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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
  • 2,960readings
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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 № 127 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 № 128 Ladino
Ambre i friyo entregan al ombre al enemigo

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

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 129 Ladino
El mokozo se burla del tinyozo

The snotty one mocks the scabby one (the pot calling the kettle black).

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 130 Ladino
Sol i luvya anyos de artura

Sun and rain, years of abundance.

10 Nov 2026
Refrán № 131 Ladino
Moz izo hadras i baranas

He made us into rags and tatters (ruined us). (uncertain)

10 Nov 2026
Refrán № 132 Ladino
El gameo no ve su korkova

The camel doesn't see its own hump.

10 Nov 2026
Refrán № 133 Ladino
Kara tuerta ventura derecha

Crooked face, straight fortune.

10 Nov 2026
Refrán № 134 Ladino
De boka a boka se va fin a Roma

From mouth to mouth, one gets all the way to Rome (by asking, you can find your way anywhere).

10 Nov 2026
Refrán № 135 Ladino
Mal yevando bien esperando

Enduring the bad, hoping for the good.

9 Nov 2026
Refrán № 136 Ladino
La estreya ke le kayga

May his star fall (a curse / wish for bad luck).

9 Nov 2026
Refrán № 137 Ladino
Moneda se gana kon moneda

Money is earned with money.

9 Nov 2026
Refrán № 138 Ladino
El shastre haragan piedre la alguja i el dedal

The lazy tailor loses the needle and the thimble.

9 Nov 2026
Refrán № 139 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)

9 Nov 2026
Refrán № 140 Ladino
La madre kon la ija komo piedra en aniyo

Mother and daughter are like a stone in a ring (inseparable, a precious bond).

7 Nov 2026
Refrán № 141 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.

7 Nov 2026
Refrán № 142 Ladino
Para el bien se kere sensya i para el mal pasensya

For doing good you need knowledge, and for enduring bad you need patience.

7 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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