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Ladino Forever · Refranes

Ladino proverbs

The proverbs of Ladino Forever: sayings from the Sephardic kitchen table, the wisdom of our grandmothers in Judeo-Spanish, each with its meaning in English and up to six more languages.

  • 142proverbs
  • 10languages
  • 2,995readings
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Refrán del día · November 3
No traves la kuedra muncho ke se aranka Don't pull the rope too hard or it will snap.
Refrán № 19 Ladino
De tal palo tala estiya, de tal padre tal ijo

From such a tree, such a splinter; like father, like son.

31 2 Nov 2026
Refrán № 20 Ladino
De una roza no se aze korona

A crown is not made from a single rose.

23 Nov 2026
Refrán № 21 Ladino
Despues ke la perdio su valor supo

Only after he lost it did he know its value.

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 22 Ladino
Detras de kada mujer komicha ay un ombre haragan i tembel ke la kita loka

Behind every nagging woman is a lazy, idle man who drives her crazy.

37 Nov 2026
Refrán № 23 Ladino
Dos gayos en una kaza no kaven

Two roosters don't fit in one house.

34 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 24 Ladino
El amor es dolor de kulo ke no desha durmir a dinguno

Love is a pain in the backside that lets no one sleep.

22 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 25 Ladino
El buen pleto traye buena paz

A good fight brings a good peace.

20 Nov 2026
Refrán № 26 Ladino
El Dio aprova a los buenos a padre aresentado da ijo alokado

God tests the good: to a settled father he gives a crazy son.

13 Nov 2026
Refrán № 27 Ladino
El Dio da muez al ke no tiene dientes

God gives nuts to the toothless one.

22 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 28 Ladino
El Dio ke moz guadre de kaza i de dorama

May God protect us from the house and from the "dorama". (uncertain)

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 29 Ladino
El Dio ke moz guadre de vizino malo i de ayre de burako

May God protect us from a bad neiighbour and from a draught.

23 Nov 2026
Refrán № 30 Ladino
El es pedo en chini

He is a fart in porcelain (a nobody, worthless). (uncertain, idiom)

12 Nov 2026
Refrán № 31 Ladino
El eskaso no tiene deskanso

The needy have no rest.

31 Nov 2026
Refrán № 32 Ladino
El gameo no ve su korkova

The camel doesn't see its own hump.

10 Nov 2026
Refrán № 33 Ladino
El ganar i el pedrer son haverim

Gaining and losing are companions.

26 1 Nov 2026
Refrán № 34 Ladino
El ke bien te kere te aze yorar

He who loves you well makes you cry (tough love).

11 Nov 2026
Refrán № 35 Ladino
El ke bien te kere, en la kara te lo dize

Whoever loves you well,tells it to your face.

18 Nov 2026
Refrán № 36 Ladino
El ke da un groshiziko tanye el chufletiko

He who gives a little coin plays the little whistle (he who pays calls the tune).

11 Nov 2026
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Ladino proverbs, songs, stories and more

Ladino Forever is a home for the Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) language: proverbs, songs, stories and more, gathered by Michael Halphie for Sephardic families around the world.

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