Aunque la mona vista de seda, mona se queda.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

USAGE NOTE

This phrase may be literally translated as "The monkey stays a monkey even if she is dressed in silk."

Aunque la mona vista de seda, mona se queda.(own-keh lah moh-nah bees-tah deh seh-dah moh-nah seh eh-seh-eh keh-dah)

phrase

1.

(proverb)

(what's bad is still inherently bad, even if you make it look good)

a. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

(proverb)

Reformaron bien el hotel, pero el servicio sigue siendo pésimo. Dicen que aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.

The hotel was nicely refurbished, but the service is still terrible. They say you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

b. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

(proverb)

Tienen nuevo candidato, pero recordemos que este es un partido que defendía el nazismo. Aunque la mona vista de seda, mona se queda.

They have a new candidate, but remember this is a party that defended Nazism. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

c. A monkey in silk is a monkey no less.

(proverb)

Julio no supo disimular sus modales barriobajeros en la fiesta. Ya sabes lo que dicen, aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.

Julio couldn't hide his vulgar manners at the party. You know what they say, a monkey in silk is a monkey no less.