Dicho español · Spanish proverb
«Hierba mala nunca muere.»
Word for word
Bad grass never dies.
What it really means
The closest English equivalent: Ill weeds grow apace.
Said humorously or affectionately about someone who is resilient, hard to get rid of, or who always bounces back despite difficulties. Common in Spain and Latin America, often said about a tough or mischievous person.
Also said as
- Mala hierba nunca muere.
Hear it in a sentence
Mi abuelo tiene noventa años y sigue trabajando; hierba mala nunca muere.
My grandfather is ninety and still working; weeds never die.
More Spanish sayings
- Bicho malo nunca muere. — A bad penny always turns up.
- El que nace para tamal, del cielo le caen las hojas. — Some people are just born lucky.
- Siempre que llueve, escampa. — This too shall pass.
- La cabra siempre tira al monte. — Old habits die hard.
- Bien está lo que bien acaba. — All's well that ends well.
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.