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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
  • 35,751readings
Refrán del día · November 8
El mal i el bien en la kara se ven Good and evil show on the face.
Food 33

33 proverbs · Food

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Refrán № 19 Ladino
Al riko, kon salud i kon vida. Al prove de ande te vino

To the rich man, "with health and life"; to the poor man, "where did it come to you from?"

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 20 Ladino
El diya ke no barri vino el kien no asperi

The day I did not sweep, the one I did not expect came.

55 Nov 2026
Refrán № 21 Ladino
La sangre no se aze agua

Blood does not turn into water.

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 22 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 № 23 Ladino
Tengo tres deseos, Komer sin engodrar, Amar sin sufrir i Ganar sin lavorar

I have three wishes: to eat without getting fat, to love without suffering, and to earn without working.

60 Nov 2026
Refrán № 24 Ladino
Mas vale pan kon amor ke gayna kon dolor

Better bread with love than a hen with sorrow.

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 25 Ladino
Vestir al uzo, Komer al gusto

Dress according to custom, eat according to taste.

54 Nov 2026
Refrán № 26 Ladino
La mujer i el vino kitan al ombre del tino

Woman and wine make a man lose his senses.

59 Nov 2026
Refrán № 27 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.

59 Nov 2026
Refrán № 28 Ladino
Tu marido ke te kera komo la sal

A husband who loves you like salt (dearly, as something essential). (uncertain)

59 Nov 2026
Refrán № 29 Ladino
Lentejas... Si keres las komes i si no las deshas

Lentils... if you want, you eat them, and if not, you leave them (take it or leave it).

73 Nov 2026
Refrán № 30 Ladino
Moz Dieron agua de pozo

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

64 Nov 2026
Refrán № 31 Ladino
El pan tugerto la lumbre lo enderecha

The fire straightens crooked bread.

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 32 Ladino
La agua pasa, el lodo keda

The water goes but the mud stays

83 Nov 2026
Refrán № 33 Ladino
Pan i kezo i la kara riente

Bread and cheese and a smiling face.

74 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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