Traditional proverbs of Colombia in es and English — each with its meaning and source.
El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
“He who embraces too much, holds little.”
Taking on too many things at once means you do none of them well.
Source: Traditional Colombian/Spanish proverb, public-domain oral tradition
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
“A shrimp that falls asleep is carried away by the current.”
If you are not alert and diligent, you will lose your opportunity.
Source: Traditional Colombian proverb, public-domain oral tradition
Más vale solo que mal acompañado.
“Better to be alone than in bad company.”
It is preferable to be by yourself than to keep company that harms you.
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras.
“To a good listener, few words will do.”
An intelligent person needs only a hint to understand the full message.
Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.
“The early riser gets God's help.”
Those who start early and work hard are rewarded.
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
“Tell me who you walk with and I'll tell you who you are.”
You are judged and shaped by the company you keep.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“A closed mouth catches no flies.”
Staying quiet keeps you out of trouble.
De grano en grano, llena la gallina el buche.
“Every little bit helps.”
Small, steady efforts accumulate into a large result.
Dios aprieta pero no ahoga.
“God squeezes but does not choke.”
Hardships are hard but never beyond what one can ultimately endure.
No hay mal que dure cien años.
“There is no evil that lasts a hundred years.”
No hardship lasts forever; bad times eventually pass.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
“No matter how early you rise, dawn will not come any sooner.”
Rushing does not change how long a natural process actually takes.
Más vale tarde que nunca.
“Better late than never.”
Doing something late is still better than never doing it at all.
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 good, capable people brings protection and benefit.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.
“Do not look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Do not criticize or question something that was given to you for free.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A barking dog does not bite.”
Those who make the loudest threats are often the least dangerous.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no one as deaf as the one who does not want to hear.”
A person who refuses to listen will never understand, no matter how clearly you speak.
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
“Raise ravens and they will peck out your eyes.”
Kindness shown to an ungrateful person may later be repaid with betrayal.
El que no arriesga, no gana.
“He who does not risk does not win.”
Achieving something worthwhile requires the courage to take chances.
En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
“In the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife.”
Skilled people often neglect to apply their own expertise within their own home.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Each sheep with its own mate.”
People naturally gather with others who are similar to themselves.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“There is a long stretch between saying and doing.”
It is far harder to actually do something than merely to talk about doing it.
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.
Quien mucho duerme, poco aprende.
“He who sleeps a lot learns little.”
Excessive idleness prevents personal growth and learning.
El que siembra vientos, recoge tempestades.
“He who sows winds, reaps storms.”
Reckless or harmful actions bring far greater consequences back on the one who caused them.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
It is wiser to ignore insults or foolish remarks than to react to them.
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
“There is no bad from which good does not come.”
Even difficult or unfortunate events often carry some hidden benefit.
El que ríe de último, ríe mejor.
“He who laughs last, laughs best.”
Lasting success matters more than an early triumph or mockery.
Más vale prevenir que lamentar.
“Better to prevent than to lament.”
Taking precautions beforehand is wiser than dealing with regret afterward.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, a heart that does not feel.”
What is never witnessed or known cannot cause pain; out of sight, out of mind.
El que la hace, la paga.
“He who does it, pays for it.”
Wrongdoing eventually brings its own consequences upon the one who committed it.
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
“Not all that glitters is gold.”
Appearances can deceive; something impressive is not always genuinely valuable.
A lo hecho, pecho.
“What is done, face with courage.”
Once something has already happened, accept it bravely and move forward.
Zapatero, a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”
People should focus on and speak about what they actually know and do well.
El que tiene tienda, que la atienda.
“He who has a shop should tend to it.”
Whoever holds a responsibility should look after it personally and diligently.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
“Water you are not going to drink, let it flow.”
Do not interfere in matters that do not concern or benefit you.
No es tan bravo el león como lo pintan.
“The lion is not as fierce as he is painted.”
Things or people often turn out to be less intimidating than their reputation suggests.
Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
“The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.”
Experience gained over time is worth more than raw cunning alone.
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.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
“In the absence of bread, cakes are good.”
When the ideal option is unavailable, a reasonable substitute is worth accepting.
Genio y figura, hasta la sepultura.
“Character and looks last until the grave.”
A person's fundamental nature and manner rarely change throughout life.
El que espera, desespera.
“He who waits, despairs.”
Waiting for something uncertain is difficult and wears down patience.
No hay atajo sin trabajo.
“There is no shortcut without hard work.”
Real success requires genuine effort; there are no true shortcuts.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
“In bad times, put on a good face.”
Facing hardship with a positive attitude makes it easier to bear.
Quien bien te quiere, te hará llorar.
“He who truly loves you will make you cry.”
Genuine love sometimes requires hard truths or firm discipline.
El que mal anda, mal acaba.
“He who lives badly, ends badly.”
A dishonest or reckless way of life eventually leads to a poor outcome.
Donde hay confianza, da asco.
“Where there is too much trust, it turns distasteful.”
Excessive familiarity can lead people to become careless, rude, or take one another for granted.
Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.
“Even if the monkey dresses in silk, it remains a monkey.”
Fine appearances cannot change a person's true underlying nature.
El que con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña.
“He who walks with wolves learns to howl.”
The company you keep gradually shapes your habits and behavior.
Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.
“A bird in hand is worth a hundred flying.”
A modest but certain gain is worth more than a large, uncertain possibility.
No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver.
“There is no one as blind as the one who does not want to see.”
A person who refuses to acknowledge reality will never see the truth, no matter how obvious it is.
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