Traditional proverbs of Dominican Republic in es and English — each with its meaning and source.
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
“The shrimp that falls asleep gets carried away by the current.”
Negligence or complacency causes you to lose your opportunity.
Source: Traditional Dominican Republic proverb, public-domain oral tradition
El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija.
“He who leans on a good tree is sheltered by good shade.”
Surrounding yourself with good people or good support brings protection and benefit.
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
“There is no bad from which some good does not come.”
Even misfortune can carry a hidden benefit or lesson.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.
“Do not look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Be grateful for what is given freely instead of scrutinizing it for flaws.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“There is a long stretch between saying and doing.”
Talking about something is far easier than actually accomplishing it.
El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much holds little tightly.”
Trying to do too many things at once weakens the result of each one.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“Flies do not enter a closed mouth.”
Staying silent when appropriate keeps you out of trouble.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
“Getting up earlier does not make dawn arrive any sooner.”
Some outcomes cannot be rushed no matter how much effort is applied ahead of time.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
“Put a good face to bad weather.”
Face hardship and difficulty with a positive attitude.
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
“Raise ravens and they will peck out your eyes.”
Kindness given to the ungrateful is sometimes repaid with harm.
El que ríe último, ríe mejor.
“He who laughs last, laughs best.”
Do not celebrate a victory too soon; outcomes can still change.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Value promptness and avoid procrastination.
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.
“God helps those who rise early.”
Diligence and early effort tend to be rewarded.
Zapatero, a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”
Mind your own business and stay within your area of expertise.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Each sheep with its own mate.”
Like tends to belong with like.
El que no arriesga, no gana.
“He who does not risk, does not gain.”
Nothing ventured, nothing gained; taking chances is necessary for reward.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no worse deaf person than one who does not want to hear.”
Willful ignorance is harder to overcome than any real limitation.
En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
“In the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife.”
People often neglect to apply their own skill or trade within their own home.
Más vale prevenir que lamentar.
“Better to prevent than to regret.”
Taking precautions ahead of time is wiser than dealing with regret afterward.
El que la sigue, la consigue.
“He who keeps pursuing it, achieves it.”
Persistence eventually leads to success.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
“Water you are not going to drink, let it flow.”
Do not meddle in matters that do not concern or benefit you.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A dog that barks does not bite.”
Loud threats are often empty and less dangerous than they sound.
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 outweighs raw cunning or cleverness.
El que con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña.
“He who walks with wolves learns to howl.”
The company you keep shapes your habits and behavior.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
Ignore foolish or provocative talk rather than engaging with it.
No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver.
“There is no worse blind person than one who does not want to see.”
Willful blindness to the truth is worse than any physical limitation.
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.
“A bird in hand is worth more than a hundred flying.”
A smaller certain gain is worth more than a larger uncertain one.
Cuando el río suena, piedras trae.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying stones.”
Persistent rumors usually have some basis in truth.
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 a person's deepest insecurities.
No se puede tapar el sol con un dedo.
“You cannot cover the sun with one finger.”
The truth cannot be concealed forever, no matter how hard one tries.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, a heart that does not feel.”
What is not witnessed directly is easier to remain unmoved by.
El que fue a Sevilla, perdió su silla.
“He who went to Seville lost his seat.”
Step away from your place and someone else may take it.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
“When bread is lacking, cakes will do.”
Make the best of what is available when the ideal option is missing.
Genio y figura hasta la sepultura.
“Character and appearance last until the grave.”
A person's fundamental nature rarely changes throughout their life.
El que no llora, no mama.
“He who does not cry, does not nurse.”
You must speak up and ask in order to receive what you need.
Más vale solo que mal acompañado.
“Better alone than in bad company.”
Solitude is preferable to keeping company that brings you harm.
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.
“To a good listener, few words are enough.”
A perceptive person needs little explanation to understand.
El hábito no hace al monje.
“The habit does not make the monk.”
Outward appearance does not determine a person's true nature or worth.
Quien siembra vientos, recoge tempestades.
“He who sows winds reaps storms.”
Reckless actions bring consequences far more severe than intended.
No hay atajo sin trabajo.
“There is no shortcut without work.”
Genuine success requires real effort; there are no true shortcuts.
Candil de la calle, oscuridad de su casa.
“A lamp for the street, darkness in one's own house.”
Some people are generous and attentive to outsiders while neglecting their own family.
El que tiene rabo de paja, no se arrime a la candela.
“He who has a straw tail should not get near the fire.”
Someone with something to hide should avoid drawing attention to themselves.
A otro perro con ese hueso.
“Take that bone to another dog.”
Said to dismiss a claim or excuse as unbelievable — go try convincing someone else.
Cada palo aguanta su vela.
“Each mast bears its own sail.”
Each person must carry their own burden and face the consequences of their own actions.
El que no oye consejo, no llega a viejo.
“He who does not heed advice does not reach old age.”
Ignoring wise counsel from others tends to lead to trouble or an early downfall.
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
“Tell me who you walk with and I will tell you who you are.”
A person's character is judged by the company they keep.
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
“Not all that glitters is gold.”
Appearances can be deceiving; something attractive on the surface may lack real value.
Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza.
“A tree that grows crooked never straightens its trunk.”
Deep-rooted flaws or habits formed early are very difficult to correct later in life.
Más vale paso que dure y no trote que canse.
“Better a pace that lasts than a trot that tires.”
A steady, sustainable effort accomplishes more than a burst of speed that quickly burns out.
A buen hambre no hay pan duro.
“To great hunger, no bread is hard.”
When a need is great enough, one is not picky about how it is met.
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