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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.

  • 557proverbs
  • 10languages
  • 35,509readings
Refrán del día · November 8
El mal i el bien en la kara se ven Good and evil show on the face.
Family 137

137 proverbs · Family

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Refrán № 73 Ladino
La madre mokoza alava a su ija la tinyoza

The snotty mother praises her scabby daughter.

57 Nov 2026
Refrán № 74 Ladino
Kuando fui ermuera no topi esfuegra i kuando fui esfuegra no topi ermuera

When I was a daughter-in-law I found no mother-in-law, and when I was a mother-in-law I found no daughter-in-law.

57 Nov 2026
Refrán № 75 Ladino
No ay mijor madre de la ke te paryo

There is no better mother than the one who gave birth to you.

57 Nov 2026
Refrán № 76 Ladino
El ganar i el peryer son ermanos

Winning and losing are brothers.

57 Nov 2026
Refrán № 77 Ladino
Madrasta el nombre ya abasta

For a stepmother, the name alone is enough.

57 Nov 2026
Refrán № 78 Ladino
Padre guadrador el ijo es gastador

A saving father, a spendthrift son.

57 Nov 2026
Refrán № 79 Ladino
Esfuegra i ermuera son amigas solo en pintura

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are friends only in a painting.

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 80 Ladino
No kontes los sekretos de tu alma ni a tu ermana

Do not tell the secrets of your soul, not even to your sister.

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 81 Ladino
Ken no tiene ermana no tiene nada

Whoever has no sister has nothing.

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 82 Ladino
Kuando aharvan al ijo, a la madre le erguele

When the son is beaten, the mother is hurt.

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 83 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)

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 84 Ladino
Ni la esfuegra puede ser madre ni la ermuera ija

A mother-in-law can't be a mother, nor a daughter-in-law a daughter.

55 Nov 2026
Refrán № 85 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")

55 Nov 2026
Refrán № 86 Ladino
La ija en la fasha, el ashugar en la kasha

The daughter in swaddling clothes, the trousseau in the chest.

55 Nov 2026
Refrán № 87 Ladino
Yerno komo el sol de invierno

A son-in-law is like the winter sun.

55 Nov 2026
Refrán № 88 Ladino
La mujer es komo la uva, si la miraz bueno se aze vino i si no la miraz bueno se aze vinagre

A woman is like a grape: if you treat her well she becomes wine, and if you do not treat her well she becomes vinegar.

55 Nov 2026
Refrán № 89 Ladino
El ke no tiene ke azer se toma kon su mujer

He who has nothing to do quarrels with his wife.

55 Nov 2026
Refrán № 90 Ladino
Lo izo el echo komo su kara

He did the deed just like his face.

55 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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