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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.

  • 556proverbs
  • 10languages
  • 34,511readings
Refrán del día · November 8
Asukar en la boka no ayuda si tu korason es amargo Sugar in the mouth does not help if your heart is bitter.
Food 33

33 proverbs · Food

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Refrán № 19 Ladino
La vida es un biskocho, ken la kome krudo ken kocho

Life is a biscuit: some eat it raw, some baked.

59 Nov 2026
Refrán № 20 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).

72 Nov 2026
Refrán № 21 Ladino
Mas vale pan kon amor ke gayna kon dolor

Better bread with love than a hen with sorrow.

55 Nov 2026
Refrán № 22 Ladino
Moz Dieron agua de pozo

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

63 Nov 2026
Refrán № 23 Ladino
No eskupes al pozo ke bevites de su agua

Do not spit into the well from whose water you have drunk.

52 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 24 Ladino
Pan es pan, vino es vino, tu te fuites, vino otro vino

Bread is bread, wine is wine; you left, another came.

54 Nov 2026
Refrán № 25 Ladino
Pan i kezo i la kara riente

Bread and cheese and a smiling face.

70 Nov 2026
Refrán № 26 Ladino
Pasensya es pan i sensia

Patience is bread and knowledge.

61 Nov 2026
Refrán № 27 Ladino
Si mi padre no me kaza le komo la kaza

If my father doesn't marry me off, I'll eat up the house.

58 Nov 2026
Refrán № 28 Ladino
Si tienes pan i lentejas deke te keshas

If you have bread and lentils, why do you complain?

0 Nov 2026
Refrán № 29 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 № 30 Ladino
Tu marido ke te kera komo la sal

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

57 Nov 2026
Refrán № 31 Ladino
Tu pan no me arto, tu palavra me kontento

Your bread does not fill me; your word contents me.

56 Nov 2026
Refrán № 32 Ladino
Un pan en el sesto ni arto ni ambierto

One loaf in the basket: neither full nor hungry.

53 Nov 2026
Refrán № 33 Ladino
Vestir al uzo, Komer al gusto

Dress according to custom, eat according to taste.

53 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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