Sayings, or refranes (reh-FRAH-nehs), are a big part of the spoken Spanish language. Each country and culture has their own, but many cross the borders and are embraced by Spanish speakers worldwide. These refranes are so old that most of those who use them would be hard-pressed to tell you how they originated. Remember, the translations given provide the meaning of the saying; for the most part, they aren't literal.

A caballo regalado no le mires los dientes.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

ah kah-BAH-yoh reh-gah-LAH-doh noh leh MEE-rehs lohs dee-EHN-tehs A donde el corazón se inclina, el pie camina.

Home is where the heart is.

ah DOHN-deh ehl koh-rah-SOHN seh een-KLEE-nah ehl pee-EH kah-MEE-nah

A mucha hambre, no hay pan duro.

Beggars can't be choosers.

ah MOO-chah HAM-breh noh ahy pahn DOO-roh

A rey muerto, rey puesto.

When one door closes, another opens.

ah rehy MWEHR-toh rehy PWEH-stoh

Algo es algo.

It's better than nothing.

AHL-goh ehs AHL-goh

Con paciencia y con maña, el elefante se comió la araña.

Small strokes fell great oaks.

kohn pah-see-EHN-see-ah ee kohn MAH-nyah ehl eh-leh-FAHN-teh seh koh-mee-OH lah ah-RAH-nyah

Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.

Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are.

DEE-meh kohn kee-EHN AHN-dahs ee teh dee-REH kee-EHN EH-rehs

Donde hay humo, hay calor.

Where there's smoke, there's fire.

DOHN-deh ahy OO-moh ahy KAH-lohr

Lo barato sale caro.

Cheap things cost you in the end.

loh bah-RAH-toh SAH-leh KAH-roh

El mundo es un pañuelo.

It's a small world.

ehl MOON-doh ehs oon pah-nyoo-EH-loh

El tiempo da buen consejo.

Time will tell.

ehl tee-EHM-poh dah bwehn kohn-SEH-hoh

Las penas con pan son menos.

Grief is lessened with bread.

lahs PEH-nahs kohn pahn sohn MEH-nohs

No hay dos sin tres.

Bad (good) things come in threes.

noh ahy dohs seen trehs

No hay moros en la costa.

The coast is clear.

noh ahy MOH-rohs ehn lah KOH-stah

No hay pero que valga.

No ands, ifs or buts.

noh ahy PEH-roh keh VAHL-gah

No todo es miel sobre hojuelas.

It's not all fun and games.

noh TOH-doh ehs mee-EHL SOH-breh oh-HWEH-lahs

Querer es poder.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

keh-REHR ehs poh-DEHR

Ver para creer.

Seeing is believing.

behr PAH-rah kreh-EHR