Traditional proverbs of Guatemala 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 off by the current.”
Complacency or inattention lets opportunity or danger overtake you.
Source: Traditional Guatemala proverb, public-domain oral tradition
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
“There is no bad from which good does not come.”
Even misfortune eventually brings some hidden benefit.
Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza.
“A tree that grows crooked never straightens its trunk.”
Deeply ingrained character or habits are very hard to change.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.
“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Do not criticize or judge something given to you for free.
Más vale tarde que nunca.
“Better late than never.”
Doing something after a delay is preferable to never doing it at all.
Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.
“God helps him who rises early.”
Effort and early diligence tend to be rewarded.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A dog that barks does not bite.”
Loud threats often come from those least likely to act on them.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“Flies don't enter a closed mouth.”
Staying silent at the right moment keeps you out of trouble.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“There is a long stretch between saying and doing.”
Promises are easy to make but much harder to fulfill.
Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much holds little.”
Taking on too many things at once means doing none of them well.
Más vale prevenir que lamentar.
“Better to prevent than to lament.”
Taking precautions beforehand avoids regret later.
El que no arriesga, no gana.
“He who does not risk, does not win.”
Nothing worthwhile is achieved without taking some risk.
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
“Raise ravens and they will peck out your eyes.”
Kindness given to the ungrateful can later turn against you.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Avoid procrastination; act while you have the chance.
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 revealed by the company they keep.
El que siembra vientos, cosecha tempestades.
“He who sows winds reaps storms.”
Reckless or harmful actions bring much larger consequences.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
Ignore senseless remarks instead of reacting to them.
En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
“In the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife.”
An expert's own household often lacks the very thing they provide to others.
Zapatero, a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”
Stay within your area of expertise rather than meddling elsewhere.
El que la hace, la paga.
“He who does it, pays for it.”
Wrongdoing eventually brings its own consequence.
Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.
“A bird in the hand is worth a hundred flying.”
A smaller certain gain is worth more than a larger uncertain one.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel.”
What you never witness cannot trouble your feelings.
Genio y figura, hasta la sepultura.
“Character and manner last until the grave.”
A person's temperament stays with them their whole life.
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
“Not everything that shines is gold.”
Appearances can be deceiving; something attractive is not always genuinely valuable.
Más vale solo que mal acompañado.
“Better alone than in bad company.”
Solitude is preferable to the company of those who bring you harm.
El que con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña.
“He who walks with wolves learns to howl.”
The company you keep gradually shapes your own behavior.
Cuando el río suena, agua lleva.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying water.”
Persistent rumors or signs usually point to some underlying truth.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
“In hard times, put on a good face.”
Face adversity with courage and a positive attitude.
Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
“The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.”
Experience gained over a lifetime is worth more than cleverness alone.
Barriga llena, corazón contento.
“Full belly, happy heart.”
Having one's basic needs met brings simple contentment.
El que ríe último, ríe mejor.
“He who laughs last, laughs best.”
Do not celebrate too soon; the final outcome is what matters.
No hay rosa sin espinas.
“There is no rose without thorns.”
Every good thing comes with some difficulty attached.
Candil de la calle, oscuridad de su casa.
“A lamp for the street, darkness in his own house.”
Someone gracious and helpful to outsiders while neglecting their own family.
El que quiera celeste, que le cueste.
“He who wants the sky-blue must pay the price for it.”
Nothing truly worthwhile comes without effort or sacrifice.
Muerto el perro, se acabó la rabia.
“Dead dog, the rabies is over.”
Removing the root cause of a problem ends the problem itself.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
“Lacking bread, cakes will do.”
Make the best of substitutes when the ideal option is unavailable.
Antes que te cases, mira lo que haces.
“Before you marry, look well at what you are doing.”
Think carefully before making a major, life-changing decision.
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.
Al que le venga el saco, que se lo ponga.
“If the coat fits, wear it.”
If a criticism applies to you, take it to heart.
El que tiene tienda, que la atienda.
“He who has a shop should tend it.”
Take direct responsibility for what belongs to you.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no worse deaf man than one who does not want to hear.”
Willful ignorance is more stubborn than any real limitation.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Each sheep with its own mate.”
People tend to naturally pair off with their equals.
Donde hay humo, hay fuego.
“Where there is smoke, there is fire.”
Visible signs of trouble usually point to a real underlying cause.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
“Water you will not drink, let it flow.”
Do not interfere in matters that are not your concern.
Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí.
“When he awoke, the dinosaur was still there.”
Often read as a meditation on how the past, or a fear, persists even after we hope it has vanished; widely cited as the shortest short story in Spanish-language literature.
Source: Augusto Monterroso, "El Dinosaurio," in Obras completas (y otros cuentos) (1959)
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras.
“To a good listener, few words are needed.”
A perceptive person needs only a brief hint to understand the point.
Nadie sabe lo que tiene hasta que lo pierde.
“No one knows what they have until they lose it.”
People often fail to value something fully until it is gone.
Más vale maña que fuerza.
“Skill is worth more than strength.”
Cleverness and skillful technique accomplish more than raw force.
El hábito no hace al monje.
“The habit does not make the monk.”
Outward appearance or dress does not determine a person's true character.
Cada quien sabe dónde le aprieta el zapato.
“Each person knows where their own shoe pinches.”
Only the person living through a hardship truly understands its weight.
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