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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
  • 5,850readings
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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 № 37 Ladino
Kara tuerta ventura derecha

Crooked face, straight fortune.

36 Nov 2026
Refrán № 38 Ladino
A la boka serrada no entra moshka

No fly enters a closed mouth.

30 Nov 2026
Refrán № 39 Ladino
Despues ke la perdio su valor supo

Only after he lost it did he know its value.

33 Nov 2026
Refrán № 40 Ladino
El Dio aprova a los buenos a padre aresentado da ijo alokado

God tests the good: to a settled father he gives a crazy son.

37 Nov 2026
Refrán № 41 Ladino
Hijos no tiene, inyetos le yoran

He has no children, yet grandchildren cry for him.

15 Nov 2026
Refrán № 42 Ladino
Kada uno en su kaza i El Dio en la de todos

Each one in his own house, and God in everyone's.

18 Nov 2026
Refrán № 43 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 № 44 Ladino
Ambre i friyo entregan al ombre al enemigo

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

24 Nov 2026
Refrán № 45 Ladino
La madre kon la ija komo piedra en aniyo

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

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 46 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.

20 Nov 2026
Refrán № 47 Ladino
Sol i luvya anyos de artura

Sun and rain, years of abundance.

25 Nov 2026
Refrán № 48 Ladino
Tanto grita el ladron ke se espanta el patron

The thief shouts so loudly that the owner gets frightened.

31 Nov 2026
Refrán № 49 Ladino
El ke bien te kere te aze yorar

He who loves you well makes you cry (tough love).

26 Nov 2026
Refrán № 50 Ladino
Ya Avlo ya lo espajo

Now I've spoken, now I've cleared it up. (uncertain)

29 Nov 2026
Refrán № 51 Ladino
Mal yevando bien esperando

Enduring the bad, hoping for the good.

28 Nov 2026
Refrán № 52 Ladino
Moz Dieron agua de pozo

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

24 Nov 2026
Refrán № 53 Ladino
Ijos no tengo inyetos me yoran

I have no children, yet grandchildren cry for me.

26 Nov 2026
Refrán № 54 Ladino
Kedimos ariento las aguas

We remained beside the waters. (uncertain)

23 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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