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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.

  • 164proverbs
  • 10languages
  • 6,074readings
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Refrán del día · November 4
Ken oye a la djente se kita de la mujer Whoever listens to people ends up leaving his wife.
Refrán № 127 Ladino
El gato aspera mujer chapachula i puerta avierta

The cat waits for a sloppy woman and an open door. (uncertain)

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 128 Ladino
La mujer destruyedera vazya del marido la aldikera

A wasteful wife empties her husband's pocket.

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 129 Ladino
Si de tu novya izites tu mujer, aze tambien te tu mujer tu novya

If you made your bride your wife, make your wife your bride too.

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 130 Ladino
El shastre haragan piedre la alguja i el dedal

The lazy tailor loses the needle and the thimble.

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 131 Ladino
Ambre i friyo entregan al ombre al enemigo

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

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 132 Ladino
Bien ke no se vendio en su tiempo, te vende a ti

Even though he didn't sell out in his own time, he will sell you out. (uncertain)

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 133 Ladino
Moz Dieron agua de pozo

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

24 Nov 2026
Refrán № 134 Ladino
El es pedo en chini

He is a fart in porcelain (a nobody, worthless). (uncertain, idiom)

24 Nov 2026
Refrán № 135 Ladino
El Dio ke moz guadre de kaza i de dorama

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

24 Nov 2026
Refrán № 136 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).

24 Nov 2026
Refrán № 137 Ladino
Estate kon los ke modren i no kon los ke se modrieron

Stay with those who bite, not with those who have been bitten.

23 Nov 2026
Refrán № 138 Ladino
Kedimos ariento las aguas

We remained beside the waters. (uncertain)

23 Nov 2026
Refrán № 139 Ladino
El ke se mete a bever no konta los vazos

He who starts drinking doesn't count the glasses.

23 Nov 2026
Refrán № 140 Ladino
El ombre es mas fuerte ke la piedra i mas delikado ke la roza

Man is stronger than stone and more delicate than a rose.

23 Nov 2026
Refrán № 141 Ladino
Al enemigo azelo amigo

Turn the enemy into a friend.

23 Nov 2026
Refrán № 142 Ladino
Ken mete kara toma marido i kaza, ken no, keda en kaza

Whoever dares gets a husband and a home; whoever doesn't, stays at home (fortune favors the bold).

22 Nov 2026
Refrán № 143 Ladino
Mijor ser solo ke mal akompanyado

Better to be alone than in bad company.

22 Nov 2026
Refrán № 144 Ladino
Ken no gusto amargura no puede apresiar lo dulse

Whoever has not tasted bitterness cannot appreciate sweetness.

22 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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