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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
  • 49,579readings
Refrán del día · November 9
Ni la esfuegra se aze madre ni la ermuera se aze ija A mother-in-law doesn't become a mother, nor a daughter-in-law a daughter.
Topics 557
Refrán № 361 Ladino
La vieja kere mas bivir para mas ver i mas oyir

The old woman wants to live longer to see more and hear more.

82 Nov 2026
Refrán № 362 Ladino
Lagrimas de mujer valen muncho i kostan poko

A woman's tears are worth a lot and cost little.

72 Nov 2026
Refrán № 363 Ladino
Las bokas de la djente no son ridomas ke las puedas tapar

People's mouths are not jars you can cover.

379 Nov 2026
Refrán № 364 Ladino
Las desgrasias nunka no vienen solas

Disasters never come alone.

96 Nov 2026
Refrán № 365 Ladino
Las ideas son komo pulgas, saltan de uno al otro ma no pikan a todos

Ideas are like fleas: they jump from one person to another, but they don't bite everyone.

92 Nov 2026
Refrán № 366 Ladino
Las madres suyas en una kuedra enkolgavan el lavado

Their mothers used to hang the washing on the same line.

67 Nov 2026
Refrán № 367 Ladino
Las ovras son kerensyas

Deeds are beliefs (actions show what one truly believes).

81 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 368 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")

73 Nov 2026
Refrán № 369 Ladino
Laz aldikeras del riko si se vazyan, no pueden inchir laz aldikeras del prove

If the rich man's pockets are emptied, they cannot fill the poor man's pockets.

76 Nov 2026
Refrán № 370 Ladino
Le prometieron a Rachel le dieron a Lea

They promised him Rachel, they gave him Leah.

81 Nov 2026
Refrán № 371 Ladino
Le prometyeron a Rahel, le dyeron a Lea

They promised him Rachel, they gave him Leah.

90 Nov 2026
Refrán № 372 Ladino
Le salyo un panariz al punto de la nariz

A whitlow came out on the very tip of his nose.

77 Nov 2026
Refrán № 373 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).

96 Nov 2026
Refrán № 374 Ladino
Leon ke esta durmiyendo, no lo espertes

Do not wake a sleeping lion.

75 Nov 2026
Refrán № 375 Ladino
Lo izo el echo komo su kara

He did the deed just like his face.

80 Nov 2026
Refrán № 376 Ladino
Lo karo es barato

What is expensive is cheap (quality costs more but pays off).

58 Nov 2026
Refrán № 377 Ladino
Lo ke aze gozar al marido es la buena vida ke le da la mujer

What makes a husband happy is the good life his wife gives him.

72 Nov 2026
Refrán № 378 Ladino
Lo ke das tomas

What you give, you take.

80 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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