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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
  • 2,953readings
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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 № 109 Ladino
No traves la kuedra muncho ke se aranka

Don't pull the rope too hard or it will snap.

12 Nov 2026
Refrán № 110 Ladino
A la boka serrada no entra moshka

No fly enters a closed mouth.

12 Nov 2026
Refrán № 111 Ladino
El Dio aprova a los buenos a padre aresentado da ijo alokado

God tests the good: to a settled father he gives a crazy son.

12 Nov 2026
Refrán № 112 Ladino
El ke bien te kere te aze yorar

He who loves you well makes you cry (tough love).

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 113 Ladino
Moz Dieron agua de pozo

They gave us well water. (uncertain, possibly idiomatic)

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 114 Ladino
Kedimos ariento las aguas

We remained beside the waters. (uncertain)

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 115 Ladino
La estreya ke le briya

May his star shine (a blessing / wish for good luck).

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 116 Ladino
Ay kayades, ija va naser

Be quiet, a daughter is about to be born. (uncertain)

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 117 Ladino
El Dio ke moz guadre de kaza i de dorama

May God protect us from the house and from the "dorama". (uncertain)

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 118 Ladino
Bivas, engrandeskas i kreskas komo un peshiko an aguas freskas. Amen

May you live, grow and flourish like a little fish in fresh waters. Amen.

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 119 Ladino
Kada uno es rey en su kaza

Everyone is king in his own home.

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 120 Ladino
El melon i la mujer son muy kolay a eskojer, ama el karpuz i el ombre no son

Melon and woman are very easy to choose, but watermelon and man are not.

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 121 Ladino
Al enemigo azelo amigo

Turn the enemy into a friend.

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 122 Ladino
Despues ke la perdio su valor supo

Only after he lost it did he know its value.

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 123 Ladino
Hijos no tiene, inyetos le yoran

He has no children, yet grandchildren cry for him.

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 124 Ladino
Kada uno en su kaza i El Dio en la de todos

Each one in his own house, and God in everyone's.

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 125 Ladino
El ke da un groshiziko tanye el chufletiko

He who gives a little coin plays the little whistle (he who pays calls the tune).

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 126 Ladino
Ambre i friyo entregan al ombre al enemigo

Hunger and cold deliver a man into the hands of the enemy.

11 Nov 2026
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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.

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