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Spanish proverbs about the cold

person in blue denim jeans and gray sock

Discover some popular Spanish sayings to use on days when temperatures drop significantly.

This year the cold has arrived suddenly; but that is not unusual in Spain. One day in November we can have a mild temperature of 20°C, ideal for having a drink on a terrace; and the next day we can wake up frozen and shivering. Cold weather in Spain, one could say, has its own personality, and some proverbs prove it. Would you like to get to know them?

  • “Nueve meses de invierno y tres de infierno”: very famous among the grandmothers of the capital; this proverb tells us how rigorous and harsh the seasons can be in the central region of Spain. If you have been in Madrid in July and spent some time there in February, you will understand.
  • “El sol de invierno y el amor de yerno, poco calientan”: a curious proverb about family relationships that identifies with how little the sun warms in winter. Or is it not true that between a father-in-law and a son-in-law there is a kind of cordial coldness?
  • “Cuando el grajo vuela bajo, hace un frío del carajo”: a very, very popular rhyme that isn't missed a single year. It appeals to the wisdom of birds, which do not venture to great heights when the cold comes. Mind you, don't think that "carajo" here is a vulgarity. In this case, it refers to the cold being "considerable."
  • “El aragonés fino, después de comer tiene frío”: a curious proverb used—how could it be otherwise—in the Aragon region. What is its meaning? It suggests that during winter a high-calorie diet is necessary to avoid feeling cold; others say it means that pretending to be something you're not has its consequences. For example, this imaginary Aragonese wouldn't eat much to appear "refined and elegant"; but he would freeze because he hasn't ingested enough to withstand the bad weather.
  • “Quien presta al vecino, pierde pan y pierde abrigo”: this one isn't used much, and perhaps that's because it's a somewhat cynical saying that basically means if we lend too many things to a neighbor, we will end up being the ones harmed.

These are just a few examples. Do you know any Spanish proverbs that talk about the cold? Without a doubt, a perfect topic for a conversation around a bonfire.