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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.

  • 190proverbs
  • 10languages
  • 6,406readings
Refrán del día · November 5
Azlaha i beraha en el pecho del papa Success and blessing on the father's chest (Ladino blessing: luck and blessing upon the father).
Topics 190
Refrán № 19 Ladino
Kuando el gato falta de kaza los ratones empesan a baylar

When the cat is away from home, the mice start to dance.

7 Nov 2026
Refrán № 20 Ladino
Mas vale pan kon amor ke gayna kon dolor

Better bread with love than a hen with sorrow.

5 Nov 2026
Refrán № 21 Ladino
Vestir al uzo, Komer al gusto

Dress according to custom, eat according to taste.

2 Nov 2026
Refrán № 22 Ladino
De dizir fuego no se kema la boka

Saying "fire" doesn't burn the mouth.

4 Nov 2026
Refrán № 23 Ladino
Karne kruda puede ser,pishkado crudo nunka

Raw meat maybe, raw fish never.

5 Nov 2026
Refrán № 24 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.

2 Nov 2026
Refrán № 25 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).

53 Nov 2026
Refrán № 26 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).

114 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 27 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 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 28 Ladino
Maldisyon sin razon se va a su patron

A curse without reason goes back to its master.

24 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 29 Ladino
Yerros de kazados ke no sepan vizindados

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

18 Nov 2026
Refrán № 30 Ladino
El ke se mete a bever no konta los vazos

He who starts drinking doesn't count the glasses.

23 Nov 2026
Refrán № 31 Ladino
El savyo es el ke se ambeza una koza de kada persona

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

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

Woman and wine make a man lose his senses.

17 Nov 2026
Refrán № 33 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 № 34 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.

15 Nov 2026
Refrán № 35 Ladino
La tierra vale tanto, komo el ombre ke la lavora

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

23 Nov 2026
Refrán № 36 Ladino
Ken no gusto amargura no puede apresiar lo dulse

Whoever has not tasted bitterness cannot appreciate sweetness.

25 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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