Best funny Spanish phrases
Embarking on a delightful exploration of language, this article invites readers into the whimsical and humorous realm of Spanish expressions, where idioms, proverbs, and phrases spark laughter and add a touch of wit to everyday conversations. Spanish, renowned for its rich linguistic heritage, boasts an array of playful and amusing expressions that not only reflect the cultural nuances of the language but also unveil the clever and humorous spirit of its speakers. From whimsical proverbs to quirky idioms, the world of funny Spanish phrases is a treasure trove of linguistic charm. Join us on this linguistic journey as we unravel the wit and humor embedded in these colorful turns of phrase, offering a window into the cultural playfulness that defines Spanish communication. ¡Prepárense para reírse! (Get ready to laugh!)
It’s generally a good idea to make a habit of learning phrases that native speakers actually use, even if they may be based on slang and local dialect. Thank about all of the English sayings that you use everyday that would never be taught in a textbook, but are a crucial part of your speech.
That’s why memorizing vocabulary can only get you so far. Native Spanish speakers have their fair share of strange figures of speech. These idioms and proverbs may sound unusual (just like some of the English sayings that you are familiar with would be absurd to an outsider). But, mastering them will set you apart as a knowledgeable and adept Spanish speaker. You will sound more natural and casual, and less forced in your conversations. They are not only impressive, but also a great way to lighten the mood.
You will soon see that native Spanish speakers adore playing around with their words. If you’ve ever noticed your Spanish friends laughing among themselves while you are scratching your head, you can probably relate. These phrases will help you understand, and make you sound more like a native when you are conversing with your friends and family. Here is a comprehensive list of humorous Spanish phrases that you may hear in Mexico, Spain, Colombia, and other Spanish-speaking countries. You’ll likely hear these from a native speaker, but you probably won’t learn them in any class!
100 Funny Spanish phrases, idioms, and proverbs
| Funny Spanish phrase | Literal translation | What they're actually saying |
|---|---|---|
| ¡Eres la leche! | You’re the milk! | You're the bees knees. |
| ¡Que pedo! | What a fart! | “What’s up?” or “what’s the matter?" |
| A cada puerco le llega su sabado | Every dog has its Saturday | Everyone gets their just deserts in the end |
| A falta de pan, buenas son tortas | When bread is lacking, cakes are just as good | We will have to make do with whatever we have |
| A la ocasion la pintan calva. | On the occasion while the sun shines. | Better to strike while the iron is hot |
| A pan de quince dias, hambre de tres semanas | A fortnight bread, three-week hunger | Beggars can’t be choosers |
| A quien no le sobra pan, no crie can | To those who do not have bread, do not raise dogs | Don't spend your money before you get it |
| A rey muerto, rey puesto. | A dead king, king laid. | When one opportunity leaves, another comes |
| Andar con pies de plomo | To walk with lead feet | To be overcautious |
| Aquellos polvos traen estos lodos. | The dirt brings the mud. | The chickens have come home to roost |
| Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda | The monkey might be dressed in silk, but it's still a monkey | Can't polish a turd |
| Borron y cuenta nueva. | Clean sweep. | Let bygones be bygones. |
| Botar la casa por la ventana | To throw the house through the window | To spare no expense, or that money is no object |
| Buena onda | Good wave | Good vibes |
| Burro hablando de orejas | A donkey talking about ears | “The pot calling the kettle black” |
| Busco tres pies al gato | I look for the three feet on a cat | Make things more complicated than they are |
| Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente | The shrimp who falls asleep gets washed away | You'll miss an opportunity if you don't pay attention (“you snooze, you lose!") |
| Caras vemos corazones no sabemos. | You can see a face but you don't no a heart | You can't judge a book by its cover |
| Comiendo moscas | Eating flies | Always going off on tangents |
| Con el dinero, baila el perro | With money, even a dog will dance | Enough money can make anything at all possible |
| Corto de luces | Short of lights | Not the brightest bulb in the box |
| Creerse la última Coca-Cola del desierto | You think you're the last Coke in the desert | To be full of oneself |
| Criar fama y echarse a dormir | Get famous and go to sleep | A reputation sticks with you |
| Dame pan Y dime tonto | Give me bread and tell my I'm dumb | It doesn't matter what you think of me, as long as I get what I want |
| Dando y dando, pajarito volando. | Giving and giving, the bird is flying | You scratch my back, and I will scratch your back |
| Dar calabazas a alguien | To give somebody pumpkins | Brush somebody off or reject them |
| Dar gato por liebre | To give cat for hare | Rip somebody off |
| Dar la lata | To give the can | To make someone angry, annoyed, or bored |
| Dar la vuelta a la tortilla | To turn the omelette around | To turn the tables |
| Dar una leche | Give a milk | Get injured |
| De golosos y tragones, están llenos los panteones | Cemeteries are full of greedy people | Greed is bad for the health |
| Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho. | There's lot of space between the saying and the action | Easier said than done! |
| Despacio que tengo prisa | Slowly in a rush | Take your time and you won't have to backtrack |
| Disfrutar como un enano | To enjoy yourself like a dwarf | Having a grand old time |
| Duermo a pierna suelta | I sleep with a loose leg | I sleep like a log, I sleep like a baby |
| Échale ganas | Insert desire | Try your best |
| Echando leches | Pouring milk | Doing something overly hastily ("at full tilt") |
| Echar los perros | To throw the dogs (at somebody) | Show someone that you are romantically interested |
| Echarse al agua | To get in the water | Get married (“tie the knot”) |
| El cambio es inevitable, excepto cuando se trata de de una máquina expendedora. | Change is inevitable, unless you're talking about a vending machine. | Change is the only constant |
| Encontrar tu media naranja | To find your half orange | To find your other half (the perfect partner) |
| Entre broma y broma la verdad se asoma. | The truth lurks within jokes | Every joke is based in truth |
| Entre la espada y la pared | Between the sword and the wall | Stuck in between a rock and a hard place. |
| Eres del año de la pera | You are from the year of the pear | You are so old you're from another era |
| Eres un gallina | You are a hen | You are a chicken (coward) |
| Eres un rata | You are a rat | You are stingy |
| Es el mismo perro con diferente collar | The same dog, but with a different collar | People never change |
| Estar como una cabra | To be like a goat. | Acting crazy! |
| Estar de mala leche | To be of bad milk | You're a cranky pants |
| Estar en la edad del pavo | To be in the turkey age | To be pubescent |
| Estar hecho un ají | To be made a chili | Someone is hopping mad |
| Estar más sano que una pera | To be healthier than a pear | "Fit as a fiddle!" |
| Estar pelado | To be stripped | To be penniless |
| Estar sin blanca | To be without white | To be a deadbeat |
| Estar vivito y coleando | Alive and kicking | Alive and well |
| Estoy entusado | I'm love-torn | To be in unrequited love |
| Estoy tragada de ella | I am swallowed by her | I am deeply in love with her |
| Feliz como una lombriz | Happy as a worm | Happy as a clam |
| Hablando del Rey de Roma… | Speaking of the King of Rome | Speak of the devil |
| Hablar caspa | Talk dandruff | Run your mouth |
| Hacer su agosto | Make your August | Made a fortune (got very rich) |
| Hail to the Virgin | Hail to the Virgin | Happy-go-lucky |
| Irse por las ramas | To go through the branches | Beating around the bush, avoiding a subject intentionally |
| Lo que soy yo, me pinto de colores | What I am, I paint colors | I have to go now |
| Mandar a alguien por un tubo. | Send someone through a tube. | Tell someone to shove off. |
| Mas cara que espalda | More face than back | Cheeky |
| Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por sabio | The devil knows more because of his age than because he is the eevil | Experience knows best |
| Más se perdió en Cuba | More was lost in Cuba. | "Could be worse!" |
| Me pica el bagre | The catfish is pecking me | Starving ("so hungry I could eat a horse!") |
| Mejor malo conocido que bueno por conocer | Better a bad guy you know than a good one you don't | Better the devil you know |
| Mi bebida se siente sola. ¿Te gustaría acompañarme con la tuya? | My drink is feeling lonely. Would you like to bring yours over here? | Will you join me for a drink? |
| Monta un cristo | Make a Christ | Make a scene |
| No hay mal que por bien no venga | Everything happens in the name of a greater good | Every cloud has a silver lining |
| No importar un pepino | Doesn't matter a cucumber | I don't care about that at all |
| No sabes ni papa de __ | You don't know a potato about it | You're clueless |
| No tener ni pies ni cabeza | Without feet or head | Without rhyme or reason |
| No ves tres en un burro | You can't see three on a donkey | You are as blind as a bad |
| Palabras necias, oídos sordos. | Annoying words, deaf ears. | If you don't have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all |
| Papando moscas | Catching flies | Daydreaming idly |
| Poner verde a alguien | To turn someone green | To be a gossip about someone |
| Ponte las pilas | Put in your batteries | Liven up! |
| Quedarse con los brazos cruzados. | Staying with your arms crossed. | Frozen in place |
| Quedarse de piedra | Be like a stone | Be flabbergasted or astounded |
| Querer es poder | To want to, is to be able to | If you want to, you can. ("Where there’s a will, there’s a way.") |
| Sacar los trapitos al sol | Hang your clothes in the sun after doing the laundry | "Air your dirty laundry" |
| Sacar los trapos al sol | To take the rags out in the sun | "Air your dirty laundry" |
| Se fue de Guatemala a Guata-peor. | It went from Guate-bad to Guata-worse. | It went from bad to worse |
| Se puso hasta las chanclas | He put himself up to the sandals | Has had too much alcohol to drink ("Put on the beer goggles") |
| Ser pan comido | To be eaten bread | It's no trouble, very easy, a "piece of cake"! |
| Ser uña y mugre | To be nail and dirt | Always together (“joined at the hip”) |
| Sin pelos en la lengua | Without hair in your tongue | When someone tells it like it is (doesn't bite their tongue) |
| Te metiste en camisa de once baras | You’ve put on a shirt made from eleven sticks | You’ve bitten off more than you can chew |
| Te tira los tejos | Throw disks at you | To hit on someone |
| Temblar como un flan | You tremble like pudding | You are a scaredy-cat |
| Tener mala leche | To have sour milk | To have bad luck |
| The devil knows more because of his age than because he is the devil | To put in the paw | I screwed up royally (and I'm sorry!) |
| Tienes memoria de pez | You have the memory of a fish | You can't remember anything |
| Tienes vista de lince | You have the eyesight of a lynx | You have an eagle eye |
| Tomar el pelo | Grab the hair | Tease, "pull the leg" |
| Verle las orejas al lobo | To see the ears of the wolf | To see the writing on the wall (danger) |
Using idioms in a foreign language can significantly contribute to blending in with native speakers and assimilating into a new cultural environment for several reasons:
Cultural Integration: Idioms are deeply rooted in cultural contexts, reflecting the history, values, and customs of a community. Incorporating idioms into your speech demonstrates an understanding of the culture, making it easier to integrate and connect with native speakers.
Expressing Nuance: Idioms often encapsulate nuanced meanings that may not be easily conveyed through literal translations. By using idioms, you show a more profound grasp of the language, allowing for more nuanced and culturally appropriate communication.
Natural Communication: Native speakers frequently use idioms in everyday conversation. Incorporating these expressions makes your language use sound more natural, helping you avoid sounding overly formal or like a textbook speaker.
Building Rapport: Using idioms can create a sense of camaraderie and shared understanding. Native speakers may appreciate your efforts to embrace colloquial language, fostering a stronger connection and potentially leading to more meaningful interactions.
Demonstrating Fluency: Mastery of idioms signals a certain level of fluency in a language. It suggests that you have moved beyond basic vocabulary and grammar rules, showcasing a deeper familiarity with the language’s subtleties.
Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding and using idioms also reflects cultural sensitivity. It shows that you are attuned to the local customs and nuances, which can be crucial for navigating social situations and avoiding misunderstandings.
Enhancing Communication Skills: Learning and using idioms improves your overall communication skills. It challenges you to think creatively and contextually, fostering adaptability in diverse linguistic situations.
Eliciting Positive Responses: Native speakers often appreciate the effort of a language learner who incorporates idioms into their speech. Your attempts to use idiomatic expressions may be met with positive reactions, encouraging further engagement and interaction.
Fitting In Socially: Language is a crucial aspect of social integration. Using idioms can help you fit in more seamlessly within social circles, making it easier to connect with locals and participate in social activities.
In essence, incorporating idioms into your foreign language use not only showcases linguistic prowess but also serves as a powerful tool for cultural assimilation, facilitating connections with native speakers and enhancing your overall language experience in a new environment.
Funny Spanish sayings that don’t quite translate
All languages share the common trait of having funny expressions and sayings. You may have even already heard some confusing expressions in Spanish movies, TV, or from your Spanish friends. Sometimes, they don’t seem to make sense in the context of the conversation. Even if you’ve been speaking Spanish in a classroom for a long time, these idioms often only crop up with actual conversational Spanish experience. Some colorful and funny phrases in Spanish might sound a little bit odd when translated literally to English, which is why we’ve included the closest comparable in English, or “what they really mean”. After this, you may be interested in reading our collection of funny Spanish puns.
Funny Spanish phrases that will make everyone laugh
Some phrases may be more universal, while others are hyper-regional. If you say one that is uncommon in the area you are visiting, you may get a questioning look. So keep your ears open for what you hear, and learn by imitation! You will soon get a feel for the inside jokes, plays on words, and funny phrases that are common in the dialect of Spanish spoken where you are. Are there any other phrases that you our your Spanish-speaking friends use every day? Let us know in the comments.
In conclusion, our journey through the world of funny Spanish phrases, idioms, and proverbs has been a delightful expedition into the humor and linguistic playfulness that enriches the Spanish language. From the charmingly absurd to the cleverly witty, these expressions not only bring laughter but also provide a glimpse into the cultural quirks and colloquialisms that make Spanish a language full of character. As we wrap up this exploration, may the joyous resonance of these humorous phrases linger in our linguistic repertoire, fostering not only a deeper appreciation for the Spanish language but also a shared sense of amusement that transcends cultural boundaries. ¡Que la risa siga acompañándonos en nuestro viaje lingüístico! (May laughter continue to accompany us on our linguistic journey!)
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