Traditional proverbs of Argentina in es and English — each with its meaning and source.
Los hermanos sean unidos, porque ésa es la ley primera; tengan unión verdadera en cualquier tiempo que sea, porque si entre ellos pelean los devoran los de ajuera.
“Let the brothers be united, for that is the first law; may they keep true union in whatever time it may be, because if they fight among themselves, those from outside will devour them.”
Family and community must stay united, because division leaves them vulnerable to outside enemies.
Source: José Hernández, 'La Vuelta de Martín Fierro' (1879), Canto XXXII — public-domain Argentine gaucho epic
Hacete amigo del juez, no le des de qué quejarse; y cuando quiera enojarse vos te debés encoger, pues siempre es güeno tener palenque ande ir a rascarse.
“Make friends with the judge; do not give him reason to complain — for it is always good to have a hitching post to go and scratch yourself on.”
Cynical worldly advice to stay on the good side of those in power so they can protect you.
Source: José Hernández, 'La Vuelta de Martín Fierro' (1879), the advice of Viejo Vizcacha — public domain
Naides es más que naide.
“Nobody is more than anybody.”
An assertion of human equality — no person is worth more than another, whatever their rank.
Source: Traditional Rioplatense gaucho saying, popularized by 'Martín Fierro' (José Hernández, 1872) — public-domain oral tradition
El primer cuidao del hombre es defender el pellejo.
“A man's first care is to defend his own hide.”
Self-preservation is a person's most basic instinct and duty.
Source: José Hernández, 'La Vuelta de Martín Fierro' (1879), Viejo Vizcacha's counsel — public domain
Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
“The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.”
Experience and age teach more wisdom than raw cleverness alone.
Source: Traditional Argentine (Rioplatense) proverb, public-domain oral tradition
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
“The shrimp that falls asleep is carried off by the current.”
If you grow careless or lazy you will lose your opportunity and be left behind.
El que quiere celeste, que le cueste.
“Whoever wants the sky-blue must pay the price for it.”
Anything worth having demands effort and sacrifice to obtain.
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
“Tell me who you walk with and I'll tell you who you are.”
A person's character is revealed by the company they keep.
Source: Traditional Spanish-language proverb widely used in Argentina, public-domain oral tradition
A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes.
“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Do not criticize or find fault with something that was given to you for free.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“Flies don't get into a closed mouth.”
Staying silent, especially about sensitive matters, keeps a person out of trouble.
El que mucho abarca poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much holds little.”
Trying to do too many things at once usually means doing none of them well.
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
“There is no bad from which some good does not come.”
Even misfortune can eventually bring an unexpected benefit.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
“Rising early does not make the dawn come sooner.”
Rushing or forcing things cannot make them happen faster than their natural time.
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.
“A bird in the hand is worth a hundred flying.”
A modest but certain gain is worth more than a large but uncertain one.
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
“Raise ravens and they will peck out your eyes.”
Kindness shown to the ungrateful is often repaid with betrayal.
Dime de qué presumes y te diré de qué careces.
“Tell me what you boast of and I will tell you what you lack.”
Boasting often reveals the very thing a person is actually missing.
El que no arriesga, no gana.
“He who does not risk, does not win.”
Reward requires the courage to take a chance.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
“Water you are not going to drink, let it flow on.”
Do not interfere in matters that do not concern or benefit you.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Each sheep with its own match.”
People naturally pair off with those who are similar to themselves.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“From saying to doing there is a long stretch.”
It is far easier to promise something than to actually carry it out.
El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija.
“He who leans against a good tree is sheltered by good shade.”
Associating with capable, trustworthy people brings protection and benefit.
El que ríe último, ríe mejor.
“He who laughs last, laughs best.”
Final victory matters far more than an early advantage.
El hábito no hace al monje.
“The habit does not make the monk.”
Outward appearance alone does not determine a person's true character.
En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
“In the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife.”
People often lack for themselves the very thing they provide skillfully for others.
Genio y figura hasta la sepultura.
“Temperament and looks, until the grave.”
A person's basic character and manner rarely change throughout their life.
La avaricia rompe el saco.
“Greed breaks the sack.”
Excessive greed ultimately causes a person to lose everything.
La curiosidad mató al gato.
“Curiosity killed the cat.”
Excessive curiosity can lead a person into unnecessary danger.
Las apariencias engañan.
“Appearances deceive.”
Things and people are often not what they seem at first glance.
Mal de muchos, consuelo de tontos.
“The misfortune of many is the comfort of fools.”
It is foolish to feel better about one's own troubles just because others share them.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Avoid procrastination and act while you still have the chance.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no one deafer than the one who does not want to hear.”
People who refuse to listen cannot be reached no matter how clearly you speak.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel.”
What a person does not witness cannot trouble their heart; out of sight, out of mind.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A dog that barks does not bite.”
Loud threats often come from those least likely to actually act on them.
Quien mal anda, mal acaba.
“He who lives badly ends badly.”
A dishonest or reckless way of life eventually leads to ruin.
Quien siembra vientos, recoge tempestades.
“He who sows winds reaps storms.”
Reckless or harmful actions bring consequences far greater than the original deed.
Zapatero, a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”
One should tend to what one actually knows and not meddle in other trades.
Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza.
“A tree that grows crooked never straightens its trunk.”
A flaw formed early in life or character is very hard to correct later.
Barriga llena, corazón contento.
“Full belly, happy heart.”
Basic comfort and satisfaction bring peace of mind.
Cuando el río suena, agua lleva.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying water.”
Persistent rumors usually have some truth behind them.
De tal palo, tal astilla.
“From such a stick, such a splinter.”
Children tend to resemble their parents in character and behavior.
Querer es poder.
“To want is to be able.”
Strong determination is often enough to achieve what seems difficult.
El que no llora, no mama.
“He who does not cry does not get fed.”
Those who do not speak up for what they need often go without.
El que la sigue, la consigue.
“He who keeps at it, gets it.”
Persistence eventually leads to success.
Hombre prevenido vale por dos.
“A forewarned man is worth two.”
Being prepared and cautious greatly multiplies a person's effectiveness.
La ropa sucia se lava en casa.
“Dirty laundry is washed at home.”
Family or internal disputes should be handled privately, not aired in public.
Más vale prevenir que curar.
“Better to prevent than to cure.”
It is wiser to avoid a problem beforehand than to fix it after the fact.
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
“Not all that glitters is gold.”
An attractive appearance does not guarantee real value.
Para muestra basta un botón.
“For a sample, one button is enough.”
A single clear example is sufficient to prove a general point.
Piensa mal y acertarás.
“Think badly and you will be right.”
A cynical, wary suspicion about people's motives is often the safer bet.
Tanto va el cántaro a la fuente que al final se rompe.
“The pitcher goes so often to the well that it finally breaks.”
Repeatedly tempting risk or danger eventually leads to disaster.
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