Dicho español · Spanish proverb
«El hombre propone y Dios dispone.»
Word for word
Man proposes and God disposes.
What it really means
The closest English equivalent: Man proposes, God disposes.
Used when plans don't turn out as intended, acknowledging that fate or a higher power has the final say. Common in both religious and secular speech across the Spanish-speaking world.
Hear it in a sentence
Íbamos a viajar hoy, pero se canceló el vuelo; el hombre propone y Dios dispone.
We were going to travel today, but the flight was cancelled; man proposes and God disposes.
More Spanish sayings
- Dios aprieta, pero no ahoga. — God tests us but never gives us more than we can bear.
- Al que al cielo escupe, en la cara le cae. — Don't spit into the wind.
- Bien está lo que bien acaba. — All's well that ends well.
- No vendas la piel del oso antes de cazarlo. — Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
- Hombre precavido vale por dos. — A cautious man is worth two.
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.