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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.

  • 527proverbs
  • 10languages
  • 11,177readings
Refrán del día · November 5
Los ke kaminan en el kamino derecho kaminan en el kamino estrecho Those who walk the straight path walk the narrow path.
Topics 527
Refrán № 361 Ladino
Si no ay en la boka ke ayga en la bolsa

If there is nothing in the mouth, let there be something in the pocket.

7 Nov 2026
Refrán № 362 Ladino
Ken se aharva kon sus manos, ke no yore

Whoever scratches himself with his own hands should not cry out (if you do it yourself, don't complain).

124 Nov 2026
Refrán № 363 Ladino
Kuando se le avren los ojos del syego, rompe su baston

When the blind man's eyes are opened, he breaks his cane (the ungrateful forget what helped them).

149 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 364 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).

29 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 365 Ladino
Maldisyon sin razon se va a su patron

A curse without reason goes back to its master.

28 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 366 Ladino
Yerros de kazados ke no sepan vizindados

The faults of married couples should not be known to the neighbors.

21 Nov 2026
Refrán № 367 Ladino
El ke se mete a bever no konta los vazos

He who starts drinking doesn't count the glasses.

29 Nov 2026
Refrán № 368 Ladino
El savyo es el ke se ambeza una koza de kada persona

The wise one is he who learns something from every person.

32 Nov 2026
Refrán № 369 Ladino
La mujer i el vino kitan al ombre del tino

Woman and wine make a man lose his senses.

24 Nov 2026
Refrán № 370 Ladino
El gato aspera mujer chapachula i puerta avierta

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

26 Nov 2026
Refrán № 371 Ladino
Kuando ombre i mujer kazan se eskapa su romansa i sus istorya empesa

When a man and a woman marry, their romance ends and their (real) story begins.

19 Nov 2026
Refrán № 372 Ladino
La tierra vale tanto, komo el ombre ke la lavora

The land is worth as much as the man who works it.

31 Nov 2026
Refrán № 373 Ladino
Ken no gusto amargura no puede apresiar lo dulse

Whoever has not tasted bitterness cannot appreciate sweetness.

32 Nov 2026
Refrán № 374 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 № 375 Ladino
Fruta de oy, pan de ayer, karne de antiyer, vino de un anyo antes, azen el ombre sano

Today's fruit, yesterday's bread, the day-before-yesterday's meat and last year's wine make a man healthy.

16 Nov 2026
Refrán № 376 Ladino
Si no ay kalor en el nido lo bushka afuera el marido

If there is no warmth in the nest, the husband looks for it outside.

22 Nov 2026
Refrán № 377 Ladino
Kuento de kaza no sale a la plasa

Household matters don't go out to the square (don't air your dirty laundry).

22 Nov 2026
Refrán № 378 Ladino
Lavoro empesado no se mostra ni a esfuegra, ni a kunyada, ni a vizina ayreada

Unfinished work should not be shown to the mother-in-law, the sister-in-law, or the nosy neighbor. (uncertain: "ayreada")

14 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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