificantly small contributor in a larger team.
Moro viejo nunca será buen cristiano.
You’ll most likely hear this useful Spanish saying when talking about someone who you wish would change but who’s stuck in their ways. Moro viejo nunca será buen cristianoliterally translates to the old Moor will never be a good Christian and makes reference to the factious history between the Moors and the Christians of 16th century Spain. Don’t worry though, even though this phrase may sound inflammatory, it is used all over the Spanish-speaking world to simply mean that you can’t change someone from who they really are.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
This delicious Spanish dicho is one of our favorites. Literally translated, a falta de pan, buenas son tortasmeans if we don’t have bread, cakes will do, however its meaning is more subtle. You should use this saying when resources are short and you have to make do with what you have at your disposal!
Zapatero a tus zapatos.
You’ll want to use the saying zapatero a tus zapatosif you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by someone who talks on and on about a subject they obviously know very little about. This saying literally translates to shoemaker, to your shoes, but is best used as pointed advice for someone to stick to talking about what they know.
Gato con guantes no caza ratones.
If you often find yourself having to roll up your sleeves to get something done, you should likely remember this saying. A cat with gloves can’t hunt mice is the literal translation of gato con guantes no caza ratones, but its true meaning is that sometimes, you have to get your hands dirty in order to get the job done right.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
Repeating this phrase is a great way to assuage your fears. Ojos que no ven, corazón que no sienteliterally means eyes that don’t see, heart that doesn’t feel, but its actual meaning can be closely translated as what you don’t know can’t hurt you or out of sight, out of mind.
We hope this guide has helped you understand how best to use some common Spanish sayings that have no direct English translation. The more you use these sayings, the better you’ll be able to recall them when the perfect moment arises. After all, sometimes things are just better left said in Spanish.
Looking for more sayings in Spanish? Check these articles out!
