Forums > Specific Focus > Learning Spanish

DavidMcL

Sep 22, 2008, 5:22 PM

Post #1 of 9 (3743 views)

Shortcut

Refranes

Can't Post | Private Reply

Quevado doesn't know this yet, but I bought him a present in the form of a book- "Refranes - Southwestern Spanish Proverbs" from the Museum of New Mexico publications. He will love it - I hope.
In the meantime, I thought I would add to the various themes by quoting some random ones here:

We are looking for the translation and then the sentiment or meaning in English.

1. El que mucho huele es mucho jiede.

2. La viuda llora y otros cantan en la boda.

3. Llegando al campo santo no hay calaveras plateadas.

4. No por mucho madrugar amance mas temprano.

5. Vibora que chilla no pica.

Enjoy!

David
David McL
WebJefe

(This post was edited by DavidMcL on Sep 22, 2008, 5:23 PM)

sioux4noff

Sep 22, 2008, 8:24 PM

Post #2 of 9 (3729 views)

Shortcut

Re: [DavidMcL] Refranes

Can't Post | Private Reply

I'll take a stab at one
"Vibora que chilla no pica"
A snake that screams doesn't sting.
This would be like a barking dog doesn't bite, I would think.

quevedo

Sep 23, 2008, 10:09 AM

Post #3 of 9 (3712 views)

Shortcut

Re: [DavidMcL] Refranes

Can't Post |

Llegando al camposanto no hay calaveras plateadas. There are no silver-plated skulls in the graveyard. Death is the great leveller.

Muchas gracias por el regalo, apreciado amigo. Hope to see you soon!

Un abrazo,

Quevedo

esperanza

Sep 23, 2008, 10:34 AM

Post #4 of 9 (3710 views)

Shortcut

Re: [quevedo] Refranes

Can't Post | Private Reply

In Reply To

In English, "You can't take it with you."

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

jerezano

Sep 23, 2008, 6:46 PM

Post #5 of 9 (3693 views)

Shortcut

Re: [DavidMcL] Refranes

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hello,

No por mucho madrugar amance mas temprano.

No matter how early one rises, the dawn doesn't come earlier.

Perhaps: Time waits for no man. or Time and Tide wait for no man. (The idea here is that nature is not controllable by man.)

jerezano

sergiogomez / Moderator

Sep 26, 2008, 12:01 PM

Post #6 of 9 (3665 views)

Shortcut

Re: [DavidMcL] Refranes

Can't Post | Private Reply

Some more refranes and modismos to play around with.

El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta. Another version of the same thing: Por querer abrazar mucho, no se abraza nada.

La mona, aunque se vista de seda, mona se queda.

La cáscara guarda el palo. One of my favorites. Said when someone doesn't bathe enough!

Meter la cuchara

Oscar2

Sep 26, 2008, 12:43 PM

Post #7 of 9 (3661 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sergiogomez] Refranes

Can't Post | Private Reply

Voy a meter la cuchara..

Quote

La cáscara guarda el palo. One of my favorites. Said when someone doesn't bathe enough!

I like this one too. Some could say it also means, facades can conceal your true sense of self. Or, you can’t tell a book by its cover and/or, a rose by any other name is still a rose….hmmmm what else?

jerezano

Sep 27, 2008, 3:11 PM

Post #8 of 9 (3638 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Oscar2] Refranes

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hello:

La cáscara guarda el palo. And the vulgar saying:

A skunk smells his own hole first.

jerezano.

Georgia

Sep 27, 2008, 3:14 PM

Post #9 of 9 (3637 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sergiogomez] Refranes

Can't Post | Private Reply

La mona aunque se viste de seda, mona se queda.
English: You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.