Traditional proverbs of Nicaragua in es and English — each with its meaning and source.
Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
“The shrimp that falls asleep is carried away by the current.”
Those who are inattentive or complacent will miss opportunities or be overtaken by events.
Source: Traditional Nicaraguan proverb, shared Spanish-speaking oral tradition, public-domain
El que no arriesga, no gana.
“He who risks nothing, gains nothing.”
Taking chances is necessary to achieve success.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.
“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
One should not criticize or examine a gift too closely.
El que mucho abarca poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much holds little.”
Trying to do too many things at once often results in 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 difficult or unfortunate events can eventually lead to something positive.
Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.
“God helps those who rise early.”
Diligence and an early start are rewarded.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A barking dog does not bite.”
Loud threats are often not backed by real danger.
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 shaped and revealed by the company they keep.
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
“Raise ravens, and they will peck out your eyes.”
Kindness given to the ungrateful may be repaid with betrayal.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“Flies do not enter a closed mouth.”
Silence protects a person from trouble that loose talk can cause.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
“Rising early does not make the dawn come any sooner.”
Some things follow their own natural pace no matter how much one rushes.
Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza.
“A tree that grows crooked never straightens its trunk.”
Deep-rooted character flaws formed early are very difficult to correct later.
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.
El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija.
“He who leans on a good tree is covered by good shade.”
Associating with good, capable people brings protection and benefit.
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.
“A bird in the hand is worth a hundred flying.”
A modest certain gain is better than a large uncertain one.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no one so deaf as the one who does not want to hear.”
Willful ignorance is more stubborn than any real inability to understand.
Genio y figura hasta la sepultura.
“Temperament and character last until the grave.”
A person's fundamental nature rarely changes throughout their life.
El que siembra vientos, cosecha tempestades.
“He who sows winds reaps storms.”
Reckless or harmful actions bring even greater consequences in return.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
It is often wisest to ignore insults or nonsense rather than respond.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“There is a long stretch between saying and doing.”
It is much easier to promise something than to actually carry it out.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel.”
What is unseen or unknown does not cause the same pain as what is witnessed directly.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Procrastination should be avoided; act while you have the chance.
Quien mal anda, mal acaba.
“He who lives wrongly, ends wrongly.”
A dishonest or reckless way of life tends to lead to a bad outcome.
El que ríe último, ríe mejor.
“He who laughs last, laughs best.”
Ultimate victory matters more than an early advantage.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
“For lack of bread, good cakes will do.”
When the ideal option is unavailable, a good alternative should be accepted.
Barriga llena, corazón contento.
“Full belly, happy heart.”
Having one's basic needs met brings genuine contentment and peace of mind.
El que no llora, no mama.
“The child who does not cry does not get fed.”
Those who do not speak up for what they need often go without it.
Cada quien sabe dónde le aprieta el zapato.
“Each person knows where their own shoe pinches.”
Only the person experiencing a hardship truly understands its weight.
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
“Not everything that glitters is gold.”
Appearances can be deceiving, and what looks impressive is not always truly valuable.
El que la hace la paga.
“He who does it, pays for it.”
Wrongdoing eventually brings its own consequences.
Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
“The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.”
Experience and age teach more wisdom than natural cunning alone.
Zapatero, a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, stick to your shoes.”
One should attend to their own trade or business and not meddle in matters outside their expertise.
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras.
“For a good listener, few words are needed.”
A perceptive person understands a message without needing lengthy explanation.
El que espera, desespera.
“He who waits, despairs.”
Long waiting periods test patience and can wear a person down.
Donde manda capitán, no manda marinero.
“Where the captain commands, the sailor does not.”
Authority and decisions belong to whoever is in charge, not to subordinates.
No hay atajo sin trabajo.
“There is no shortcut without hard work.”
Genuine success requires effort; there are no true shortcuts.
Candil de la calle, oscuridad de su casa.
“A lamp for the street, darkness in his own house.”
Describes someone who is generous and helpful to strangers but neglectful toward their own family.
El que tiene tienda, que la atienda.
“He who has a shop should tend to it.”
Whoever takes on a responsibility must personally attend to it rather than neglect it.
Nadie sabe lo que tiene hasta que lo pierde.
“No one knows what they have until they lose it.”
People often fail to appreciate something's true value until it is gone.
Poco a poco se llega lejos.
“Little by little, one goes far.”
Steady, gradual effort over time leads to great accomplishment.
Juventud, divino tesoro, ¡ya te vas para no volver!
“Youth, divine treasure, you are leaving, never to return!”
A lament on the fleeting, irrecoverable nature of youth as time passes.
Source: Rubén Darío, "Canción de otoño en primavera," Cantos de vida y esperanza (1905)
La princesa está triste. ¿Qué tendrá la princesa?
“The princess is sad. What could be wrong with the princess?”
An opening image of restless, unnamed longing beneath outward comfort and privilege.
Source: Rubén Darío, "Sonatina," Prosas Profanas y otros poemas (1896)
La soberanía de un pueblo no se discute, se defiende con las armas en la mano.
“National sovereignty is not up for debate; it is defended with weapons in hand.”
A nation's independence is not something to negotiate away but a right that must be actively defended.
Source: Augusto César Sandino, political manifestos (1927-1933), collected in "El pensamiento vivo de Sandino" (ed. Sergio Ramírez)
Cuando el río suena, agua lleva.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying water.”
Persistent rumors usually have some truth behind them.
El que a hierro mata, a hierro muere.
“He who kills by the sword, dies by the sword.”
Those who live by violence tend to meet a violent end themselves.
Más vale solo que mal acompañado.
“Better alone than in bad company.”
Solitude is preferable to being surrounded by people who do you harm.
No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver.
“There is no one so blind as the one who does not want to see.”
Deliberate denial is harder to overcome than any real inability to perceive.
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 a person's true underlying nature.
El que tiene boca se equivoca.
“Whoever has a mouth makes mistakes.”
Everyone errs sometimes when they speak; mistakes are simply part of being human.
Más vale tarde que nunca.
“Better late than never.”
Doing something after a delay is still better than never doing it at all.
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