Axioms en Español
Parents always share words of wisdom using axioms and proverbs. My family had a few in Spanish, which were shared with me in this SoundCloud audio recording.
A dozen years or so ago, I had a conversation with my sister Gloria and cousin Felipa about proverbs and axioms (in Spanish, called dichos) used by our parents and grandparents in northern New Mexico. Dichos were often shared by elders to impart wisdom, give advice or “gently scold younger generations.”
I recorded the conversation on my first iPhone and thought I lost it after the numerous iterations of iPhone updates. However, I recently discovered that I had saved it to my SoundCloud account, so I thought I would share the two and one-half minute audio recording here.
One of my favorite sayings I remember my mom telling me was, “Ya te conozco, mosco,” meaning, “I already know you, mosquito.” This basically meant, “I know what you’re up to, son.”
This is for la familia and others who remember these Spanish nuggets of wisdom. Enjoy!
UPDATE: I recently discovered a list of dichos shared by a Facebook group called New Mexico History. Do any of these bring back memories? Do you remember a different one shared with you?
Common Northern New Mexico Dichos
1. "Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres."
* Literal translation: Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are.
* Meaning: You are judged by the company you keep. This is the classic warning parents give teenagers about hanging out with the "wrong crowd."
2. "El que con lobos anda, a aullar se enseña."
* Literal translation: He who walks with wolves learns to howl.
* Meaning: Similar to the one above, but it emphasizes that bad habits are contagious. If you associate with troublemakers, you will eventually become one yourself.
3. "A lo dado, no se le busca el lado."
* Literal translation: Don't look for the "side" of something that was given to you.
* Meaning: Be grateful for gifts. This is the Spanish equivalent of "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."
4. "Cada chango a su mecate."
* Literal translation: Each monkey to his rope.
* Meaning: Stick to what you know, or mind your own business. It is used when someone is meddling in affairs that don't concern them, or when organizing people/kids to stay in their assigned spots.
5. "Músico pagado no toca buen son."
* Literal translation: A musician who has been paid (in advance) doesn't play a good tune.
* Meaning: Don't pay for a service until the job is done. There is a cynical (but practical) belief that once someone has their money, they lose the motivation to do a good job.
6. "En boca cerrada no entran moscas."
* Literal translation: Flies don't enter a closed mouth.
* Meaning: Sometimes it’s better to stay silent. This advises discretion and warns that speaking too much can get you into trouble.
7. "No hay mal que por bien no venga."
* Literal translation: There is no bad from which good doesn't come.
* Meaning: Every cloud has a silver lining. This reflects the deep resilience and faith often found in Northern New Mexican culture—the idea that even tragedy has a purpose or a positive outcome eventually.
8. "Poco a poco se anda lejos."
* Literal translation: Little by little, one walks far.
* Meaning: Patience and persistence lead to success. It is a reminder to take things one step at a time.
9. "Salió más caro el caldo que las albóndigas."
* Literal translation: The broth came out more expensive than the meatballs.
* Meaning: The solution was more trouble (or expensive) than the original problem. Used when a "quick fix" ends up costing you more time or money than if you had just done it right the first time.