35 Spanish sayings about animals

Dogs, cats, donkeys, shrimp and wolves: Spanish proverbs borrow animals to talk about people. Many of these dichos have an English equivalent with a completely different animal, or none at all.

1. A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.

   The early bird catches the worm. Literally: “God helps the one who rises early”.

   Used to praise getting up or starting early — the Spanish way of saying effort put in ahead of everyone else gets rewarded.

   Salí a las seis y encontré las mejores ofertas del mercado: a quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.

2. En boca cerrada no entran moscas.

   Silence is golden — flies don’t enter a closed mouth. Literally: “Flies do not enter a closed mouth”.

   A warning that staying quiet keeps you out of trouble — often said before someone blurts out an opinion.

   Iba a opinar sobre la pelea de mis vecinos, pero preferí callarme: en boca cerrada no entran moscas.

3. Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.

   A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Literally: “A bird in the hand is worth more than a hundred flying”.

   Advice to keep the sure thing instead of gambling on a bigger but uncertain prize.

   Acepta la oferta segura en vez de esperar algo mejor: más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.

4. Perro que ladra no muerde.

   A barking dog never bites. Literally: “A dog that barks does not bite”.

   Said of people who threaten and bluster a lot but never actually act on it.

   El jefe grita mucho, pero nunca despide a nadie: perro que ladra no muerde.

5. A caballo regalado no le mires el diente.

   Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Literally: “Do not look at the teeth of a gift horse”.

   A reminder not to inspect or criticize something you got for free — horse buyers used to check teeth for age.

   El abrigo que me regalaron no es de mi color favorito, pero a caballo regalado no le mires el diente.

6. Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.

   You snooze, you lose. Literally: “The shrimp that falls asleep is carried away by the current”.

   A Latin American favorite: stay alert, because whoever gets complacent loses their spot.

   No revisó los precios de la competencia y perdió a sus clientes: camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.

7. Gato escaldado del agua fría huye.

   Once bitten, twice shy. Literally: “A scalded cat flees even from cold water”.

   After a bad experience, people overreact to anything that resembles it — used to explain someone’s new caution.

   Después de aquella estafa desconfía de todas las ofertas: gato escaldado del agua fría huye.

8. La curiosidad mató al gato.

   Curiosity killed the cat. Literally: “Curiosity killed the cat”.

   A warning that prying into things that don’t concern you can end badly.

   Quiso leer los mensajes de su compañero y encontró algo que no le gustó: la curiosidad mató al gato.

9. Cada oveja con su pareja.

   Birds of a feather flock together. Literally: “Each sheep with its partner”.

   People naturally pair up with their own kind — said when like finds like at a party or in love.

   En la fiesta, los aficionados al ajedrez acabaron todos en la misma mesa: cada oveja con su pareja.

10. Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.

    You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Literally: “Although the monkey dresses in silk, a monkey it remains”.

    A makeover can’t change what something fundamentally is — said of superficial rebrandings.

    Cambiaron el logotipo, pero el servicio sigue siendo pésimo: aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.

11. Una golondrina no hace verano.

    One swallow doesn’t make a summer. Literally: “One swallow does not make a summer”.

    One good sign isn’t proof of a trend — keep expectations measured.

    Ganaron un partido, pero una golondrina no hace verano: queda toda la liga.

12. Cuando el gato no está, los ratones bailan.

    When the cat's away, the mice will play. Literally: “When the cat is not there, the mice dance”.

    Used when people misbehave or relax rules because the person in charge is absent. Common in family, school, and workplace contexts.

    Cuando el gato no está, los ratones bailan: en cuanto salió el jefe, todos se pusieron a charlar.

13. Gallina vieja hace buen caldo.

    Experience is worth more than youth. Literally: “Old hen makes good broth”.

    Used to say that older people have valuable experience and wisdom. It is said with respect and often in response to age-related comments.

    Gallina vieja hace buen caldo; mi abuela resolvió el problema en cinco minutos.

14. Oveja que bala, bocado que pierde.

    The squeaky wheel gets replaced, not greased. Literally: “A sheep that bleats loses a bite”.

    Used to say that complaining or talking too much makes you miss opportunities. It is a warning to focus on action rather than words.

    Oveja que bala, bocado que pierde; deja de quejarte y ponte a trabajar.

15. La cabra siempre tira al monte.

    Old habits die hard. Literally: “The goat always heads for the hills”.

    Used when someone returns to their old habits or true nature despite efforts to change. Common in comments about people's behavior.

    La cabra siempre tira al monte; después de un año sin fumar, volvió a hacerlo.

16. Más vale ser cabeza de ratón que cola de león.

    Better to be first in a village than second in Rome. Literally: “It is better to be the head of a mouse than the tail of a lion”.

    Used when someone prefers a leading role in a small setting over a minor role in a big one. Common in career and life decisions.

    Más vale ser cabeza de ratón que cola de león; prefiero dirigir mi propio negocio pequeño.

17. Por la boca muere el pez.

    Loose lips sink ships. Literally: “By the mouth dies the fish”.

    Used to warn that talking too much or revealing secrets can get you into trouble. It's often said when someone exposes information they should have kept to themselves.

    Por la boca muere el pez; no le cuentes tus planes a todo el mundo.

18. Cuando el grajo vuela bajo, hace un frío del carajo.

    When birds fly low, bitter cold is on the way. Literally: “When the crow flies low, it's cold as hell”.

    A folk weather saying used to predict cold weather when birds fly close to the ground. It's common in Spain and often said humorously during winter cold snaps.

    Cuando el grajo vuela bajo, hace un frío del carajo; mejor quédate en casa.

19. Bicho malo nunca muere.

    A bad penny always turns up. Literally: “A bad bug never dies”.

    Said half-jokingly about a tough or mischievous person who always seems to survive illness or trouble. Common in informal speech in Spain and Latin America.

    Mi abuelo tiene noventa años y sigue fumando; bicho malo nunca muere.

20. Con dinero baila el perro.

    Money makes the world go round. Literally: “With money the dog dances”.

    Said cynically to note that money can buy cooperation, favors, or loyalty from almost anyone. Common in informal speech across Latin America and Spain.

    No te preocupes, que con dinero baila el perro y conseguiremos las entradas.

21. Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.

    Nurture a snake in your bosom and it will bite you. Literally: “Raise crows and they will take out your eyes”.

    Warns that helping ungrateful people will backfire, as they may betray or harm you. Used when someone has been betrayed by a person they helped raise or support.

    Le di todo a mi sobrino y ahora me robó; cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.

22. De noche, todos los gatos son pardos.

    All cats are grey in the dark. Literally: “At night, all cats are brownish-grey”.

    Said to mean that in the dark or in certain circumstances, differences become indistinguishable. Sometimes used with a suggestive or humorous tone about romantic encounters at night.

    No te fijes tanto en los detalles; de noche, todos los gatos son pardos.

23. El que con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña.

    He who keeps company with wolves will learn to howl. Literally: “He who walks with wolves learns to howl”.

    Warns that you pick up the habits and behaviors of the company you keep. Used as advice to choose friends and associates carefully, especially for young people.

    No te juntes con esa gente; el que con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña.

24. Muerto el perro, se acabó la rabia.

    Once the source is gone, the problem ends. Literally: “Dead the dog, the rabies is over”.

    Used when eliminating the root cause of a problem, often referring to removing a troublemaker or ending a conflict by cutting it off at its source. Common in both Spain and Latin America, sometimes with a cynical tone.

    Despidieron al gerente conflictivo y, muerto el perro, se acabó la rabia.

25. No hay que buscarle tres pies al gato.

    Don't overcomplicate things. Literally: “One should not look for three feet on the cat”.

    Used to tell someone to stop overanalyzing or finding problems where there are none. Very common in colloquial Spanish, especially in Spain and Mexico.

    El plan es sencillo, no hay que buscarle tres pies al gato.

26. A otro perro con ese hueso.

    Tell that to someone who'll believe it. Literally: “To another dog with that bone”.

    Dismisses an obvious lie or excuse, telling the speaker to try fooling someone else. Very common in informal Spanish on both sides of the Atlantic.

    ¿Que no tienes dinero? A otro perro con ese hueso.

27. Cuando el diablo no tiene qué hacer, con el rabo mata moscas.

    Idle hands are the devil's workshop. Literally: “When the devil has nothing to do, he kills flies with his tail”.

    Used to describe someone who, out of boredom or idleness, does something mischievous, pointless, or troublesome. Common across the Spanish-speaking world as a warning against having too much free time.

    Mi hermano empezó a pintar las paredes de morado porque no tenía nada que hacer: cuando el diablo no tiene qué hacer, con el rabo mata moscas.

28. De grano en grano, llena la gallina el buche.

    Little by little, one goes far. Literally: “From grain to grain, the hen fills her crop”.

    Used to encourage patience and persistence, reminding someone that small consistent efforts add up to big results. Common in both Spain and Latin America, especially when saving money or building something gradually.

    No te desanimes si ahorras poco cada mes; de grano en grano, llena la gallina el buche.

29. Dios los cría y ellos se juntan.

    Birds of a feather flock together. Literally: “God raises them and they come together”.

    Said when people with similar traits, habits, or backgrounds naturally find each other, often with a slightly ironic or critical tone. Widely used across the Spanish-speaking world.

    Los dos son igual de traviesos y ahora son mejores amigos: Dios los cría y ellos se juntan.

30. Gato con guantes no caza ratones.

    You can't get things done with kid gloves on. Literally: “A cat with gloves does not hunt mice”.

    Used to say that being too refined, cautious, or delicate prevents you from achieving results. Often said to someone who is being overly polite or hesitant in a tough situation.

    Si quieres cerrar ese trato difícil, deja la diplomacia excesiva: gato con guantes no caza ratones.

31. No es tan fiero el león como lo pintan.

    The devil is not as black as he is painted. Literally: “The lion is not as fierce as they paint it”.

    Used to reassure someone that a person, situation, or task is less frightening or difficult than it seems. Very common in everyday conversation across the Spanish-speaking world.

    No tengas miedo de hablar con el jefe; no es tan fiero el león como lo pintan.

32. Quien con niños se acuesta, mojado amanece.

    Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas. Literally: “Whoever goes to bed with children wakes up wet”.

    Means that if you associate with certain people or take on certain commitments, you must accept the consequences. Often used about childish behavior or messy situations involving kids.

    Ahora tienes que aguantar sus travesuras; quien con niños se acuesta, mojado amanece.

33. Cuando las ranas críen pelo.

    When pigs fly. Literally: “When frogs grow hair”.

    A sarcastic way of saying something will never happen. Very common in Spain and Latin America as a humorous refusal or dismissal.

    ¿Que me preste su coche? Cuando las ranas críen pelo.

34. El ojo del amo engorda al caballo.

    The master's eye makes the horse fat. Literally: “The eye of the owner fattens the horse”.

    Stresses that things run better when the owner or person in charge supervises personally. Common in business, farming, and family contexts.

    No dejes el negocio en manos ajenas; el ojo del amo engorda al caballo.

35. Más vale un toma que dos te daré.

    A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Literally: “One 'take' is worth more than two 'I will give you'”.

    Used to advise accepting a sure, immediate benefit rather than waiting for a bigger promise that may never come. Common in money and negotiation contexts.

    Acéptale la oferta ahora; más vale un toma que dos te daré.

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