Traditional proverbs of Gibraltar in en and English — each with its meaning and source.
Hay quien por buscar un ochavillo gasta un real en cerillos.
“There are those who, chasing a small coin, spend a bigger one on candles.”
Warns against wasting more effort or money pursuing a small gain than the gain is actually worth.
Source: Traditional Andalusian Spanish proverb (refran), shared cultural and linguistic heritage of Gibraltar's Llanito vernacular, public-domain oral tradition
La campana no va a misa, pero avisa.
“The bell does not go to mass, but it gives the warning.”
Even a messenger who cannot act directly can still play a vital role by sounding the alarm.
Llevar agua a la mar, eso seria desvariar.
“Carrying water to the sea, now that would be madness.”
Doing something completely redundant, like offering someone what they already have in abundance, is pointless folly.
Lo que el padre logra, el hijo lo malogra.
“What the father earns, the son squanders.”
Wealth or achievement built by one generation through hard work is often carelessly wasted by the next.
La Justicia y la cuaresma, para los pobres son hechas.
“Justice and Lent are made for the poor.”
A wry observation that the burdens of law and hardship tend to fall hardest on those with the least power.
No tomeis hincha al perro que tiene dueno.
“Do not pick a fight with a dog that has an owner.”
Be careful provoking someone who has protection or powerful backing behind them.
Ole salero, que mas vale la gracia que el dinero.
“Well done, charm — wit is worth more than money.”
Personal charisma and grace are valued above material wealth.
Libro que sale de tu casa, de perderse lleva trazas.
“A book that leaves your house shows every sign of getting lost.”
Items lent out to others, especially books, are rarely seen again.
Lo hablao se lo lleva el viento, lo escrito queda de asiento.
“What is spoken is carried off by the wind; what is written stays put.”
Verbal promises are easily forgotten or denied, so important agreements should be put in writing.
Lo olvidao, ni agradecido ni pagao.
“What is forgotten is neither thanked for nor repaid.”
If a favor or a debt is genuinely forgotten by the lender, the borrower is quietly off the hook.
Dame donde me siente, que yo hare donde me acueste.
“Give me somewhere to sit, and I will make my own place to sleep.”
Given even a small starting foothold, a resourceful person will work hard to build the rest for themselves.
Cuando el andaluz canta, una pena tiene en la garganta.
“When the Andalusian sings, there is sorrow caught in his throat.”
Song is often the way deep grief or hardship finds an outlet and becomes bearable.
De la olla de San Francisco, comen cuatro y comen cinco.
“From Saint Francis's pot, four can eat, and so can five.”
A generous household always finds a way to make room for one more guest at the table.
Llevar aceite a Andalucia, necedad seria.
“Bringing olive oil to Andalusia — now that would be foolish.”
Do not waste effort offering someone something they already have in great abundance.
Mas vale un toma que dos te dare.
“One "here you go" is worth more than two "I'll give it to you"s.”
A small but certain gain in hand is worth more than a bigger promise that may never be kept.
Llovia ma' que el dia que enterraron a Bigote, que al cementerio fueron en bote.
“It rained harder than the day they buried Bigote, when the mourners had to reach the cemetery by boat.”
A local, tongue-in-cheek Llanito way of saying it rained extremely heavily — humor built into everyday speech.
Source: Traditional Llanito saying, Gibraltar oral tradition (recorded in the Llanito.com Gibraltarian phrase archive), public-domain
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.
“God helps the one who rises early.”
Diligence and an early start bring good fortune and success.
Perro ladrador, poco mordedor.
“A barking dog seldom bites.”
Loud threats and bluster often come from those least likely to actually act.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“No flies enter a closed mouth.”
Staying silent keeps a person out of trouble that loose talk invites.
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
“There is no evil from which some good does not come.”
Even misfortune can eventually bring an unexpected benefit.
Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
“He who grasps at too much holds on to little.”
Taking on too many things at once means doing none of them well.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
“In bad weather, put on a good face.”
Facing hardship with courage and a positive attitude makes it easier to bear.
Más vale prevenir que curar.
“Prevention is worth more than cure.”
Taking precautions in advance is wiser than fixing problems after they occur.
El que la sigue, la consigue.
“He who pursues it, achieves it.”
Persistence and determination eventually bring success.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oir.
“There is no one so deaf as the one who does not want to hear.”
Willful ignorance is the most stubborn kind, deafer than any real hearing loss.
Zapatero, a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”
People should keep to what they actually know and not meddle in matters outside their expertise.
A palabras necias, oidos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
The wisest response to a foolish insult is simply to ignore it.
El que no llora, no mama.
“The child who does not cry is not nursed.”
Those who never ask or speak up rarely receive what they need.
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.
“For a good listener, few words are enough.”
A perceptive person grasps a hint quickly without needing a long explanation.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Each sheep with its own pair.”
People tend to naturally pair off with, and belong among, those most like themselves.
El que a hierro mata, a hierro muere.
“He who kills by the sword, dies by the sword.”
Those who live by violence or ruthless means eventually meet the same fate themselves.
No todo el monte es oregano.
“Not all of the mountain is oregano.”
Not everything is as pleasant or easy as it first appears; life includes difficulty too.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
“For lack of bread, flatcakes will do.”
When the ideal option is unavailable, a lesser substitute is still worth accepting.
El que espera, desespera.
“He who waits, despairs.”
Waiting for something uncertain wears down patience and hope over time.
Genio y figura, hasta la sepultura.
“Character and figure, to the grave.”
A person's fundamental nature and habits stay with them for their entire life.
Quien bien te quiere, te hara llorar.
“Whoever truly loves you will make you cry.”
Real love sometimes means honest correction or discipline, even when it hurts.
Nunca llueve a gusto de todos.
“It never rains to everyone's liking.”
No single outcome or decision can ever satisfy every single person.
El habito no hace al monje.
“The habit does not make the monk.”
Outward appearance alone does not determine a person's true character or role.
A rio revuelto, ganancia de pescadores.
“In troubled waters, fishermen profit.”
Some people take advantage of confusion or crisis to gain something for themselves.
El que tiene boca, se equivoca.
“He who has a mouth, makes mistakes.”
Anyone who speaks will eventually misspeak; making mistakes is simply human.
Mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
“The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.”
Long experience teaches more wisdom than cleverness or cunning alone.
En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo.
“In the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife.”
Ironically, the household of an expert often lacks the very thing that expert makes for others.
No dejes para manana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Delaying tasks that could be finished now only invites unnecessary trouble later.
Quien siembra vientos, recoge tempestades.
“He who sows winds, reaps storms.”
Reckless or harmful actions eventually bring consequences far worse than intended.
A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando.
“Pray to God, but keep swinging the hammer.”
Faith should be paired with hard work; prayer alone accomplishes nothing without effort.
Cada maestrillo tiene su librillo.
“Every little teacher has his own little book.”
Everyone has their own particular way of doing things, and that is worth respecting.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“From saying to doing, there is a long stretch.”
It is far easier to promise or talk about something than to actually carry it out.
No hay atajo sin trabajo.
“There is no shortcut without hard work.”
Every real shortcut still demands effort; nothing worthwhile comes entirely free.
Quien a buen arbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija.
“He who leans on a good tree is sheltered by good shade.”
Aligning yourself with capable, trustworthy people brings you protection and benefit.
Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.
“Even dressed in silk, a monkey is still a monkey.”
Fine outward appearances cannot change a person's underlying nature.
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