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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
  • 50,583readings
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 № 433 Ladino
El Dio aprova a los buenos a padre aresentado da ijo alokado

God tests the good: to a settled father he gives a crazy son.

95 Nov 2026
Refrán № 434 Ladino
Hijos no tiene, inyetos le yoran

He has no children, yet grandchildren cry for him.

83 Nov 2026
Refrán № 435 Ladino
Kada uno en su kaza i El Dio en la de todos

Each one in his own house, and God in everyone's.

76 Nov 2026
Refrán № 436 Ladino
El ke da un groshiziko tanye el chufletiko

He who gives a little coin plays the little whistle (he who pays calls the tune).

94 Nov 2026
Refrán № 437 Ladino
Ambre i friyo entregan al ombre al enemigo

Hunger and cold deliver a man into the hands of the enemy.

78 Nov 2026
Refrán № 438 Ladino
La madre kon la ija komo piedra en aniyo

Mother and daughter are like a stone in a ring (inseparable, a precious bond).

94 Nov 2026
Refrán № 439 Ladino
Estate kon los ke modren i no kon los ke se modrieron

Stay with those who bite, not with those who have been bitten.

89 Nov 2026
Refrán № 440 Ladino
Sol i luvya anyos de artura

Sun and rain, years of abundance.

93 Nov 2026
Refrán № 441 Ladino
Tanto grita el ladron ke se espanta el patron

The thief shouts so loudly that the owner gets frightened.

101 Nov 2026
Refrán № 442 Ladino
El ke bien te kere te aze yorar

He who loves you well makes you cry (tough love).

96 Nov 2026
Refrán № 443 Ladino
Ya Avlo ya lo espajo

Now I've spoken, now I've cleared it up. (uncertain)

94 Nov 2026
Refrán № 444 Ladino
Mal yevando bien esperando

Enduring the bad, hoping for the good.

93 Nov 2026
Refrán № 445 Ladino
Moz Dieron agua de pozo

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

89 Nov 2026
Refrán № 446 Ladino
Ijos no tengo inyetos me yoran

I have no children, yet grandchildren cry for me.

91 Nov 2026
Refrán № 447 Ladino
Kedimos ariento las aguas

We remained beside the waters. (uncertain)

87 Nov 2026
Refrán № 448 Ladino
La estreya ke le briya

May his star shine (a blessing / wish for good luck).

85 Nov 2026
Refrán № 449 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 № 450 Ladino
La estreya ke le kayga

May his star fall (a curse / wish for bad luck).

95 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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