Traditional proverbs of Chile in es and English — each with its meaning and source.
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
“The shrimp that falls asleep is carried away by the current.”
If you become complacent or inattentive, you will lose your opportunity or be left behind.
Source: Traditional Chilean proverb, public-domain oral tradition (widely used across Latin America)
Al que madruga, Dios lo ayuda.
“He who rises early, God helps.”
Those who start early and work diligently are rewarded for their effort.
Source: Traditional Chilean proverb, public-domain oral tradition (pan-Hispanic refrán)
A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes.
“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Accept a gift graciously without criticizing its value or quality.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“In a closed mouth, no flies enter.”
Staying silent keeps you out of trouble; sometimes it is wiser to say nothing.
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.
“A bird in the hand is worth more than a hundred flying.”
A certain small gain is better than the mere possibility of a larger uncertain one.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A barking dog does not bite.”
People who make the loudest threats are often the least likely to act on them.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
“Rising very early does not make the dawn come sooner.”
Rushing or forcing things does not make them happen faster than their natural time.
El que ríe último, ríe mejor.
“He who laughs last, laughs best.”
The final outcome matters more than early appearances of success.
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 can be judged by the company they keep.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
“Water that you should not drink, let it flow.”
Do not meddle in or hold on to things that are not meant for you.
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
“There is no bad from which some good does not come.”
Even difficult or negative events can bring some hidden benefit or silver lining.
El que mucho abarca poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much holds little.”
Trying to do too many things at once often means doing none of them well.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
It is best to ignore insults or foolish remarks rather than respond to them.
Más vale tarde que nunca.
“Better late than never.”
Doing something after a delay is still better than never doing it at all.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no one so deaf as he who does not want to hear.”
People who refuse to listen or understand are the hardest to reach, no matter how clearly things are explained.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, a heart that does not feel.”
What we are unaware of cannot hurt or trouble us; out of sight, out of mind.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
“To bad weather, a good face.”
Face hardship and misfortune with a positive attitude rather than despair.
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
“Raise ravens, and they will peck out your eyes.”
Kindness shown to ungrateful people is often repaid with betrayal.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“From saying to doing there is a long stretch.”
It is much easier to talk about doing something than to actually accomplish it.
El que no arriesga, no gana.
“He who does not risk, does not win.”
Without taking chances, one cannot achieve significant rewards.
En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
“In the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife.”
Often the people best equipped with skill or resources neglect to apply them in their own lives.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Avoid procrastination; act promptly on tasks rather than delaying them.
A otro perro con ese hueso.
“Take that bone to another dog.”
Used to reject an unbelievable excuse or story; go try to fool someone else.
Cuando el río suena, piedras trae.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying stones.”
Persistent rumors or signs usually indicate some truth behind them.
Dime de qué presumes y te diré de qué careces.
“Tell me what you boast of, and I will tell you what you lack.”
People often brag most about the very things they are missing or insecure about.
El hábito no hace al monje.
“The habit does not make the monk.”
Outward appearance alone does not determine a person's true character or ability.
En boca del mentiroso, lo cierto se hace dudoso.
“In the mouth of a liar, even the truth becomes doubtful.”
Once someone is known to lie, people distrust everything they say, even when it is true.
La curiosidad mató al gato.
“Curiosity killed the cat.”
Excessive curiosity or meddling in matters that do not concern you can lead to trouble.
Más vale prevenir que curar.
“Better to prevent than to cure.”
Taking precautions beforehand is wiser than dealing with problems after they occur.
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
“Not everything that shines is gold.”
Appearances can be deceiving; something attractive is not always genuinely valuable.
Ojo por ojo, diente por diente.
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
Wrongdoing should be met with an equivalent punishment or response.
Quien mucho duerme, poco aprende.
“He who sleeps a lot, learns little.”
Excessive idleness or laziness limits a person's growth and knowledge.
Zapatero, a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”
One should focus on what one knows and not meddle in matters outside their expertise.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Each sheep with its own mate.”
People tend to pair off or associate with others similar to themselves.
El que a hierro mata, a hierro muere.
“He who kills by the sword dies by the sword.”
Those who use violence or harmful methods will eventually suffer the same fate themselves.
El que siembra vientos, recoge tempestades.
“He who sows the wind reaps the storm.”
Reckless or harmful actions eventually bring far greater consequences upon the one who caused them.
La ropa sucia se lava en casa.
“Dirty laundry is washed at home.”
Private or family disputes should be resolved privately, not aired in public.
Más vale solo que mal acompañado.
“Better alone than in bad company.”
Solitude is preferable to spending time with people who bring harm or negativity into your life.
Ande yo caliente, ríase la gente.
“Let me be warm and comfortable, and let people laugh.”
Personal comfort and well-being matter more than worrying about others' opinions or mockery.
Cada loco con su tema.
“Each madman has his own obsession.”
Everyone has their own particular quirks, interests, or fixations that define them.
Del árbol caído, todos hacen leña.
“From a fallen tree, everyone makes firewood.”
When someone is down on their luck or has lost power, others often take advantage of their misfortune.
El que no llora, no mama.
“He who does not cry does not nurse.”
Those who do not speak up or ask for what they need often go without it.
La necesidad tiene cara de hereje.
“Necessity has the face of a heretic.”
When people are in dire need, they may act against their own principles or values in order to survive.
Muerto el perro, se acabó la rabia.
“Once the dog is dead, the rabies is over.”
Removing the root cause of a problem ends the trouble it was causing.
No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver.
“There is no one so blind as he who does not want to see.”
People who refuse to acknowledge obvious truths are the hardest to convince, no matter the evidence.
Quien siembra recoge.
“He who sows, reaps.”
The results a person receives in life are shaped by the effort and actions they put in.
Sarna con gusto no pica.
“An itch you enjoy does not itch.”
A hardship willingly chosen or enjoyed does not feel like a burden.
Vísteme despacio que tengo prisa.
“Dress me slowly, for I am in a hurry.”
When you are rushed, it is even more important to proceed carefully to avoid costly mistakes.
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.
“For a good listener, few words are enough.”
A perceptive person needs only a brief hint or short explanation to understand.
No hay rosa sin espinas.
“There is no rose without thorns.”
Every good or beautiful thing in life comes with some difficulty or drawback attached.
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