Traditional proverbs of El Salvador 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 fail to stay alert and act will be overtaken by events or lose their opportunity.
Source: Traditional Salvadoran proverb (refrán popular), shared Hispanic/Central American oral tradition, public-domain oral tradition
Al que madruga, Dios lo ayuda.
“God helps the one who rises early.”
Diligence and an early start are rewarded; effort invites good fortune.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.
“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Do not criticize or question the value of something given to you freely.
Más vale tarde que nunca.
“Better late than never.”
Doing something after a delay is still preferable to never doing it.
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
“There is no bad from which good does not come.”
Even misfortune can eventually lead to a positive outcome.
Perro que ladra no muerde.
“A dog that barks does not bite.”
Loud threats often come from those least likely to actually cause harm.
El que no arriesga, no gana.
“He who does not risk, does not win.”
Taking chances is necessary to achieve meaningful gains.
Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.
“The water you will not drink, let it flow.”
Do not interfere in matters that do not concern you or that you will not benefit from.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
“From saying to doing there is a long stretch.”
Promises and words are easy; actually accomplishing something is much harder.
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.
“A bird in the hand is worth a hundred flying.”
A smaller certain gain is worth more than a larger uncertain one.
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 a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija.
“He who leans against a good tree is sheltered by good shade.”
Associating with good, capable people brings benefit and protection.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
“Flies do not enter a closed mouth.”
Staying silent avoids trouble that careless words can invite.
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.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
“Rising early does not make the dawn come any sooner.”
Rushing does not change the natural timing of things; some processes cannot be forced.
El que siembra vientos, cosecha tempestades.
“He who sows winds, reaps storms.”
Reckless or harmful actions eventually bring serious consequences.
A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
“To foolish words, deaf ears.”
It is wise to ignore insults or foolish talk rather than engage with them.
Zapatero, a tus zapatos.
“Shoemaker, to your shoes.”
Attend to your own trade or business and do not meddle in matters beyond your expertise.
El que quiera azul celeste, que le cueste.
“Whoever wants a sky-blue sky must pay the price for it.”
Anything worthwhile requires effort, sacrifice, or cost to obtain.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
“Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”
Act promptly rather than procrastinating on tasks that need doing.
Más vale prevenir que lamentar.
“Better to prevent than to lament.”
Taking precautions beforehand is wiser than regretting a preventable loss later.
Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
“He who grasps too much, holds too little.”
Trying to do too many things at once usually means doing none of them well.
El que no llora, no mama.
“He who does not cry, does not get fed.”
Those who do not speak up or ask for what they need often go without it.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.
“There is no worse deaf person than one who does not want to hear.”
Willful ignorance is more stubborn than any real inability to understand.
A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
“For lack of bread, good cakes will do.”
When the ideal option is unavailable, a reasonable alternative can still satisfy the need.
Árbol que nace torcido, jamás su tronco endereza.
“A tree that grows crooked never straightens its trunk.”
Deeply ingrained habits or character traits formed early are very hard to change later.
El que con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña.
“He who runs with wolves learns to howl.”
The company you keep shapes your own behavior over time.
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 sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
“The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.”
Experience gained over time is worth more than raw natural cunning.
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.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
“Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel.”
What we are not aware of cannot hurt or trouble us emotionally.
Donde comen dos, comen tres.
“Where two can eat, three can eat.”
There is usually enough to share generously with one more person in need.
Genio y figura hasta la sepultura.
“Character and looks last until the grave.”
A person's essential nature and temperament remain the same throughout their whole life.
Cada oveja con su pareja.
“Every sheep with its own match.”
People naturally tend to pair or associate with those who are similar to them.
El que ríe último, ríe mejor.
“He who laughs last, laughs best.”
Do not celebrate too soon; the final outcome matters more than an early advantage.
Si me matan, resucitaré en el pueblo salvadoreño.
“If they kill me, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people.”
Romero, aware his outspoken defense of the poor placed his life at risk, expressed that his cause and spirit would endure through the people even if he were assassinated.
Source: Óscar Romero, remarks given in an interview days before his assassination, March 1980 (widely documented, e.g. James R. Brockman, Romero: A Life, 1989)
Cuando el río suena, agua lleva.
“When the river makes noise, it is carrying water.”
Where there is smoke there is fire — persistent rumors or signs usually point to some underlying truth.
En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
“In the house of the blacksmith, a knife of wood.”
Those skilled in a trade often neglect to apply that same skill within their own home or family.
Más vale solo que mal acompañado.
“Better alone than in bad company.”
Solitude is preferable to surrounding yourself with people who bring harm or trouble.
El que a hierro mata, a hierro muere.
“He who kills by the sword, dies by the sword.”
Those who live by violence or wrongdoing will eventually meet the same fate they inflict on others.
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.
“To a good listener, few words are enough.”
A perceptive person needs only a brief hint to understand the full meaning.
Dime de qué presumes y te diré de qué careces.
“Tell me what you boast of, and I will tell you what you lack.”
People often brag loudest about the very things they are missing or insecure about.
El que la hace, la paga.
“He who does it, pays for it.”
Everyone is eventually held accountable for their own actions.
No hay mejor maestra que la necesidad.
“There is no better teacher than necessity.”
Being forced by circumstance to find a solution teaches lessons that comfort never could.
Candil de la calle, oscuridad de su casa.
“A lamp for the street, darkness in his own house.”
Some people are generous and admirable in public while neglecting the people closest to them.
Del plato a la boca se cae la sopa.
“Between the plate and the mouth, the soup falls.”
Even a sure thing can go wrong at the very last moment, so nothing should be taken for granted.
A lo hecho, pecho.
“What is done, face with courage.”
Once something has happened, the only option is to face the consequences bravely rather than dwell on regret.
Las paredes oyen.
“The walls have ears.”
Be careful what you say, because private conversations can be overheard.
Amor con hambre no dura.
“Love does not last on hunger.”
Affection alone cannot sustain a relationship if basic needs like food and security go unmet.
Cada quien sabe dónde le aprieta el zapato.
“Each person knows where their own shoe pinches.”
Only the person experiencing a problem truly understands its weight; others should not judge from outside.
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