Dichos y refranes · Spanish proverbs
31 Spanish sayings about time and patience
Spanish is rich in sayings about time: about waiting, about hurrying, and about the right moment. If you have ever been told to be patient in Spanish, it was probably with one of these.
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.
Más vale tarde que nunca.
Better late than never. Literally: “Late is worth more than never”.
Used when something finally happens after a long delay — an apology, a payment, a life goal.
Por fin terminé la carrera a los cuarenta años; más vale tarde que nunca.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara.
Put on a brave face in hard times. Literally: “To bad weather, a good face”.
A call to stay cheerful and composed when things go wrong — the Spanish “keep calm and carry on.”
Nos cancelaron el vuelo, pero al mal tiempo, buena cara: pasamos la noche jugando a las cartas.
No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Literally: “Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today”.
The classic anti-procrastination proverb, identical in spirit to its English twin.
Termina el informe esta tarde: no dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
El tiempo lo cura todo.
Time heals all wounds. Literally: “Time cures everything”.
Comfort for heartbreak and grief: the pain fades even if it doesn’t feel possible now.
Al principio la mudanza fue durísima, pero el tiempo lo cura todo.
Mañana será otro día.
Tomorrow is another day. Literally: “Tomorrow will be another day”.
Said at the end of a rough day: let it go, rest, and start fresh.
Hoy nada salió bien; apaga el ordenador, que mañana será otro día.
No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
Things happen in their own time. Literally: “Dawn does not come earlier just because you rise earlier”.
Rushing doesn’t speed up what has its own timing — the counterweight to “a quien madruga.”
Llegaste tres horas antes y la tienda abrió a su hora de siempre: no por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.
Vísteme despacio, que tengo prisa.
More haste, less speed. Literally: “Dress me slowly, for I am in a hurry”.
When something is urgent, doing it carefully is actually faster than rushing and botching it.
Repasa el correo antes de enviarlo, aunque sea urgente: vísteme despacio, que tengo prisa.
El tiempo es oro.
Time is money. Literally: “Time is gold”.
Used to emphasize that time is valuable and shouldn't be wasted. Common when urging someone to act quickly or not delay.
El tiempo es oro, así que deja de perder el día en tonterías y ponte a estudiar.
Todo llega para quien sabe esperar.
Good things come to those who wait. Literally: “Everything arrives for the one who knows how to wait”.
Said to encourage patience when someone is anxious about results or waiting for something good. It reassures that patience will be rewarded.
No te desesperes por el ascenso; todo llega para quien sabe esperar.
La paciencia es la madre de la ciencia.
Patience is the mother of science. Literally: “Patience is the mother of science”.
Used to stress that patience is essential for learning, research, or achieving anything worthwhile. Common in academic or teaching contexts.
Para aprender un idioma hay que tener constancia, porque la paciencia es la madre de la ciencia.
El que espera, desespera.
Waiting drives you crazy. Literally: “He who waits, despairs”.
Used humorously or sympathetically when someone is tired of waiting for something. It acknowledges that waiting is frustrating.
Llevo tres horas en la sala de espera; el que espera, desespera.
El tiempo pone a cada uno en su lugar.
Time puts everyone in their place. Literally: “Time puts each one in their place”.
Used to express confidence that justice or truth will prevail with time. Common when someone has been treated unfairly and others say to be patient.
No te vengues; el tiempo pone a cada uno en su lugar.
Quien espera, alcanza.
Those who wait, achieve. Literally: “Who waits, reaches”.
Encourages perseverance and patience, suggesting that those who wait will eventually get what they want. Used as motivation.
Sigue intentándolo, porque quien espera, alcanza.
Las cosas de palacio van despacio.
Official matters move slowly. Literally: “Palace matters go slowly”.
Used to explain why bureaucratic or official processes take so long. Very common when dealing with government offices or paperwork.
No te impacientes con el trámite; ya sabes que las cosas de palacio van despacio.
Con el tiempo y una caña, todo se alcanza.
With time and patience, anything is possible. Literally: “With time and a rod, everything is reached”.
Encourages persistence, especially in difficult or slow pursuits. It suggests that given enough time and effort, goals can be achieved.
No te rindas con el proyecto; con el tiempo y una caña, todo se alcanza.
El tiempo vuela.
Time flies. Literally: “Time flies”.
Said when surprised at how quickly time has passed. Very common in everyday conversation about growing up, vacations ending, etc.
¡Cómo ha crecido tu hijo! El tiempo vuela.
A su tiempo maduran las uvas.
Everything ripens in its own time. Literally: “In their time, grapes ripen”.
Said to encourage patience, especially when waiting for something to develop naturally. It reminds people not to rush important processes.
Todavía no está listo para el puesto, pero a su tiempo maduran las uvas.
Nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena.
Better late than never when the outcome is good. Literally: “It is never late if the happiness is good”.
Said when something good happens later than expected, expressing that the delay doesn't matter because the result is positive.
Se casaron a los cincuenta, pero nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena.
Todo a su tiempo.
Everything in its own time. Literally: “Everything in its time”.
Used to calm someone who is rushing or impatient. It reminds them that things will happen when they're supposed to.
No presiones al niño para que camine; todo a su tiempo.
Paciencia y barajar.
Patience and shuffle the cards. Literally: “Patience and shuffle”.
Said when things are going slowly or badly, meaning to be patient and keep going. It comes from card games and is used to encourage endurance.
Perdimos otra vez, pero paciencia y barajar.
El tiempo no pasa en balde.
Time doesn't pass in vain. Literally: “Time doesn't pass in vain”.
Used to say that even during slow or difficult periods, something is being learned or gained. It encourages patience and reflection.
Aunque no conseguí el trabajo, aprendí mucho; el tiempo no pasa en balde.
Despacito y con buena letra.
Slowly and carefully. Literally: “Slowly and with good handwriting”.
Advises doing things calmly and carefully to avoid mistakes. Common when someone is rushing through a task.
Hazlo despacito y con buena letra, que no hay prisa.
El que mucho corre, pronto para.
Haste makes waste. Literally: “He who runs a lot, soon stops”.
Used to advise pacing yourself in work or effort, warning that working too fast leads to burnout or failure.
No trabajes sin descanso; el que mucho corre, pronto para.
Más vale paso que dure y no trote que canse.
Slow and steady wins the race. Literally: “Better a step that lasts than a trot that tires”.
Encourages a steady, sustainable pace over bursts of effort that lead to burnout. Common when advising patience in long projects.
Más vale paso que dure y no trote que canse, así que ve despacio con ese proyecto.
Nunca es tarde para aprender.
It's never too late to learn. Literally: “Never is late to learn”.
Said to motivate people of any age to pursue education or new skills. It reinforces that age is not a barrier to learning.
Mi abuela empezó a estudiar piano a los setenta; nunca es tarde para aprender.
Hay que darle tiempo al tiempo.
Give it time; be patient. Literally: “You have to give time to time”.
Said when someone is impatient about a process or outcome, encouraging them to wait calmly rather than rush things.
Sé que quieres respuestas ya, pero hay que darle tiempo al tiempo.
La paciencia todo lo alcanza.
Patience achieves everything. Literally: “Patience reaches everything”.
A motivational saying used to remind someone that perseverance and calm waiting will eventually yield results.
Sigue intentando, que la paciencia todo lo alcanza.
No se ganó Zamora en una hora.
Rome wasn't built in a day. Literally: “Zamora was not won in an hour”.
Used to remind someone that important achievements take time and patience. The saying refers to the historical siege of Zamora and is common in Spain, though less known in Latin America.
Aprender español lleva tiempo; no se ganó Zamora en una hora.
Hoy por ti, mañana por mí.
Today you, tomorrow me: we help each other. Literally: “Today for you, tomorrow for me”.
Said when helping someone to remind them that favors should be reciprocated. Common among friends, coworkers, and neighbors as a friendly way to invoke mutual support.
Te ayudo con la mudanza sin problema; hoy por ti, mañana por mí.
Pan para hoy, hambre para mañana.
A quick fix today, a bigger problem tomorrow. Literally: “Bread for today, hunger for tomorrow”.
Criticizes short-term solutions that create bigger problems later. Used about bad financial decisions, unsustainable policies, or reckless spending.
Ese préstamo es pan para hoy, hambre para mañana.
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