Traditional proverbs of Ecuador in es and English — each with its meaning and source.
A buen hambre, no hay pan malo.
“When hungry enough, no bread is bad.”
Real need makes people accept what they would otherwise reject.
Source: Traditional Ecuador proverb, public-domain oral tradition
A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes.
“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Accept a gift graciously rather than criticizing its quality.
Amor de lejos, amor de pendejos.
“Love from far away is a fool's love.”
Distance weakens romantic bonds; long-distance love rarely lasts.
A falta de pan, buenas son las tortas.
“Lacking bread, cakes will do.”
When the ideal option is unavailable, a reasonable substitute is welcome.
A grandes males, grandes remedios.
“Great ills call for great remedies.”
Serious problems require bold, decisive solutions.
A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores.
“In troubled waters, the fishermen profit.”
Confusion and chaos create opportunities for those ready to seize them.
Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza.
“A tree that grows crooked never straightens its trunk.”
Character flaws formed early in life tend to persist into adulthood.
Cuando el río suena, piedras trae.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying stones.”
Persistent rumors usually have some basis in truth.
De tal palo, tal astilla.
“From such a stick, such a splinter.”
Children tend to resemble their parents in character and behavior.
El que calla, otorga.
“He who stays silent gives consent.”
Failing to object to something is often taken as agreement with it.
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.
“A bird in the hand is worth a hundred flying.”
A modest certain gain is worth more than a large uncertain one.
Quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades.
“He who sows winds reaps storms.”
Harmful actions eventually bring serious consequences upon their doer.
A la larga, todo se sabe.
“In the long run, everything comes to light.”
Secrets and hidden truths are eventually revealed with time.
A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando.
“Pray to God, but keep swinging the hammer.”
Faith should be paired with hard work, not used as a substitute for it.
Algo tendrá el agua cuando la bendicen.
“The water must have something in it, since they bless it.”
Widespread beliefs or suspicions usually rest on some real foundation.
A la vejez, viruelas.
“Smallpox in old age.”
Misfortune or hardship can strike unexpectedly even late in life.
Amistad por interés, no dura porque no lo es.
“Friendship built on self-interest does not last, because it was never real.”
True friendship cannot be based on what one person can gain from another.
A pan duro, diente agudo.
“For hard bread, a sharp tooth.”
A tough challenge requires a sharper, more determined effort to overcome.
Amor con amor se paga.
“Love is repaid with love.”
Kindness and affection given to others tend to be returned in kind.
A los tontos no les dura el dinero.
“Money never lasts long for fools.”
Those who spend carelessly quickly lose whatever wealth they have.
A la tercera va la vencida.
“The third time is the charm.”
Persistence through repeated attempts eventually brings success.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
“In bad weather, put on a good face.”
Facing hardship with a positive attitude makes it easier to bear.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
It is wiser to ignore foolish or provocative remarks than to respond to them.
Al buen pagador no le duelen prendas.
“A good payer feels no pain giving pledges.”
An honest person has no trouble offering guarantees, because they intend to honor them.
Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.
“God helps the one who rises early.”
Those who start their efforts early tend to be rewarded with good results.
A rey muerto, rey puesto.
“The king is dead, long live the new king.”
Life and leadership move on quickly; a replacement soon fills any gap.
A buen amigo, buen abrigo.
“A good friend is a good shelter.”
A true friend offers real protection and comfort in difficult times.
Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.
“Even if the monkey dresses in silk, it remains a monkey.”
A fine appearance cannot change someone's underlying nature.
Barriga vacía, no tiene alegría.
“An empty belly has no joy.”
Basic needs must be met before a person can find happiness.
Barco parado no gana flete.
“A docked ship earns no freight.”
Standing idle produces no income; action is required to earn a living.
Barriga llena, corazón contento.
“A full belly, a happy heart.”
Having one's basic needs met brings a simple, genuine contentment.
Bueno y barato, no caben en un zapato.
“Good and cheap don't fit in the same shoe.”
High quality and a low price rarely go together; one usually costs the other.
Bueno es cilantro, pero no tanto.
“Cilantro is good, but not too much of it.”
Even good things become harmful or tiresome in excess; moderation matters.
Cada uno sabe cómo mata sus pulgas.
“Everyone knows best how to kill their own fleas.”
Each person understands their own problems and how to handle them better than an outsider does.
Con el tiempo y la paciencia se adquiere la ciencia.
“With time and patience, knowledge is acquired.”
Real understanding and skill are built gradually, not gained overnight.
Ayúdate que yo te ayudaré.
“Help yourself, and I will help you.”
One must make an honest effort before expecting help from others or from fortune.
Guagua que no llora no mama.
“The baby who doesn't cry doesn't get fed.”
Those who do not speak up for what they need are often overlooked.
Llevar piñas a Milagro.
“Taking pineapples to Milagro.”
Bringing something to a place that already has plenty of it — the Ecuadorian version of "carrying coals to Newcastle," referencing the pineapple-growing town of Milagro.
El comedido come de lo escondido.
“The one who offers to help eats from what is hidden away.”
Someone who volunteers and pitches in is often rewarded with things others do not get.
Barre por donde pasa la suegra.
“Sweep the path where the mother-in-law will walk.”
A humorous reminder to clean and prepare thoroughly for a visit from someone who will judge closely.
Hablando se entiende la gente.
“By talking, people come to understand each other.”
Open conversation resolves misunderstandings and conflicts far better than silence.
Amor no quita conocimiento.
“Love does not take away good sense.”
One should stay clear-headed and sensible even while in love.
Al que le caiga el sayo, que se lo ponga.
“Whoever the cloak fits should wear it.”
If a criticism or description genuinely applies to you, accept it instead of denying it.
A cada cerdo le llega su San Martín.
“Every pig gets its San Martín's day.”
Everyone eventually faces a reckoning or consequence for their actions.
Amigo no quita amigo.
“One friend does not take the place of another.”
Making a new friend does not diminish or replace the value of an existing friendship.
Mi pluma lo mató.
“My pen killed him.”
Montalvo's declaration on hearing of the death of dictator Gabriel García Moreno in 1875, asserting the power of his writings against the regime to inspire its downfall.
Source: Attributed to Juan Montalvo, 1875, following the assassination of Gabriel García Moreno; widely documented in Ecuadorian historical and literary accounts
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
“The shrimp that falls asleep gets carried off by the current.”
Those who fail to stay alert and active lose their opportunity to someone else.
El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much holds too little.”
Trying to take on 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 bring an unexpected benefit in the end.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“Flies don't get into a closed mouth.”
Staying quiet keeps a person out of trouble.
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