Spanish Conversation · Level 183
15 words
Spanish word
refrán
Pronunciation
IPA/reˈfɾan/
Meaning
- masculine nounproverb
Example
El refrán dice «Más vale tarde que nunca».
The proverb says 'Better late than never'.
More examples
Según el refrán, quien madruga encuentra ventaja.
As the proverb goes, whoever rises early gains an advantage.
Core concept
Short traditional saying that conveys communal moral or practical advice.
Common phrases
un refrán popular
a well-known proverb
un refrán tradicional
a traditional saying
según el refrán
as the proverb goes
Similar words
proverbio: Established traditional saying passed through generations that states a general moral truth.
dicho: Familiar short saying used in conversation to remark on commonplace events.
máxima: Succinct rule-like statement presenting a guiding principle for behavior.
Definition in Spanish
Frase corta y popular que transmite un consejo, una observación moral o práctica, reconocida como parte del saber común de una comunidad.
Word origin
Refrán comes from Old French refrain 'refrain', originally a repeated chorus, and in Spanish it came to denote short repeated sayings that convey communal advice.
Usage tips
- When introducing a refrán in conversation, phrases like 'como dice el refrán' or 'según el refrán' signal a traditional source and avoid implying the speaker's personal certainty.
Other meanings
- sayingnoun
- traditional sayingnoun
Related words
- refranerocollection of proverbsnoun