Dichos

Monday, 15 February 2010 13:17 |

Every culture has its common sayings, little words of wisdom that are passed long through oral traditions. They give insights to the outlook and wit of people in a culture. Dichos are expressions that often rhyme and are commonly used in Spanish speaking areas. The dichos below have been translated to be best of the ability of the Horse Tail Trails staff. We have done our best to keep the translations as literal as possible while still making them understandable in English. It has not been verified that all of these are specifically used in New Mexico, but their meanings can be universal.

Mas vale un pajaro en la mano que cien volando	A bird in the hand is better than a hundred flying.
Los hijos son la riqueza de los pobres.	Children are the wealth of the poor.
Más vale feo y bueno que guapo y perverso.	It's better to be ugly and good than beautiful and evil.
Nunca llueve a gusto de todos.	It never rains in everyone's favor.
El amigo es el mejor espejo.	A friend is the best mirror.
El que adelante no mira, atras se queda.	He who does not look ahead, remains behind.
Mientras hay vida hay esperanza.	Where there is life, there's hope.
Cuando los que mandan pierden la vergüenza, los que obedecen pierden el respeto.	When those in command lose their shame, those who obey lose their respect.
Quien bien te quiere te hara llorar.	Who loves you most will make you cry.
La probabilidad de hacer mal se encuentra cien veces al día; la de hacer bien una vez al año.	The chance to do bad comes one hundred times a day; the chance to do good comes once a year.
Quien tiene tejado de vidrio, no tire piedras al de su vecino.	One who has a glass tile roof does not throw stones at their neighbor’s.
En boca carrada no entra mosca.	No fly can enter a closed mouth.
Ojos que no ven, corazon que no siente.	Eyes that don't see, heart that doesn't feel.
La mona, aunque se vista de seda, mona se queda.	The monkey, though dressed in silk, is a monkey still.
Amor con amor se paga.	Love with love is repaid.
A quien Dios no le dio hijos, el diablo le dio sobrinos.	To whom God did not give him children, the devil gave him nieces and nephews.
No hay rosa sin espinas.	There is no rose without thorns.
La memoria es como el mal amigo; cuando más falta te hace, te falla.	The memory is like a bad friend; when you are in need, it fails you.
Nunca es tarde para bien hacer; haz hoy lo que no hiciste ayer.	It's never too late to do good; do today what you didn't do yesterday.
Nunca llueve a gusto de todos.	It never rains in everyone's favor.
Quien todo lo quiere, todo lo pierde.	One who wants it all, loses it all.
Quien da pan a perro ajeno, pierde el pan y pierde el perro.	One who gives bread to another person's dog, loses the bread and the dog.
El infierno está lleno de buenas intenciones y el cielo de buenas obras.	Hell is full of good intentions and Heaven with good works.
El diablo lo que sabe es por viejo no por diablo.	The devil knows things because he is old, not because he is the devil.
La conciencia es, a la vez, testigo, fiscal y juez.	The conscience is, at the same time, witness, prosecutor and judge.
Pájaro viejo no entra en jaula.	An old bird does not enter the cage.
Quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades.	One who sows winds, reaps storms.
El oro hace soberbios, y la soberbia, necios.	Gold makes one proud, pride makes one foolish.
Ningún hombre honesto se hace rico en un momento.	No honest man becomes rich in a moment.
Bueno es que haya ratones, para que no se sepa quien se come el queso.	It's good that there are mice, so that no one knows who eats the cheese.
La palabra es plata y el silencio es oro.	A word is silver and silence is gold.
Nadie diga "de esta agua no beberé."	Nobody says "I will not drink this water."
En el país de los ciegos, el tuerto es rey.	In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Quien no oye consejo, no llega a viejo.	One who does not hear advice, does not reach old age.
Poderoso caballero es Don Dinero.	Powerful horseman is Mr. Money.
En caso de duda, no determines, cosa alguna.	If in doubt, do not determine anything.
La ocasión hace al ladrón.	Opportunity makes the thief.
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.	One who rises early, God helps.
En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo.	In the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife.
Más vale tarde que nunca.	Better late than never.
No hay que vender la piel del oso antes de haberlo matado.	Don't sell the bear's skin before killing him.
Quien canta, sus males espanta.	One who sings scares away troubles.
Quien sabe dos lenguas vale por dos.	He who knows two languages, is worth two people.
Aún no ensillamos y ya cabalgamos.	Not yet saddled and already we ride.
Aramos, dijo la mosca al buey.	We plow, said the fly to the ox.
Agua por mayo, pan para todo el año.	Water in May, bread for the whole year.
Voz del pueblo, voz del cielo.	Voice of the town, voice of Heaven.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.	There is none so deaf as he who does not want to hear.
No se pueden pedir peras al olmo.	Pears can not be asked of the elm tree.
Haz bien y no acates a quien.	Do good and never mind to whom.

(Sources:
Proverbia.net http://www.proverbia.net/refranes.asp
Translations assistance from SpanishDict.com http://www.spanishdict.com/translation )