Argentinian Sayings

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Every country in the world finds outlets to synthetize popular wisdom through sayings. Some of them are adaptations from sayings that originated in other languages, and some keep the metaphor but change the elements.

Today, we’ll be looking at some of the most frequent Argentinian sayings. Note that it’s quite inaccurate to call these Argentinian sayings, but rather they should be considered common to most Spanish speaking countries.

However from all the sayings you can find online, these are guaranteed to be of common use in Argentina.

One more thing. In some cases it’s very common to only say the first part of the phrase, and that’s enough for the other person to understand what you mean. I’ll highlight the part it’s often heard in bold.

The list is in alphabetical order:

  • A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes
    “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” It means that when you receive something as a gift, you shouldn’t be critical or overly selective about it.
  • Al mal tiempo, buena cara
    “Keep a stiff upper lip.” This saying advises maintaining a positive attitude and demeanor even in difficult or challenging situations.
  • A falta de pan, buenas son las tortas
    “In the absence of bread, cakes are good.” It suggests that when facing scarcity or limitations, it’s important to make do with what is available, even if it’s not the ideal solution.
  • A papá/mamá mono con bananas verdes, no
    “Don’t mess with mommy or daddy monkey with green bananas.” Don’t try to outsmart someone with more experience.
  • Al que madruga, Dios lo ayuda
    “God helps those who wake up early.” It emphasizes the idea that being proactive and starting the day early can lead to success.
  • Al que quiere celeste, que le cueste
    “If you want heaven’s blue, you’ll have to pay the price.” It conveys the idea that achieving something desirable usually requires effort or sacrifice.
  • A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores
    “In troubled waters, fishermen profit.” It suggests that during chaotic or unstable times, some individuals may benefit or find opportunities for gain.
  • A seguro se lo llevaron preso
    “Seguro [as if it was a person’s name, but referring to certainty] was taken to jail.” It’s used when someone seems overly confident about something, implying that certainty often leads to disappointment.
  • Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona queda
    It’s similar to the English saying “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” It emphasizes that true nature or character cannot be hidden or changed by outward appearances.
  • Cría cuervos y te arrancarán los ojos
    “Raise crows and they will pluck out your eyes.” It implies that nurturing or supporting those who are ungrateful or malicious can lead to betrayal or harm.
  • Cuando el gato no está, los ratones se divierten
    In English we say “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” It means that in the absence of authority or supervision, people are more likely to misbehave or take liberties.
  • De tal palo, tal astilla
    The English equivalent for this one is “Like father, like son.” It suggests that children often resemble their parents in behavior or character traits.
  • El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta
    “Jack of all trades, master of none.” It emphasizes the importance of focusing one’s efforts and skills on a specific area to achieve mastery.
  • En casa de herrero cuchillo de palo
    “In the blacksmith’s house, a wooden knife.” it suggests that sometimes the tools or skills needed for a task might be missing, even in a place where they should be abundant.
  • El que mal anda, mal acaba
    The English saying is “Those who walk the wrong path, end up in a bad place.” The idea behind this one is pretty obvious. The idea that one’s actions and choices have consequences, and negative behavior typically leads to negative outcomes.
  • El que sabe, sabe
    “Who knows, knows.” Quite self explanatory. It’s used to highlight the fact if someone knows about a topic, it will show.
  • El diablo sabe por diablo, pero más sabe por viejo
    “The devil knows because he’s the devil, but he knows more because he’s old.” It suggests that experience often teaches more than innate knowledge or cunning.
  • El ojo del amo, engorda al ganado
    “The eye of the master fattens the cattle.” It suggests that supervision or oversight from a knowledgeable authority figure can lead to better results or productivity.
  • El que avisa, no traiciona
    “The one who warns, doesn’t betray.” It’s used when someone informs others in advance of what they plan to do under a certain event, that should not be considered treachery.
  • El que no llora, no mama
    “He who doesn’t cry, doesn’t get milk.” It implies that speaking up or expressing one’s needs is necessary to get what you want.
  • En el país de los ciegos, el tuerto es rey
    “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” It conveys the idea that in a situation where others lack competence or awareness, even a person with limited abilities can achieve superiority or dominance.
  • Hecha la ley, hecha la trampa
    “Once the law is made, the trick is made.” It implies that rules or regulations can be circumvented or exploited, emphasizing the human tendency to find workarounds.
  • Hierba mala nunca muere
    “Weeds never die.” It suggests that negative or undesirable things often persist or endure despite efforts to eradicate them.
  • Las cuentas claras conservan amistades
    “Clear accounts maintain friendships.” It suggests that transparency and honesty in financial matters are essential for preserving good relationships and avoiding misunderstandings.
  • Lo barato sale caro
    “The cheap turns out expensive.” It suggests that opting for the cheapest option may ultimately cost more in terms of quality, durability, or additional expenses.
  • Los de afuera son de palo
    “Outsiders are made of wood.” It implies that those who are not directly involved in a situation may not fully understand it or have valid opinions about it.
  • Lo que abunda no daña
    “What abounds doesn’t harm.” It implies that having an excess of something is not harmful and may even be beneficial.
  • Los trapos sucios se lavan en casa
    “Dirty laundry is washed at home.” It emphasizes the importance of keeping family or personal matters private and resolving conflicts within the confines of one’s home or group.
  • Mal de muchos, consuelo de tontos
    I guess the equivalent in English is “Misery loves company.” It suggests that finding comfort in the fact that others are also experiencing difficulties is not wise, as it doesn’t alleviate one’s own problems.
  • Más vale prevenir que curar
    “It is better to prevent than to cure.” It suggests that it’s wiser to invest effort in preventing difficulties from arising rather than having to address them after they occur.
  • Más vale tarde que nunca
    “Better late than never.” It suggests that it’s better to complete a task or achieve a goal belatedly than to not do so at all.
  • Mejor malo conocido que bueno por conocer.
    “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” It suggests that it’s safer to deal with a familiar problem or person than to risk encountering an unknown one.
  • No creo en brujas, pero que las hay…las hay
    “I don’t believe in witches, but that they exist…they do.” It acknowledges the existence of strange or inexplicable phenomena despite personal skepticism.
  • No gastes pólvora en chimangos.
    “Don’t waste gunpowder on chimangos.” Chimangos are birds of prey known for stealing food from other birds. It advises against expending effort or resources on insignificant or unworthy individuals or situations.
  • No hay dos sin tres
    “There is no two without three.” It implies that when something happens twice, a third occurrence is likely to follow, often used to indicate a pattern or expectation.
  • No hay mal que por bien no venga
    “There is no bad from which good does not come.” It suggests that even negative experiences or setbacks may lead to positive outcomes or opportunities for growth.
  • No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver
    “There is no worse blind person than the one who refuses to see.” It emphasizes the idea that ignorance or denial of the truth can be more detrimental than physical blindness, highlighting the importance of being open to reality.
  • No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano
    “Waking up early won’t make the dawn come sooner.” It’s the opposite of the previous one above. It suggests that rushing or overexerting oneself won’t necessarily accelerate the desired outcome.
  • Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente
    “Eyes that don’t see, heart that doesn’t feel.” It suggests that if you are unaware of something, it won’t affect you emotionally.
  • Pan para hoy, hambre para mañana
    It implies that satisfying immediate needs without considering the future consequences may lead to further difficulties later on.
  • Perro que ladra, no muerde
    “A barking dog seldom bites.” It implies that those who make the most noise are not always the most dangerous or threatening.
  • Pueblo chico, infierno grande
    “Small town, big hell.” It conveys the idea that living in a small community can lead to heightened drama or intense interpersonal conflicts due to everyone knowing each other’s business.
  • Soldado que huye, sirve para otra guerra
    “A soldier who flees serves for another war.” It implies that someone who retreats or runs away from a challenge may have the opportunity to face a different, perhaps more suitable, situation in the future.
  • Una golondrina no hace verano
    “One swallow does not make a summer.” It emphasizes the need to consider multiple factors or events before drawing conclusions or making judgments.

Hopefully this list has helped you level up your command of Spanish sayings,

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