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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
  • 51,439readings
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 № 415 Ladino
Esta la tripa en la nariz

The gut is up in the nose (he is fed up, has had enough). (uncertain, idiom)

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 416 Ladino
Ke vale el ojo avierto si el korason es siego

What is an open eye worth if the heart is blind?

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 417 Ladino
El Dio ke guadre de marido eskaso

May God protect us from a stingy husband.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 418 Ladino
Ni la esfuegra puede ser madre ni la ermuera ija

A mother-in-law can't be a mother, nor a daughter-in-law a daughter.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 419 Ladino
Kuando ombre i mujer kazan se eskapa su romansa i sus istorya empesa

When a man and a woman marry, their romance ends and their (real) story begins.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 420 Ladino
La kampana chika no se oye kuando bate la kampana grande

The small bell cannot be heard when the big bell rings.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 421 Ladino
Mujer ke save Latin,no tiene ni marido ni buena fin

A woman who knows Latin has neither a husband nor a good end.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 422 Ladino
El pan de la vizina es una milizina

The neighbor's bread is a medicine.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 423 Ladino
El ke no kere kazar demanda muncho ashugar

He who does not want to marry demands a big trousseau.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 424 Ladino
La mansevez es una vez ken la perye loko es

Youth comes once; whoever wastes it is a fool.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 425 Ladino
El ke atrapa la kola del leon ke tenga kudyado i no solte

Whoever grabs the lion's tail must be careful and not let go.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 426 Ladino
A la ora de la pichada fraguar la privada

At the time of the pee, build the toilet (acting too late, when the need is already urgent).

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 427 Ladino
Kara alegre, dos kandelas

A cheerful face is worth two candles.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 428 Ladino
El ke mal pensa para si se lo aze

He who thinks evil does it to himself.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 429 Ladino
Karas vemos korasones no konosemos

We see faces, we do not know hearts.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 430 Ladino
No kontes los sekretos de tu alma ni a tu ermana

Do not tell the secrets of your soul, not even to your sister.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 431 Ladino
Si te dan toma si te aharvan fuy

If they give, take; if they beat you, flee.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 432 Ladino
Lo ke te aze tu mano no te lo aze ni tu ermano

What your own hand does for you, not even your brother will do for you.

78 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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