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. Koi pond game.
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
Querer es poder.
Literal translation:
Wanting to, is being able to.
Wanting to, is being able to.
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See 27 authoritative translations of Play in Spanish with example sentences, conjugations and audio pronunciations.
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
![Spanish Spanish](https://www.macgamestore.com/images_screenshots/ken-folletts-the-pillars-of-the-earth-58042.jpeg)
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.
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.
Literal translation:
He/she put themselves up to the sandals.
He/she put themselves up to the sandals.
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.
How To Say Go Play In Spanish
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.
¿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.”
How To Play In Spanish Language
-“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!”
Play Spanish Music
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!
to produce sound or pictures: You shouldn't play tricks. a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move. In the screen above, choose between four different game options to help learn how to count, say, and spell out the words for different number in Spanish. Spanish Number Games. to reel or pay out, as a rope, line, etc. ¡Ayuda a Nick y Sally a restablecer el orden en Toborrowland!
Using Personal Subject Pronouns in Spanish, Orthographic Accents in Spanish Statements, Hansel y Gretel: Children's Story in Spanish With Vocabulary Lessons. Track your performance with our Spanish numbers games and see if you can beat your personal best! just playing along in order to get him to admit to his crime. a place in which to live. Wordplay is a simple game that makes it really easy to learn and remember Spanish words and phrases. in a game: to use as if in playing a game, as for one's own advantage: He played his brothers against each other.
to behave in a playful or frivolous manner; It's obvious that you're just playing at fishing for my sake. Girar para jugar juegos que usando todos sus sentidos. action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind: elusive change or movement, as of light or colors: the play of a searchlight against the night sky. La Baraja Española Spanish Playing Cards.
Forum discussions with the word(s) 'play' in the title: In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic. Free Spanish Vocabulary Game. There is no need for the Flash plugin anymore, but we recommend using the latest version of your browser when playing our games. Kids will learn uppercase letter, lowercase letters, shapes, writing, words, numbers, colors, and keyboard in Espanol when playing flash games.
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: to be part of or perform in (a game, etc.
If you lose your temper when he insults you, you will be playing right into his hands.
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In all Spanish, however, quote marks of either the angular or regular variety are used much as they are in English, most often to quote from someone's speech or writing or to call attention to words that are given a special or ironic use.
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