10 Things You Would Not Believe Colombians Actually Say

I am half Colombian. I hear my family say things sometimes that make little sense in Spanish, and less sense in English. Let me list a few Colombian sayings in an attempt to make a sort of Farmer's Almanac for this South American country.

1. No le busque tres patas al gato, porque le encuentra cuantro. Translation: Don't go looking for the three legged cat, because you will find a four legged cat.

Ironically, I Google searched 3 legged cats.

2. Mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo. Translation: The devil knows more because he is old, not because he is the devil.

No perks for being the devil.

3. Mas vale ser cabeza de raton que cola de leon. Translation: It is better to be the head of the rat than the tail of the lion.

It must be true because it rhymes.

4. No es qualquier maleta de hojas. Translation: He is not some suitcase of leaves.

That would be insulting!

5. No creo in brujas, pero que las hay... las hay. Translation: I don't believe in witches, but that there are some... there are.

Why let reality influence beliefs?

6. Primero cae un mentiroso que un cojo. Translation: A liar falls before a one legged man.

Yes, they have a word specifically for one legged people: cojo.

7. En tierra de ciegos, el tuerto es rey. Translation: In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

Yes, they have a word specifically for one eyed people: tuerto.

8. Lo que no mata, engorda! Translation: What doesn't kill, fattens!

I'm pretty sure this is the life motto for pigeons everywhere.

9. Ir por lana y salir trasquilado. Translation: Go to sheer wool and leave with a bad hair cut.

This guy better watch out!

10. Cuando el rio suena, piedras lleva. Translation: When the river makes noise, it brings rocks.

Yosemite, CA

BONUS lesson! Spanish is such an advanced language that they not only have words for a one eyed man (tuerto) and a one legged man (cojo), there is also a word for the one handed man- manco!

A monument to Don Blas de Lezo, who was a tuerto, manco, AND a cojo!
Cartagena, Colombia

Do people of your race, nationality, or household say things that make no sense anywhere else in the world? Let me know, I'd love to hear it!