30 Popular Colombian Sayings for Everyday Conversations

When learning a language, mastering local expressions adds depth to your understanding and fluency. Colombian sayings, in particular, are full of vibrant phrases that reflect the country’s unique culture and traditions. Here, we’ll explore 30 popular Colombian sayings to add a touch of local color to your Spanish conversations.

Why Local Sayings Matter in Colombian Conversations

Understanding Colombian sayings can elevate your Spanish and help you grasp the culture embedded in Colombian society. These expressions reflect humor, wisdom, and values, helping you communicate more naturally. Incorporating Colombian sayings into your vocabulary makes conversations feel friendlier and helps you connect with native speakers on a deeper level.

Sayings about Life and Traditional Wisdom in Colombia

These Colombian expressions about life reveal traditional wisdom and values, offering timeless life advice. Covering universal themes like hard work and patience, these sayings are core to Colombian culture.

1. El que madruga, Dios le ayuda
   • Translation: The early bird catches the worm.
   • Meaning: Emphasizes the value of hard work and seizing opportunities.
2. Barriga llena, corazón contento
   • Translation: Full belly, happy heart.
   • Meaning: Reflects the cultural importance of enjoying good food.
3. Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo
   • Translation: The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.
   • Meaning: Wisdom comes with experience, not just intelligence.
4. Al que no le toca, no le toca
   • Translation: If it’s not meant for you, it won’t happen.
   • Meaning: Conveys a sense of fate and acceptance.
5. El pez por su boca muere
   • Translation: The fish dies by its own mouth.
   • Meaning: Be careful with your words; they can have unintended consequences.

Expressions for Everyday Situations in Colombia

Colombians use these sayings to describe daily situations with humor or insight. Each one is a shortcut to express common feelings or challenges.

6. No dar papaya
   • Translation: Don’t give papaya.
   • Meaning: Don’t make yourself an easy target; avoid unnecessary risks.
7. Ponerle el pecho a las balas
   • Translation: To put your chest to the bullets.
   • Meaning: To face challenges head-on with courage.
8. Sacar la piedra
   • Translation: To get the stone out.
   • Meaning: Used to say something or someone is irritating or frustrating.
9. Se cayó la estantería
   • Translation: The shelf fell down.
   • Meaning: Describes an unexpected situation causing major disruption.
10. Hacerse el loco
    • Translation: To play dumb.
    • Meaning: To pretend not to understand or avoid responsibility.
11. Más perdido que el hijo de Lindbergh
    • Translation: More lost than Lindbergh’s son.
    • Meaning: Used humorously to describe confusion or disorientation.
12. A otro perro con ese hueso
    • Translation: To another dog with that bone!
    • Meaning: Expresses disbelief, as in “I don’t buy it.”

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Sayings about Friendship and Relationships in Colombian Culture

In Colombia, friendships and family are valued deeply, and these expressions reflect the importance of these connections, capturing the warmth and loyalty shared with friends and family.

13. Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres
    • Translation: Tell me who you’re with, and I’ll tell you who you are.
    • Meaning: A person is often judged by the company they keep.
14. Amigos hasta en la sopa
    • Translation: Friends even in soup.
    • Meaning: Used to refer to friends who are always around.
15. Al mal tiempo, buena cara
    • Translation: To bad weather, good face.
    • Meaning: Encourages a positive attitude, even in tough times.
16. No hay mal que por bien no venga
    • Translation: Every cloud has a silver lining.
    • Meaning: Something good can come out of a bad situation.
17. Hacerse el de las gafas
    • Translation: To pretend to wear glasses.
    • Meaning: Used when someone pretends not to notice or ignores a situation.

Humor in Colombian Culture

Humor is a core element of Colombian culture, and these funny expressions add lightness to life’s daily situations. Each captures a common behavior or event with a playful twist.

18. El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta
    • Translation: He who covers too much, squeezes little.
    • Meaning: Warns against taking on too many responsibilities.
19. Mucha mierda y poca peinilla
    • Translation: Lots of manure, little machete.
    • Meaning: Used when there’s a lot of talk but no action.
20. Eso es harina de otro costal
    • Translation: That’s flour from another sack.
    • Meaning: This is a different topic, unrelated to the discussion.
21. ¡Ojo pelado!
    • Translation: Peeling your eyes!
    • Meaning: A way of saying “stay alert” or “be careful.”
22. Estar en la olla
    • Translation: To be in the pot.
    • Meaning: Describes a tough or unfortunate situation.
23. Más rayado que una cebra
    • Translation: More striped than a zebra.
    • Meaning: Used humorously to refer to someone overly stressed or anxious.

Expressions about Fate and Luck

These Colombian expressions about fate represent cultural beliefs about destiny and luck, showing respect for life’s unpredictability and the role of fate in daily decisions.

24. Al que le van a dar, le guardan
    • Translation: They save for the one who’s going to get it.
    • Meaning: Reflects a sense of fate; what’s meant to happen will happen.
25. A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente
    • Translation: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
    • Meaning: Be grateful for what you’re given and don’t criticize it.
26. El que tiene tienda, que la atienda
    • Translation: He who has a store should tend it.
    • Meaning: People should be responsible for their own business.
27. Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho
    • Translation: There’s a big stretch between saying and doing.
    • Meaning: Easier said than done.
28. De tal palo, tal astilla
    • Translation: Like father, like son.
    • Meaning: Points out that children inherit traits from their parents.

Colombian Expressions to Inspire Perseverance

These motivational Colombian sayings encourage resilience and positivity, often reminding people to stay hopeful in challenging times.

29. Más vale tarde que nunca
    • Translation: Better late than never.
    • Meaning: Encourages perseverance even if it’s delayed.
30. El que persevera, alcanza
    • Translation: He who perseveres, reaches.
    • Meaning: Stresses the importance of persistence in achieving goals.

Tips for Using Colombian Sayings Naturally in Conversations

Using Colombian sayings effectively requires understanding their context and practicing them in real conversations. Here are some practical tips:

• Listen to Native Speakers: Observing how Colombians use sayings in context can help you understand the right tone and situation.
• Practice with Friends or Language Partners: Try using Colombian expressions in conversation to get feedback and build confidence.
• Immerse Yourself in Colombian Content: Reading authentic materials, like Short Stories in Colombian Spanish, helps deepen your understanding of Colombian sayings in a natural context.

Additional Resources for Studying Spanish Sayings

To deepen your understanding of Spanish expressions, consider these online resources:

• WordReference: Provides definitions and examples of Spanish sayings.
• SpanishDict: A comprehensive Spanish-English dictionary with idioms and regional expressions.
• Duolingo: Offers interactive practice, including dialogues where you can encounter idiomatic phrases.
• Linguee: A translation tool that shows idioms and their usage in context.

Conclusion

Colombian sayings enrich your Spanish, adding cultural and emotional depth to your language skills. By understanding and using these expressions, you’ll communicate more naturally and connect deeply with Colombian speakers.

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