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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
  • 34,469readings
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.
Work 8

8 proverbs · Work

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Refrán № 01 Ladino
El ke kuze i deskuze no keda sin echo

He who sews and unsews is never left without work done (said of one who keeps redoing things).

52 Nov 2026
Refrán № 02 Ladino
Ken tiene ijos de kazar i en Shabat deve de lavorar

Whoever has children to marry off must work even on Shabbat.

58 Nov 2026
Refrán № 03 Ladino
Kuando los echos avlan, las palavras sovran

When the work talks,words are unnecessary.

71 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 04 Ladino
La gana ke tengo de baylar, tienes tu de lavorar

The desire I have to dance, you should have to work.

55 Nov 2026
Refrán № 05 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")

53 Nov 2026
Refrán № 06 Ladino
Lo izo el echo komo su kara

He did the deed just like his face.

54 Nov 2026
Refrán № 07 Ladino
No le mires la kara, mirale la grasya

When the work talks,words are unnecessary.

66 Nov 2026
Refrán № 08 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
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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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