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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
  • 37,245readings
Refrán del día · November 8
El mal i el bien en la kara se ven Good and evil show on the face.
Topics 557
Refrán № 109 Ladino
La mujer no es kamiza ke se troka

A woman is not a shirt to be changed.

70 Nov 2026
Refrán № 110 Ladino
Al azno metele semer de oro, no troka siempre keda azno

Put a golden pack-saddle on a donkey; it does not change, it always stays a donkey.

70 Nov 2026
Refrán № 111 Ladino
La okazyon aze al ladron

Opportunity makes the thief.

70 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 112 Ladino
No traves la kuedra muncho ke se aranka

Don't pull the rope too hard or it will snap.

70 Nov 2026
Refrán № 113 Ladino
El mokozo se burla del tinyozo

The snotty one mocks the scabby one (the pot calling the kettle black).

70 Nov 2026
Refrán № 114 Ladino
Moz Dieron agua de pozo

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

69 Nov 2026
Refrán № 115 Ladino
Kedimos ariento las aguas

We remained beside the waters. (uncertain)

69 Nov 2026
Refrán № 116 Ladino
Aze bien sin mirar a ken

Do good without looking at whom.

69 Nov 2026
Refrán № 117 Ladino
Al riko el gayo le mete guevo ma al prove ni la gayna

The rooster lays an egg for the rich man, but for the poor not even the hen does.

69 Nov 2026
Refrán № 118 Ladino
Etchalo al mazalozo a la mar i va tornar kon una perla en la boka

Throw a lucky man into the sea and he'll come back with a pearl in his mouth.

69 Nov 2026
Refrán № 119 Ladino
No le mires la kara, mirale la grasya

When the work talks,words are unnecessary.

69 Nov 2026
Refrán № 120 Ladino
Vende Pipinos vende halva ma no asperes nedava

Sell seeds, sell halva, but do not wait for charity.

69 Nov 2026
Refrán № 121 Ladino
Bivas, engrandeskas i kreskas komo un peshiko an aguas freskas. Amen

May you live, grow and flourish like a little fish in fresh waters. Amen.

69 Nov 2026
Refrán № 122 Ladino
Un ombre sin amigo es komo la mano derecha sin la siedra

A man without a friend is like the right hand without the left.

69 Nov 2026
Refrán № 123 Ladino
Tornaron kon los mokos enkolgados

They came back with their snot hanging (i.e., dejected / empty-handed).

69 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 124 Ladino
Kuando ase luvia yoran los sielos i riye la tierra

When it rains, the skies weep and the earth laughs.

68 Nov 2026
Refrán № 125 Ladino
El ermano kere la ermana i el marido mujer sana

The brother wants his sister (well), and the husband wants a healthy wife.

68 Nov 2026
Refrán № 126 Ladino
Ijas i joyas no se deshan en manos ajenas

Daughters and jewels are not left in other hands.

68 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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