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There are dozens of funny Spanish phrases and sayings that will make you sound more like a native when conversing with friends and family. These sayings and jokes provide a unique “cultural window” that reflects the morals and values of many Spanish-speaking countries.
However, many of these funny things to say in Spanish don’t quite translate to English. Check out the list below to see just how much Spanish speakers love to play around with words! (Translations included).
28 Funny Spanish Phrases, Sayings, & Jokes
Unlike English, Spanish has two forms of the verb 'to be'. ('To be' is the really common verb that lets us say that 'he is in the hot air balloon', or 'they are fantastic socks', or 'I am a snappy dresser'.). Spanish-language media — Through Spanish books, movies, TV shows, songs and podcasts, you get to hear and read the Spanish language as it’s used by native speakers in real situations (and often for free), but you don’t get to practice speaking or learn the underlying rules and nuances of the language. Holy Bible Reina Valera 1960 in Spanish Bible Concordance, Bible Dictionary, Audio, Daily Readings, Offline and much more! For more than fifty years, the Holy Bible Reina Valera 1960 has become the Bible of greater acceptance and trust for millions of Spanish-speaking evangelical Christians around the world. ☆ Bible Concordance In this Concordance you will find an alphabetical index of all.
Querer es poder.
Literal translation:
Wanting to, is being able to.
Wanting to, is being able to.
What it actually means:
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
This wise saying points to the resilient heart of Spanish culture, that even if an obstacle appears insurmountable at first, you can overcome it!
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No hay mal que por bien no venga.
Literal translation:
There’s nothing bad that doesn’t occur in the name of a greater good.
There’s nothing bad that doesn’t occur in the name of a greater good.
What it actually means:
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
This is one of our favorite funny Spanish sayings. It points to a belief in Spanish culture that even if an event appears negative, you should trust that it happened for a reason. Life is giving you what you need now, even if it feels rough.
You can also attribute it to the belief in a greater good, or a greater power.
Échale ganas.
Literal translation:
Insert desire.
Insert desire.
What it actually means:
Try your best.
Try your best.
Ponte las pilas.
Literal translation:
Put your batteries on.
Put your batteries on.
What it actually means:
Work hard.
Work hard.
Es mejor pedir perdón que permiso.
Literal translation:
It’s better to apologize than to ask for permission.
It’s better to apologize than to ask for permission.
What it actually means:
Do what you need to do now.
Do what you need to do now.
Here the attitude is “you better just do what you need to do now and worry about the consequences after,” highlighting another cultural proclivity toward staying in the present moment and doing whatever is needed in that moment.
SEE ALSO: 35 Spanish Slang Words
Despacio que tengo prisa.
Literal translation:
Slowly that I’m in a rush.
Slowly that I’m in a rush.
What it actually means:
Slower is faster.
Slower is faster.
Many funny Spanish sayings also have a bit of wise advice attached to them. This one suggests that doing what you need to do slowly and thoroughly is more productive in the long-run.
Más vale mal por conocido que bueno por conocer.
Literal translation:
Known evil is better than unknown good.
Known evil is better than unknown good.
What it actually means:
Be content with what you have now.
Be content with what you have now.
This saying suggests that known imperfection is better than idealizing a future alternative that may not be too good at all. This is a double-edged sword, however, as staying in your comfort zone can actually prevent you from better options.
Él que transa no avanza.
Literal translation:
He who deceives never advances.
He who deceives never advances.
What it actually means:
Deception never pays off.
Deception never pays off.
This rhymes smoothly but only in Spanish.
Tirar la casa por la ventana.
Literal translation:
Throw the house out the window.
Throw the house out the window.
What it actually means:
Roll out the red carpet.
Roll out the red carpet.
This saying is about splurging on special occasions, namely spending a lot of money when the situation warrants it.
Mandar a alguien por un tubo.
Literal translation:
Send someone through a tube.
Send someone through a tube.
What it actually means:
Tell them to shove it.
Tell them to shove it.
This is about setting limits when people don’t treat you right.
Quedarse con los brazos cruzados.
Literal translation:
Staying with your arms crossed.
Staying with your arms crossed.
What it actually means:
He/she froze.
He/she froze.
SEE ALSO: 36 Popular Spanish Slang Words
This is when someone gets paralyzed and doesn’t act when they need to.
Caras vemos corazones no sabemos.
Literal translation:
We see faces but we don’t know hearts.
We see faces but we don’t know hearts.
What it actually means:
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
This isn’t one of the funny things to say in Spanish, but rather something more serious. It means that you should realize things aren’t always the way they appear.
Mejor solo que mal acompañado.
Literal translation:
It’s better to be alone than in bad company.
It’s better to be alone than in bad company.
What it actually means:
It’s okay to be alone sometimes.
It’s okay to be alone sometimes.
This saying reminds people to take care of themselves in relationships.
De golosos y tragones, están llenos los panteones.
Literal translation:
Cemeteries are full of greedy people.
Cemeteries are full of greedy people.
What it actually means:
Care for others — or else.
Care for others — or else.
This saying works in English but doesn’t rhyme at all.
How Do You Say I Want To Play In Spanish
Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente.
Literal translation:
A shrimp that sleeps is carried away by the current.
A shrimp that sleeps is carried away by the current.
What it actually means:
You snooze, you lose.
You snooze, you lose.
Here, again, the rhyme is lost in translation but it’s a good reminder to seize opportunties as they come your way.
Más vale un pájaro en mano que ciento uno volando.
Literal translation:
One bird in hand is better than 100 birds flying.
One bird in hand is better than 100 birds flying.
What it actually means:
A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
The meaning behind this message is simple: you already have something that’s guaranteed yours, so don’t be greedy and try to grab two more that may or may not be yours.
Se puso hasta las chanclas.
What it actually means:
He/she got hammered.
He/she got hammered.
There are many funny Spanish phrases that have to do with drinking. Use this one when you have a friend who got a little too carried away the night before!
Palabras necias, oídos sordos.
Literal translation:
Annoying words, deaf ears.
Annoying words, deaf ears.
What it actually means:
If you don’t have anything positive to say, don’t say anything at all.
If you don’t have anything positive to say, don’t say anything at all.
Nobody likes to listen to someone nagging, so it’s better to keep quiet!
Entre la espada y la pared.
Literal translation:
Between the sword and the wall.
Between the sword and the wall.
What it actually means:
Between a rock and a hard place.
Between a rock and a hard place.
This describes a difficult situation where no matter what you do, it feels like the wrong choice.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
Literal translation:
There’s a giant gap between the saying and the action.
There’s a giant gap between the saying and the action.
What it actually means:
It’s easier said than done.
It’s easier said than done.
Sometimes it’s easier to talk about an action getting done than to physically carry it out.
Se fue de Guatemala a Guata-peor.
Literal translation:
It went from Guate-bad to Guata-worse.
It went from Guate-bad to Guata-worse.
What it actually means:
Things went from bad to worse.
Things went from bad to worse.
This play on words is clearly compromised in the translation, as the original saying in Spanish uses the country Guatemala, which has the word “bad” in its last two syllables.
Entre broma y broma la verdad se asoma.
Literal translation:
Between jokes and jokes, the truth lurks.
Between jokes and jokes, the truth lurks.
What it actually means:
Jokes can reveal truths.
Jokes can reveal truths.
The beautiful rhyming in Spanish is again lost in the English translation.
RELATED: 50 Beautiful Spanish Words
Now let’s look at some funny Spanish phrases and jokes to share with your friends!
¿Qué le dijo un pez a otro pez? Nada.
Translation:
What did one fish say to another? Nada.
The word “nada” in Spanish can refer to the command to swim, or the word “nothing.” So this joke is a play-on-words
Hay dos palabras que te abrirán muchas puertas: Empuje y jale.
Translation:
There are two words that will open many doors for you: push and pull.
This hilarious little joke is another play-on-words in Spanish.
How To Say Do You Want To Play In Spanish
¿Qué le dijo una ganza a la otra? Venganza
Translation:
What did one goose say to the other? Revenge.
If you separate the first syllable ven, meaning “come,” from the next two, ganza meaning “goose,” you’ll see that the joke’s answer simultaneously reads, “come goose” and the word “revenge.”
Clearly, this joke does not work in English, so if it were translated in a movie, the subtitles wouldn’t capture it well, no matter how skilled the translator is. Talk about a dad joke!
Se encuentran dos abogados y uno le dice al otro:
-¿Vamos a tomar algo?
-Bueno… ¿de quién?
Translation:
There are two lawyers and one says to the other:
-“Let’s get a drink.” Real casino on facebook.
-“Yes. From who?”
In Spanish the verb tomar (“to take”) is also used to mean “to drink,” so the lawyers are “taking a drink” and “taking something from someone” simultaneously. This highlights the cultural tendency to view lawyers as corrupt, opportunistic, and greedy.
“¡Te dije que me gustan las películas viejas y buenas y tú me llevaste a una película de viejas buenas!”
Translation:
“I told you I liked good and old movies, but you took me to see a movie with pretty women!”
This play-on-words is especially complicated. While vieja means “old,” it also refers to a woman, and while buena usually means “good,” it can also mean “attractive” when referring to a person.
Now that you know these sayings, you won’t feel confused if you hear them in conversation! Good luck with your Spanish studies and learning the intricacies of this fascinating language and culture.
What other funny Spanish phrases, sayings, or jokes have you come across? Leave a comment and let us know!
Post Author: Jason N.
Jason N. tutors English and Spanish in Athens, GA. He majored in Spanish at UC Davis and studied Spanish Literature and Psychology at the University of Costa Rica. Learn more about Jason here!
Jason N. tutors English and Spanish in Athens, GA. He majored in Spanish at UC Davis and studied Spanish Literature and Psychology at the University of Costa Rica. Learn more about Jason here!
the two ways of saying “to be” in Spanish, and when to use each one
Unlike English, Spanish has two forms of the verb 'to be'.
('To be' is the really common verb that lets us say that 'he is in the hot air balloon', or 'they are fantastic socks', or 'I am a snappy dresser'.)
The two forms of 'to be' in Spanish are Ser and Estar.
I'll explain when to use each one in a moment, but first let's see what they look like. Here's how to say 'I am..', 'you are..', 'they are..' etc, using both ser and estar.
yo soy
(ser)
(ser)
yo estoy
(estar)
(estar)
tú eres
(ser)
(ser)
tú estás
(estar)
(estar)
él es
(ser)
(ser)
él está
(estar)
(estar)
nosotros somos
(ser)
(ser)
nosotros estamos
(estar)
(estar)
ustedes son
(ser)
(ser)
ustedes están
(estar)
(estar)
vosotros sois
(ser)
(ser)
vosotros estáis
(estar)
(estar)
ellos son
(ser)
(ser)
ellos están
(estar)
(estar)
When to use 'ser'
You'll use words from the 'ser' column when you're talking about permanent states or characteristics.
María es inteligente
Yo soy muy alto
Nosotros somos hermanos
Our girl María is smart. Not just today, but all the time. So we use ser, because we're talking about a permanent characteristic.
Likewise, Jose is going to stay an architect, I'm going to continue to be tall, and I will always be brothers with my brother. So in all these cases you would use ser
But when I'm talking about my friend who is in the hot air balloon (a distinctly non-permanent situation) I would use estar instead.
When to use 'estar'
Estar (and its various forms) is used when talking about something that is a non-permanent state or location.
María está enferma
Juan está en su casa
Los perros están en mi casa
All of these situations are not permanent states or characteristics, so we use estar. Maria has been well in the past and will hopefully get better, so that's not permanent. Juan isn't nailed to his floorboards, so that's not permanent either.
In particular, you would always use estar when you're talking about someone being at a particular location — since people can and do move around!
How Do You Say To Play In Spanish
Mi amigo está en la oficina
Mi amigo es en la oficina
Nope. This loosely translates to 'my friend exists at the office' which is a weird thing to say.
A good way to see the difference is to pay another visit to Maria:
María es bonita
María está bonita
Maria looks pretty today / at this particular moment
If you use ser, then Maria is a pretty girl in general. If you use estar, it might be because she's dressed up for a party. One is a permanent characteristic, and the other is a temporary state.