Portuguese is famous for how sweet it sounds â it almost seems to have been made for singing instead of speaking. Yet it has a lesser-known side that might take a bit longer for foreigners to get: its charming wit.
Native speakers love to use expressions to convey some sort of deep truth that has been around for ages. And thatâs exactly what Iâll be covering today: a set of thought-provoking and often funny Portuguese proverbs.
Portuguese sayings with English equivalents
1. Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau
Literally: (In a) blacksmith’s house, the skewer (is made) of wood
This classic proverb is equivalent to “the shoemaker’s son always goes barefoot” in English. We use it to describe someone who is great at something but can’t seem to use that ability to their favor.
2. Pimenta nos olhos dos outros Ă© refresco
Literally: Pepper in someone else’s eyes is a refreshment
It is easy to bear the misfortunes of others, or is it? We’re always ready to feel sorry for ourselves, yet we often have the glibbest words lined up to dismiss someone else’s suffering. Don’t be that person, though!
3. Ăguas passadas nĂŁo movem moinhos
Literally: Water that has passed by won’t spin a watermill
It’s just water under the bridge, so don’t cry over spilt milk (or nĂŁo adianta chorar sobre o leite derramado)! Whatever’s done is done, so focus on the future instead.
4. Vão-se os anéis, ficam os dedos
Literally: Rings are lost, fingers remain
As you might say in English, it’s better to lose the saddle than the horse. This is typically used to comfort someone who’s just lost a valuable belonging. After all, at least they’ve managed to come out of it unharmed!
5. Amigos, amigos; negĂłcios Ă parte
Literally: Friends (are) friends; business is unrelated
Business is business, even (or perhaps especially?) when friends are involved. Don’t mess them up or you may end up losing the money or the friend!
6. Ărvore que nasce torta morre torta
Literally: A tree that is born crooked will die crooked
I’m not sure I agree with this proverb, because it rules out the possibility of regretting your wrongdoings and changing for the better. It relates to the English saying “as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined”.
A more common (and slightly off-color) version of it would be pau que nasce torto nunca se endireita. Pau is the Portuguese word for a stick, but it’s also a nickname for the male organ.
7. Quando um nĂŁo quer, dois nĂŁo brigam
Literally: When one (person) doesn’t want to, two (people) won’t fight
Similar to “it takes two to tango” in English, this proverb states that you’ll never enter a fight with someone who’s unwilling to â unless your persuasion game is strong!
Portuguese proverbs about strength
8. Quem nĂŁo arrisca nĂŁo petisca
Literally: Those who risk nothing don’t snack
Most proverbs are more on the “be careful or else” side; this one is the absolute opposite (and I’m all for it). Better yet, while the majority of them are slowly sinking into oblivion, this remains alive and well.
So go ahead, take a chance, and give it all you got! That’s the only way you’ll ever get something out of life.
9. Quem canta seus males espanta
Literally: Those who sing drive evil away
I know a great many people who live by this proverb, which is sweet and does hold a grain of truth. I also try to do it, though only when I’m alone because I don’t enjoy inflicting excruciating pain on anybody’s ears.
Singing is an amazing medicine, apparently literally so. The saying refers mostly to driving your sorrows away, but if you sing constantly you may doing your physical health a favor as well.
10. A esperança Ă© a Ășltima que morre
Literally: Hope is the last one to die
This is that kind of overused clichĂ© people will hardly use unironically these days. Still, it’s a nice idea to hold to.
When everything else is lost, keep the flame of hope alive; a good surprise may be in store for you. A esperança Ă© a Ășltima que more is roughly similar to “hope springs eternal” in English.
Portuguese proverbs involving animals
11. Passarinho que acompanha morcego acorda de cabeça para baixo
Literally: A bird that follows a bat will wake up upside down
This saying runs along the lines of the biblical proverb “bad company corrupts good character”, especially given “waking up upside down” sounds quite sinister for anyone that isn’t a bat.
In a way, it can also be interpreted to advise against mingling with folks that are too different from you. That doesn’t sound particularly wise these days, but I can see the reasoning behind it at a time most groups would be extremely close-knit.
12. Dois galos nĂŁo cabem num poleiro
Literally: Two roosters don’t fit on a perch
I believe this is a typically Portuguese proverb, because as a Brazilian I don’t think I’ve ever heard it. Here what’s implied is that a group can’t possibly have more than one leader.
Otherwise, chaos normally ensues. When that’s the case, you may hear that tem muito cacique para pouco Ăndio (or “there are too many chieftains for too few Indians”).
13. Gato escaldado tem medo de ĂĄgua fria
Literally: A scalded cat doesn’t fear cold water
While I hate how crude this proverb sounds, it’s still somewhat common. It’s supposed to remind you that a traumatic consequence (usually of your own actions) will make you learn and prevent you from doing it ever again.
A lighter version of it would be macaco velho nĂŁo mete a mĂŁo em cumbuca (meaning “an old monkey won’t stick its hand into a bowl”), which sounds nonsensical yet highlights how wisdom derives from experience.
A similar English saying would be “once bitten, twice shy”.
14. Não ponha a carroça na frente dos bois
Literally: Don’t place the cart before the oxen
This proverb is even more commonly used as an expression, as in pĂŽr a carroça an frente dos bois (i.e. “placing the cart before the oxen”).
It advises you against rushing in, as success derives from prudence. Though I reckon it sounds like you’re telling someone not to act like a fool, you’re really asking them not to be reckless.
A few pieces of advice
15. Devagar com o andor que o santo Ă© de barro
Literally: Easy with the carriage because the saint is made of clay
You won’t hear Devagar com o andor que o santo Ă© de barro very often. It actually sounds a bit outdated, as it metaphorically refers to a procession where all caution is needed so as to avoid dropping the statue.
The picture, however, is crystal clear. If you’re not careful with a fragile object or, more generically, in a delicate situation, you may end up ruining everything.
16. Quem come e guarda pÔe a mesa duas vezes
Literally: Those who eat and save (the leftovers) set the table twice
This one reminds me of my late grandma, who would say it once in a while. It advises you to be thrifty, since one never knows when times of plenty will give way to trying times.
It’s typically pretty literal and frequently refers to food, but you can use it for any resources that shouldn’t be wasted.
17. Cada cabeça, uma sentença
Literally: Each head, one verdict
To me, this is one of the wisest Portuguese idioms about life. It reflects tolerance for diversity of opinions, which wasn’t always popular back in the day.
By saying cada cabeça, uma sentença, you imply that each person may have a distinct point of view about a specific situation and not necessarily there’s an objective truth that everyone must accept.
18. Quem nĂŁo escuta âcuidadoâ escuta âcoitadoâ
Literally: Those who won’t hear “watch out” will hear “poor thing”
I love the rhyme here; this proverb perfectly encapsulates the humorous spirit of Brazilians. It simply argues you should listen when people are trying to warn you about some danger, otherwise, you may end up getting screwed because of your stubbornness.
Other Portuguese proverbs
19. De médico e de louco todo mundo tem um pouco
Literally: Everyone is a bit of a doctor and of a nutcase
If you’re familiar with the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you may have cracked the case here. This proverb hides a deep and quite somber truth: we’re the cure and the illness all in one!
Interestingly, however, most people will use this proverb to highlight one of its two parts, not both. For instance, if you’re self-medicating, you can use it as a sort of excuse. And whenever someone’s acting wacky, you can say it in a mildly condescending tone.
20. Quem conta um conto aumenta um ponto
Literally: Whoever tells a tale adds a period
Gossip flies away like feathers in the wind, right? You never know which part is accurate. If you want to learn the true story, you’ll have to hear it from the primary source.
Otherwise, you’ll hear an embellished version of it, since the rule (according to this proverb) is that everyone adds their own interpretation to a story.
21. Se conselho fosse bom ninguém dava, vendia
Literally: If advice was a good thing people would sell it, not give it
Apply this antidote whenever you’re really not in the mood to hear someone else’s words of wisdom. A snippy comeback like few others, this is better reserved for folks you know won’t be hurt when you’re not down to receive their help.
22. Quando a esmola Ă© muita o santo desconfia
Literally: When the offering is too big the saint will become suspicious
The cynical within me greets the cynical within you! Isn’t it weird when someone’s trying to be a tad too helpful sometimes going out of their way to do it? It’s not unusual to think that person has ulterior motives to act so kindly.
Quando a esmola Ă© muita o santo desconfia fits perfectly in that situation. This is another proverb that originated in a religious context and went on to be metaphorically applied to our daily life.
Final thoughts
See how wise Portuguese can be? I could have listed a ton of other inspiring Portuguese proverbs, but these are some of the most interesting, apart from being pretty common.
Now donât forget to discover the most beautiful Portuguese words and the funniest Portuguese expressions that I could think of!