10 Spanish sayings about family

Family sits at the centre of everyday life in the Spanish-speaking world, and so many of its proverbs are about parents, children and inheritance: what we take from our families and what we owe them.

1. De tal palo, tal astilla.

   A chip off the old block. Literally: “From such a stick, such a splinter”.

   Said when a child clearly takes after a parent, in talent or in temperament.

   Su madre es pintora y la niña dibuja todo el día: de tal palo, tal astilla.

2. En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.

   The shoemaker’s children go barefoot. Literally: “In the blacksmith’s house, a wooden knife”.

   Professionals often neglect at home the very thing they do for a living.

   Es dentista y su hijo nunca quiere lavarse los dientes: en casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.

3. Los amigos son la familia que uno elige.

   Friends are the family you choose. Literally: “Friends are the family that one chooses”.

   Common in modern speech to describe close friendships that feel like family. Used warmly to include friends in one's inner circle.

   Los amigos son la familia que uno elige, y en mi boda no faltó ninguno.

4. La sangre tira.

   Blood is thicker than water. Literally: “Blood pulls”.

   Used when family bonds prove stronger than other ties. Said when relatives support each other despite disagreements.

   Aunque discutimos mucho, al final la sangre tira y nos ayudamos.

5. Madre no hay más que una.

   There's no one like your mother. Literally: “Mother there is no more than one”.

   Said to express the unique and irreplaceable love of a mother. Common on Mother's Day or when comforting someone.

   Madre no hay más que una, y por eso la llamo todos los días.

6. Hijo eres, padre serás, lo que hiciste pagarás.

   You reap what you sow with your children. Literally: “Son you are, father you will be, what you did you will pay”.

   Said to warn young people that their behavior will return to them through their own children. Common parental advice.

   Hijo eres, padre serás, lo que hiciste pagarás, así que trata bien a tus padres.

7. Éramos pocos y parió la abuela.

   As if we didn't have enough problems already. Literally: “We were few and the grandmother gave birth”.

   Said sarcastically when a new problem or complication is added to an already difficult situation. Very common in colloquial Spanish in Spain and Latin America.

   Se averió el coche y encima empezó a llover; éramos pocos y parió la abuela.

8. Los niños y los borrachos siempre dicen la verdad.

   Children and drunkards always tell the truth. Literally: “Children and drunkards always tell the truth”.

   Said when someone blurts out an uncomfortable truth, often excusing a child's blunt remark or a drunk person's honesty. It's a well-known folk saying used throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

   Mi sobrino dijo que su tía está gorda; ya sabes, los niños y los borrachos siempre dicen la verdad.

9. Los trapos sucios se lavan en casa.

   Don't air your dirty laundry in public. Literally: “Dirty rags are washed at home”.

   Said to urge people to keep family or private disputes out of the public eye. Widely used across the Spanish-speaking world as a call for discretion and family loyalty.

   No discutamos delante de los vecinos; los trapos sucios se lavan en casa.

10. Cuando seas padre, comerás huevos.

    You'll understand when you're older. Literally: “When you are a father, you will eat eggs”.

    Said to someone too young or inexperienced to understand adult responsibilities or hardships. Often used humorously to dismiss naive opinions.

    Ya lo entenderás; cuando seas padre, comerás huevos.

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