Send
Ladino Forever · Refranes

Ladino proverbs

The proverbs of Ladino Forever: sayings from the Sephardic kitchen table, the wisdom of our grandmothers in Judeo-Spanish, each with its meaning in English and up to six more languages.

  • 142proverbs
  • 10languages
  • 2,884readings
Send a proverb
Refrán del día · November 3
No traves la kuedra muncho ke se aranka Don't pull the rope too hard or it will snap.
Refrán № 19 Ladino
El novyo es muy ermozo, komo el gato enganyozo

The groom is very handsome, like the deceitful cat.

18 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 20 Ladino
Ande no ay Madre no ay ni Padre

Where there is no mother, there is no father either.

18 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 21 Ladino
La okazyon aze al ladron

Opportunity makes the thief.

13 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 22 Ladino
El padre peka, al ijo se le apega

The father sins, and it sticks to the son.

2 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 23 Ladino
La mujer guadra el sekreto ke no save

A woman keeps the secret she doesn't know.

145 Nov 2026
Refrán № 24 Ladino
A karne dura diente agudo

Tough meat calls for a sharp tooth.

47 Nov 2026
Refrán № 25 Ladino
Detras de kada mujer komicha ay un ombre haragan i tembel ke la kita loka

Behind every nagging woman is a lazy, idle man who drives her crazy.

35 Nov 2026
Refrán № 26 Ladino
Kon paras los mudos kantan

Money makes mutes sing too.

33 Nov 2026
Refrán № 27 Ladino
El eskaso no tiene deskanso

The needy have no rest.

30 Nov 2026
Refrán № 28 Ladino
La mujer es komo la uva, kuando se aruga se aze mas dulse i mas savroza

A woman is like a grape: when she wrinkles, she becomes sweeter and tastier.

30 Nov 2026
Refrán № 29 Ladino
El korason no esta siempre de akordo kon el meoyo

The heart is not always in agreement with the brain.

30 Nov 2026
Refrán № 30 Ladino
No ay ombre sin solombra

There is no man without a shadow (a flaw).

28 Nov 2026
Refrán № 31 Ladino
La mujer buena la kaza yena

A good woman fills the house.

27 Nov 2026
Refrán № 32 Ladino
Si no ay pasensya no ay erensya

If there is no patience, there is no inheritance.

26 Nov 2026
Refrán № 33 Ladino
La agua pasa, el lodo keda

The water goes but the mud stays

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 34 Ladino
El ganar i el pedrer son haverim

Gaining and losing are companions.

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 35 Ladino
Es mijor un pasharo en la mano ke sien bolando

A bird in the hand is better than a hundred flying.

24 Nov 2026
Refrán № 36 Ladino
Ni bivda sin dolor, ni ija sin amor

Neither a widow without pain nor a girl without love.

23 Nov 2026
Explore Ladino Forever

Ladino proverbs, songs, stories and more

Ladino Forever is a home for the Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) language: proverbs, songs, stories and more, gathered by Michael Halphie for Sephardic families around the world.

About Ladino Forever and the Ladino language