Traditional proverbs of Panama 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.”
Staying alert and active is essential — those who grow careless or complacent get left behind.
Source: Traditional Spanish-language proverb, shared Hispanic/Caribbean oral tradition, public-domain (in common use across Panama)
No hay mal que dure 100 años.
“There is no bad thing that lasts a hundred years.”
Hardship, however severe, always comes to an end eventually.
Source: La Prensa (Panama), "La sabiduria de los pueblos," Panamanian oral proverb tradition, public domain
Hijo de tigre tiene que nacer pintado.
“The tiger's cub is born already striped.”
Children naturally inherit the traits and character of their parents.
Al pasajero se le conoce por su maleta.
“You can tell a traveler by his suitcase.”
People reveal who they are through the things they carry and how they present themselves.
El que tiene tetas en el seno, que no hable mal del hijo ajeno.
“She who has nursed her own children should not speak ill of another's.”
Parents should show compassion toward other people's children rather than judging them harshly.
El último mono nunca se ahoga.
“The last monkey never drowns.”
Even the one who seems worst off usually finds a way to survive — a stubborn folk optimism.
Dios castiga tarde o temprano.
“God punishes, sooner or later.”
Wrongdoing eventually meets its consequences, even if justice is delayed.
El que madruga come pecho, y el que no, pellejo.
“He who rises early eats the breast meat, and he who doesn't gets the scraps.”
Those who act early and with initiative get the best share; latecomers are left with little.
El que tiene gasolina no ha de jugar con candela.
“He who is carrying gasoline should not play with fire.”
Do not take reckless risks when you already have something valuable, or dangerous, to lose.
No hay muerto que se pea ni diablo que lo crea.
“There's no dead man who passes wind, nor devil who would believe it.”
A mocking way of saying an excuse or claim is simply too absurd to be believed.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
Ignore insults or foolish talk rather than dignify them with a response.
Source: Traditional proverb, shared Hispanic/Latin American oral tradition, in common use in Panama (refranespopulares.org, "Refranes populares panamenos")
A mal tiempo, buena cara.
“In bad times, put on a good face.”
Facing hardship with a positive attitude makes it easier to bear.
A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes.
“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Be grateful for what is given to you rather than criticizing its quality.
A lo hecho, pecho.
“What is done, face with courage.”
Once something has happened, accept it and face the consequences bravely.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
“In the absence of bread, cornmeal cakes will do.”
Make the best of what is available when the ideal option is not there.
A cada puerco le llega su San Martín.
“Every pig gets its San Martin's Day.”
Everyone eventually faces the reckoning or consequences that are due to them.
A su tiempo maduran las brevas.
“The figs ripen in their own time.”
Good things cannot be rushed; they arrive when the moment is right.
Aquí hay gato encerrado.
“There's a cat locked up in here.”
Something suspicious or hidden is going on beneath the surface.
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.
Source: Traditional Spanish-language proverb, shared Hispanic/Latin American oral tradition, public-domain (in common use across Panama)
El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija.
“He who leans on a good tree is sheltered by good shade.”
Aligning yourself with good, capable people brings protection and benefit.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
“No matter how early you rise, dawn will not come any sooner.”
Some things follow their own timeline no matter how much effort or urgency you apply.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
“Water you will not drink, let it flow on.”
Do not interfere in matters that do not concern you or bring you no benefit.
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.
“Raise ravens, and they will peck out your eyes.”
Kindness given to the ungrateful is often repaid with betrayal.
El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much holds on to little.”
Trying to do too many things at once usually means doing none of them well.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“Flies do not enter a closed mouth.”
Staying silent at the right moment avoids trouble.
Source: Traditional Panama proverb, public-domain oral tradition, widely documented in Panamanian refran collections (e.g. todorefranes.es)
Más vale prevenir que lamentar.
“Better to prevent than to lament.”
Taking precautions ahead of time is wiser than regretting a problem later.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no one as deaf as he who does not want to hear.”
Willful ignorance is more stubborn than any real inability to understand.
El que la sigue, la consigue.
“He who keeps at it, achieves it.”
Persistence eventually leads to success.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Avoid procrastination; act on tasks while you have the chance.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A dog that barks does not bite.”
Loud threats are often empty; the truly dangerous rarely announce themselves.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“Between saying and doing, there is a long stretch.”
It is far easier to promise something than to actually accomplish it.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Every sheep with its own mate.”
People naturally pair off with, or belong among, those who are similar to them.
El que siembra vientos, cosecha tempestades.
“He who sows winds, reaps storms.”
Reckless or harmful actions eventually bring much larger consequences.
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.
“God helps those who rise early.”
Diligence and early effort are rewarded.
En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
“In the blacksmith's house, a knife of wood.”
Ironically, those most skilled at something often lack it in their own home.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel.”
What you are not aware of cannot trouble you — out of sight, out of mind.
No todo lo que brilla es oro.
“Not everything that shines is gold.”
Appearances can deceive; something impressive on the surface may not be truly valuable.
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.
El zorro pierde el pelo pero no la maña.
“The fox loses its fur, but not its cunning.”
A person's true character or habits remain even as they grow old or change outwardly.
Source: Traditional Panama proverb, public-domain oral tradition, as catalogued in Panamanian refran collections (todorefranes.es, "Refranes panamenos y su significado")
Perro viejo ladra sentado.
“An old dog barks sitting down.”
Experience teaches a person to act efficiently, without wasting unnecessary effort.
Yo no quiero entrar en la historia, quiero entrar en la Zona del Canal.
“I don't want to enter history, I want to enter the Canal Zone.”
Torrijos prioritized winning real, concrete sovereignty over the Panama Canal for his country over personal historical glory.
Source: Omar Torrijos, widely reported public statement on Panama Canal sovereignty, as cited in La Estrella de Panama, "Quiero entrar en la Zona del Canal" (circa mid-1970s, ahead of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties)
Cuando el río suena, piedras trae.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying stones.”
Persistent rumors or talk usually have some basis in truth.
Barriga llena, corazón contento.
“Full belly, happy heart.”
Having one's basic needs met brings simple, genuine contentment.
El que no llora, no mama.
“He who does not cry does not get fed.”
Those who never speak up or ask for what they need often go without it.
Genio y figura hasta la sepultura.
“Temperament and character, to the grave.”
A person's fundamental nature and character never truly change.
No hay atajo sin trabajo.
“There is no shortcut without work.”
Genuine success requires real effort; there are no true shortcuts.
El que se pica, ajos come.
“He who feels the sting must have eaten garlic.”
If a remark upsets someone, it is probably because it struck close to the truth.
Donde manda capitán, no manda marinero.
“Where the captain commands, the sailor does not.”
Authority follows the chain of command; the one in charge makes the final call.
Cada loco con su tema.
“Every madman with his own obsession.”
Everyone has their own particular fixation, quirk, or way of seeing the world.
El que a hierro mata, a hierro muere.
“He who kills by the sword dies by the sword.”
Those who cause harm through violence eventually meet the same fate themselves.
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