Are you learning Spanish? Well, you really haven’t learnt a language unless you can express yourself freely in it or preach in the language. And to preach in Spanish, you have to learn Spanish proverbs. In this article, we will explore some famous Spanish proverbs, some Spanish proverbs about life, and we will also look at these Spanish quotes with their English translation.
But before we dive deep into the world of Spanish proverbs and quotes, let us understand what Spanish proverbs are and why it is important to learn proverbs when learning a new language.
What are Spanish Proverbs?
Proverbs in general are brief, pointed explanations that more often than not offer life advice or state a truth. In Spanish, using proverbs is so common that local speakers use them in everyday conversations without even realizing it. Proverbs communicate an understood and acknowledged message in some well known words. Oftentimes, Spanish proverbs are used to demonstrate a point.
Sometimes, proverbs are even associated with different cultures and tell us more about the life of the people belonging to that culture. Proverbs have been used since as early as 2000 BCE. Archaeologists have discovered tables with proverbs written on them in many different archaic languages, which when translated, have helped them find out a lot about the culture, life and wisdom of the people of that time.
Why Learn Spanish Proverbs?
Using proverbs in any language shows your proficiency and fluency in that language. It shows how comfortable you are in speaking the language. As we already know, proverbs also tell us a lot about the culture of the place where the language is spoken. They also give you an insight into the thought process and philosophies of the people living in the place. This comes in especially handy if you are learning a new language because you are moving to a new city or country.
If you are planning to move to a Spanish speaking country, learning short Spanish quotes or Spanish sayings can go a long way. When you use Spanish proverbs while interacting with the locals, it will be easier for you to fit in and be accepted by the people as one of their own. You will be making friends in no time.
How Can Proverbs Help You Learn Spanish?
Proverbs are a fun way to learn any language. When using proverbs, you learn words and aspects of a language that are beyond formal usage and traditional rules. Using Spanish proverbs is an ideal way to practice conversational Spanish. It is also an easy and fun way of sharing wisdom. Just like English proverbs, Spanish ones often capture the wisdom of the ages with timeless advice about life. When you are learning a new language, it’s always fun to explore the most common expressions or phrases as these are words that only native speakers will be familiar with.
Different Genres of Spanish Proverbs with their Meanings
First and foremost, we will learn some Spanish proverbs about love. Spanish is a beautiful language and the people who speak this language are very expressive and romantic. Here are a few Spanish proverbs to express your love for your special someone.
- “Mas vale pajaro en mano que cien volando”, which means it is always better to have one bird in your hand, than a lot more birds flying around you. This proverb emphasizes the importance of monogamy and being faithful to the one you love.
- “El amor todo lo puede”, which means love can do it all and loosely translates to love will always find a way.
- “Obras son amores y no buenas razones”, which means that the things you do for someone is the true measure of love, and not the words that you speak.
- “El amor es como el agua que no se seca”, which literally translates to love is like water and it never evaporates. But the actual meaning of this quote is that love lasts forever.
Is it just me, or are you feeling a little bit romantic as well? All the Spanish proverbs that we just read were about loving someone else, but do you know what the most important form of love is? Yes, I am talking about self-love. Loving yourself is the most important form of love that we all need to experience and probably the most difficult as well. Here are a few proverbs in Spanish about self love to inspire you.
- “He descubierto que si amas la vida, la vida te amará de vuelta”.
This quote by Arthur Rubinstein means that if you love life (your life), it will always love you back. And when life loves you, it becomes the most beautiful thing.
- “Ámate a ti mismo primero y todo lo demás se alinea. Realmente debes amarte a ti mismo para hacer cualquier cosa en este mundo”.
This proverb by Lucille Ball is one of the many famous Spanish quotes about self love. It simply means you need to love yourself first and then, everything else will fall into line; simple and true.
- “Nunca se es demasiado viejo para fijarse otra meta o para soñar un nuevo sueño”.
This quote might not be all preachy and in your face about self love, but it inspires you to dream and to never stop believing in yourself. This Spanish proverb in English means you are never too old to dream a new dream or set a new goal for yourself.
Here are a few inspirational Spanish quotes with english meanings:
- “El tiempo lo cura todo”, which means time will heal everything. This is a famous saying in many languages, because it is one of the most universal truths of life.
- “Si te caes siete veces, levántate ocho”, which translates to if you fall seven times, make sure you get up eight times. This quote reminds me of a famous song “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”.
- “Cuando hay hambre, no hay mal pan”, which literally translates to ‘when you are hungry, no bread is bad bread’. This is similar to the English proverb, “Beggars can’t be choosers”.
- “Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres”. There is a very similar proverb in English. This Spanish quote means that you are known by the people you surround yourself with.
- “Ladrón que roba a ladrón tiene 100 años de perdón”, which means that when a thief steals from a thief, he or she will be forgiven.
- “Cada uno sabe dónde aprieta el zapato”, which means that everyone knows their limitations and capabilities. They know their problems and also what is best for them.
- “El dinero llama al dinero”, which translates to “Money attracts money”, which means that more opportunities come your way when you make more money.
- “Quien madruga, Dios le ayuda”. This proverb is meant to inspire all the late risers. It means that when you act early, you are always in an advantageous position. Something like ‘the early bird catches the worm’.
- “La curiosidad mató al gato”. The meaning of this proverb is that being nosy and interfering in places where you do not belong can create more problems for you.
- “Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo”, which translates to ‘the devil knows more because of being old rather than because of being the devil. This simply means that the most valuable asset is the asset of experience.
Why are Spanish Proverbs and Sayings Useful?
Spanish proverbs are a great way to learn about the people and the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. These can also help you practise your fluency and familiarize yourself with the phrases that native speakers use when communicating with each other.
Spanish proverbs and sayings are full of wisdom and motivation. These sayings inspire you to live life and love life. Spanish proverbs and sayings are all about embracing life, believing in yourself, living your dreams, and loving yourself.
I am sure you now know the importance of learning proverbs when learning a new language. I wish you good luck for wherever this journey of learning Spanish takes you. Learning is important all throughout life and like they say in Spanish, “Nunca es tarde para aprender”, which means that it is never too late to learn.
Keep this link handy so you can refer to it whenever you need to use a proverb. Whether you need to impress someone, or need to fit in in a local bar, you know there is a proverb from this list that you can use to show off your Spanish skills.