- “Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres” – “Tell me who you hang out with and I’ll tell you who you are.” This saying emphasizes the importance of the company you keep.
- “En boca cerrada no entran moscas” – “Flies don’t enter a closed mouth.” This means that it’s better to keep quiet and avoid trouble or conflict.
- “Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda” – “Even if the monkey dresses in silk, it’s still a monkey.” This saying emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself, and that material possessions or appearances don’t define who you are.
- “El que sabe, sabe; el que no, es jefe” – “He who knows, knows; he who doesn’t, is the boss.” This saying is often used to criticize those who are in positions of power but lack the necessary knowledge or skills to effectively lead.
- “El que tiene tienda que la atienda, sino que la venda” – “He who has a store should attend to it, otherwise sell it.” This saying emphasizes the importance of taking care of what you have, and not letting things go to waste.
- “Lo que no mata, engorda” – “What doesn’t kill you, fattens you up.” This saying emphasizes the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to bounce back from adversity.
- “El que no tiene de inga tiene de mandinga” – This saying means that if you don’t have one thing, you have another. It emphasizes the idea that there are different ways to achieve a goal or overcome a challenge.
- “A otra cosa, mariposa” – This expression is used to signify a change of subject or to dismiss a topic of conversation. It can be translated to mean “onto another thing, butterfly.”
- “Poner el dedo en la llaga” – This saying means to hit a sore spot or to point out a sensitive issue. It is often used to describe someone who is being too critical or too honest.
- “Ser un palomo” – This expression is used to describe someone who is naive or gullible. It can be translated to mean “to be a pigeon.”
- “Agarrar la vaca por los cuernos” – This saying means to take control of a situation or to tackle a problem head-on. It can be translated to mean “to grab the bull by the horns.”
- “Echar agua al mar” – This expression is used to describe a futile or pointless action. It can be translated to mean “to pour water into the sea.”
- “De tal palo, tal astilla” – This saying means that like father, like son. It is used to describe someone who has inherited certain traits or characteristics from their parents.
- “Tener mala leche” – This expression means to be unlucky or to have bad luck. It can be translated to mean “to have bad milk.”
- “Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando” – This expression means that it’s better to have something for certain than to risk losing it by trying to get something better. It can be translated to mean “A bird in the hand is worth more than a hundred flying.”
- “No hay mal que por bien no venga” – This saying means that every cloud has a silver lining, or that something good can come from a bad situation. It can be translated to mean “There is no evil that doesn’t bring good.”
- “La ocasión hace al ladrón” – This expression means that the opportunity creates the thief, or that someone might do something wrong if given the chance. It can be translated to mean “The occasion makes the thief.”
- “Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo” – This saying means that experience is more valuable than cunning, and that older people are often wiser than younger people. It can be translated to mean “The devil knows more because he is old than because he is the devil.”
- “El que no llora, no mama” – This expression means that if you don’t ask, you don’t get, or that you have to speak up in order to get what you want. It can be translated to mean “If you don’t cry, you don’t breastfeed.”
- “Quien tiene tienda que la atienda, sino que la venda” – This expression means that if you have something, take care of it and put effort into it, or else sell it. It can be translated to mean “If you have a store, attend to it, and if not, sell it.” This saying encourages people to take care of what they have and to not let it go to waste.
These are just a few examples of the many colorful and expressive sayings that are part of the rich cultural heritage of the Dominican Republic.