Growing up in Mexico, there was not a day when I wouldn’t learn a life lesson through sayings in Spanish. Did I get in trouble for talking back? “Calladita te vez mas bonita” my grandma would say meaning you look prettier with your mouth shut. Verbal teachings are extremely important to every culture, not just in Mexico. Sayings are one element that every culture has and keep passing through generations to teach life lessons, give comfort in different situations or laugh at other’s misfortunes if you’re that type of person. Now in college I really like quoting sayings because explaining them to my friends is so fun and makes me look wise even though I’m not being original since these sayings are super old. So here are nine saying in Spanish that have been important and relevant in college so far.
1. "Camarón que se duerme se lo
lleva la corriente"
Literal meaning: Shrimp that falls asleep will be taken by the waves.
If you’re not proactive then you will end up being hurt by your laziness. This is so related to college students because if you didn’t study for your midterms then you’re… taken by the waves.
2. "Mas sabe el Diablo por Viejo que
por Diablo"
Literal Meaning: The devil knows more for being old then for being the devil
My dad is the perfect example for this saying. I don’t mean that he’s old or anything but every time he warns me about something I end up making a mistake that I could’ve avoided by just listening to him. He told me to get a direct flight from Portland to Newark and I didn’t so what happened? I got stuck in San Francisco for like one day and cried and was sad. . Older people are going to know more than you in some kind of aspect so listen to what they have to say.
Literal Meaning: Even if the doll dresses with silk, the doll will stay
This saying is actually really mean so you can use it on your enemies. Even though a person tries to someone else that will never happen.
4. "Agua que no as de beber, déjala
correr"
Literal Meaning: Water that you shouldn’t drink, you should let it go
Last week I made what I think was a bad decision so I was upset but then I remembered this saying and I remembered that things always happen for a reason so I shouldn’t dwell on it.
5. "El que es perico, donde quiera
es verde"
Literal Meaning: The one who is a parakeet is green everywhere
This is a mom favorite because it tells you how if you’re one way then you will be that way everywhere. I say that this is a mom favorite because my mom always tells me that I am successful and I will be like that wherever I go. When she tells me this I’m like “Stooooop.”
6. "Crea fama y echate a dormir"
Literal meaning: Create fame and start sleeping
This is usually used for people with bad habits because once people know about the bad habits then everyone will think badly of the person even if he or she stops. But it can also be used for good things like if you’re smart even if you get a bad score then people won’t know you were clueless in that test. I mean, that’s what people tell me …
7. "Lo que no es para ti: aunque te
pongas y lo que es para ti aunque te quites"
Literal Meaning: What is not for you won’t be even if you get in front. What is for you will be even if you move.
This is self-explanatory.
Literal meaning: In bad steps you should hurry
When Mama Marce (my grandmother) would give me some of her many home remedies she would tell me this saying mostly because all of her remedies were gross so she made me drink them fast in order for me not to taste them too much.
9. "Mas vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando"
Literal meaning: One bird in your hand is worth more than a hundred flying
It is better to dominate something then do everything halfway or not at all.
