Dicho español · Spanish proverb
«Una golondrina no hace verano.»
Word for word
One swallow does not make a summer.
What it really means
The closest English equivalent: One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
One good sign isn’t proof of a trend — keep expectations measured.
Hear it in a sentence
Ganaron un partido, pero una golondrina no hace verano: queda toda la liga.
They won one match, but one swallow doesn’t make a summer — the whole season is still ahead.
More Spanish sayings
- A falta de pan, buenas son tortas. — Beggars can’t be choosers.
- No todo el monte es orégano. — Life isn't a bed of roses.
- Lo cortés no quita lo valiente. — Being polite doesn't make you any less brave.
- Nube de verano, pronto pasa. — A summer cloud passes quickly.
- Habla poco y bien, y serás tenido por alguien. — Speak little and well, and you'll be respected.
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.