Dicho español · Spanish proverb
«Dame pan y dime tonto.»
Word for word
Give me bread and call me stupid.
What it really means
The closest English equivalent: Feed me and call me whatever you like.
Used when someone accepts insults or disrespect in exchange for material benefit. It can be self-deprecating or critical of people who sell their dignity.
Hear it in a sentence
Le aguanta todo al jefe: dame pan y dime tonto.
He puts up with everything from the boss: give me bread and call me stupid.
More Spanish sayings
- Más vale un toma que dos te daré. — A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
- El trabajo dignifica al hombre. — Work gives dignity to a person.
- A palabras necias, oídos sordos. — Turn a deaf ear to foolish words.
- El que guarda su boca, guarda su alma. — Watch your mouth, protect yourself.
- No hay mal que por bien no venga. — Every cloud has a silver lining.
Why learn dichos?
Proverbs like this one are everywhere in spoken Spanish — dropped mid-conversation, usually just the first half, with the rest left for you to complete. Recognizing them is one of the fastest ways to sound less like a textbook and follow real speech. Every Lingocito edition signs off with the dicho del día, so you meet one a day next to news written at your level.