EVERY language has its own particular sayings and proverbs that are passed down generation to generation and whose origins are often lost in the annals of time.
Many common Spanish phrases are completely baffling to an English speaker when translated literally โ especially when it comes to swear words and insults.
So considering the difference in culture and history itโs surprising how often Spanish sayings have an almost exact equivalent in English.
Here are 14 proverbs in Spanish that can replace common sayings in English.
Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda
While literally translated, this common Spanish saying means โGod help those who wake up earlyโ the equivalent phrase in English would be โthe early bird catches the wormโ.

No hay mal que por bien no venga
This is the phrase to use when you are looking on the bright side. Translated as โAll bad things bring good onesโ it can be used in place of โevery cloud has a silver liningโ.

A la tercera va la vencida
While it translates as โthe third time’s a charmโ, hereโs a phrase you use when you want to say โthird time luckyโ in Spanish.

El mundo es un paรฑuelo
If you translated this literally into English it does sound a bit odd. But instead of โthe world is a handkerchiefโ, English speakers would say โitโs a small worldโ.

A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan
This phrase is the Spanish equivalent of โa word to the wise is enoughโ

Del dicho al hecho hay un trecho
While the literal translation of this phrase is โitโs a stretch from said to doneโ, in English the phrase is โeasier said than doneโ.
Mas vale prevenir que curar
This common saying is easily translated as โbetter safe than sorryโ.

Dios los cria y ellos se juntan
While in the traditionally Catholic country of Spain, the phrase has more religious connotations in English we would just say: โbirds of a feather flock togetherโ.
Cria cuervos y te sacaran los ojos
In Spain if you โraise crows, they will gouge out your eyesโ but in English the phrase best explaining the treacherous nature or ingratitude of someone we trust or care for is best explained with the phrase โnourish a viper in one’s bosomโ.

Mas vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer
Easily translated as โbetter the devil you know than the good you don’t knowโ in English this is usually shortened to just โbetter the devil you knowโ.

Culo veo, culo quiero
This Spanish phrase translates as the rather crude โbottom I see, bottom I wantโ and is best replaced with โmonkey see, monkey doโ to describe a situation when one blindly acts without care of what comes next.

En casa del herrero, cuchara de palo
The Spanish phrase literally translates as โIn the house of the blacksmith thereโs only wooden spoonsโ which is used in exactly the same way as the old English saying โthe shoemaker’s son always goes barefootโ.

Cuando el rio suena, agua lleva
The Spanish equivalent of the oft-used English phrase โ where thereโs smoke, thereโs fireโ makes use of an entirely different element to make its point:โWhen a river sounds, itโs carrying water.

De perdidos al rio
Finally another use of to make the point in this Spanish phrase which means โin for a penny, in for a poundโ.

READ MORE:
- Nine quintessential Spanish proverbs with ancient origins to use to impress your friends
- 12 Spanish insults that will make you sound like a native
- 15 genius Spanish words you just canโt translate into English
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