11 Spanish idioms you need to know

With more than 500 million speakers around the globe, Spanish is one of the most valuable languages you can learn. If you really want to sound fluent, it’s not just about grammar and vocabulary — it’s about the Spanish expressions people use every day. That’s where idioms come in. These colorful phrases bring conversations to life, helping you connect more authentically with native Spanish speakers.

But first, what exactly are idioms?

Idioms are phrases with figurative meanings that are used to describe a person’s feelings or a particular situation. They don’t make sense if you translate them literally, so you need to learn both the idiom and its meaning to use them correctly. For example, in English, we say “it’s raining cats and dogs” when it’s raining heavily, but of course, no animals are actually falling from the sky.

These expressions aren’t just about language — they’re also deeply tied to culture. Every saying carries with it a way of seeing the world, shaped by history, humor, and everyday life. Learning idioms gives you more than just new vocabulary. It helps you understand how Spanish speakers think, joke, and connect with each other. By using them, you’re improving your fluency while stepping into the cultural world of Spanish itself. Start by practicing one or two idioms in your daily conversations, and eventually, you’ll feel more natural using the language.

To help get you started, we’ve created a list of 11 everyday Spanish idioms that will have you saying “¡es la leche!” in no time.

1. Más vale tarde que nunca

Literal translation:
Better late than never.

What does it mean?
It’s better to do something late than not at all.

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Llegó tarde a la fiesta, pero más vale tarde que nunca.”

“He arrived late to the party, but better to do something late than not at all.”

2. Al que madruga Dios lo ayuda

Literal translation:
God helps the one who gets up early.

What does it mean?
This idiom is used to suggest that success comes to those who start early. In this way, it’s similar in meaning to the English idiom “the early bird catches the worm”.

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Salimos temprano y evitamos el tráfico. Al que madruga, Dios lo ayuda.” 

“We left early and avoided traffic. God helps the one who gets up early.”

3. Al mal tiempo, buena cara

Literal translation:
To bad weather, a good face.

What does it mean?
Keep a positive attitude in hard times. This idiom highlights how important it is to be resilient during difficult moments. It’s similar in meaning to the English idiom “keep your chin up”.

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Perdimos el partido, pero al mal tiempo, buena cara.”

“We lost the game. But to face bad weather, you have to put on a good face.”

4. Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente

Literal translation:
Eyes that don’t see, heart that doesn’t feel.

What does it mean?
What you don’t know can’t hurt you.

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Prefiere no saberlo, porque ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.” 

“She prefers not to know, because what the eyes don’t see, the heart doesn’t feel.”

5. De tal palo, tal astilla

Literal translation:
From such a stick, such a splinter.

What does it mean?
This is used to describe when somebody appears or acts in a way that is similar to their parents (or other family members). An equivalent phrase in English would be “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”.

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Juan toca la guitarra igual que su padre. De tal palo, tal astilla.”

“Juan plays the guitar just like his father. From such a stick, you’d expect such a splinter.”

6. Entre el dicho y el hecho hay un trecho

Literal translation:
Between what is said and what is done, there’s a stretch.

What does it mean?
There’s often a gap between what people say they will do and what they actually do. This is similar to when someone says “easier said than done” in English.

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Prometió ayudarme, pero ya sabes… entre el dicho y el hecho hay un trecho.”

“He promised to help me, but you know, there’s a big difference between what they say and what they do.”

7. A la tercera va la vencida

Literal translation:
The third one is the defeated one.

What does it mean?
The third time’s the charm (or in other words, don't give up). This idiom emphasises the idea that the more you try to achieve something, the more likely you are to succeed.

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Suspendí dos veces el examen, pero la tercera es la vencida.”

“I failed the test twice, but the third time is the one that wins.”

8. De perdidos al rio

Literal translation
From lost, to the river.

What does it mean?
This idiom is used when you’re already in a difficult situation and decide to take a risk because you have nothing to lose. It’s like saying “it’s worth a shot” in English.

Can you use it in a sentence?
“No estudié mucho para el examen, pero de perdidos, al río.”

“I didn’t study much for the exam, but when you’re already lost, make way to the river.”

9. ¡es la leche! 

Literal translation
It’s the milk! (used mostly in Spain)

What does it mean?
This is a versatile, very informal idiom that can be either positive or negative depending on tone and context. It’s often used to mean something is amazing (a bit like “That’s awesome!”). But it can also mean the opposite — that something is annoying or frustrating. Because of its flexibility, it’s very common in everyday speech.

Can you use it in a sentence?
Positive: “Este concierto es la leche, ¡me encanta!”

“This concert is awesome — it’s the milk!”

Negative: “Siempre llega tarde, ¡es la leche!”

“He’s always late — it’s the milk!”

10. Éramos pocos, y parió la abuela

Literal translation:
We were few, and the grandmother gave birth. (used mostly in Spain)

What does it mean?
This ironic expression is used when there are already too many people involved in a situation, and then someone else shows up to complicate things even further. It usually carries a tone of frustration or sarcasm, similar to the English idiom “there are too many cooks in the kitchen here”. 

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Ya había demasiadas opiniones en la reunión, y luego llegó el jefe… éramos pocos, y parió la abuela.”

“There were already too many opinions in the meeting. We were only a few, and the grandmother gave birth.”

11.  Vete a freír espárrago

Literal translation
Go fry asparagus. (used mostly in Spain)

What does it mean?
This phrase is used informally to tell someone to go away or leave you alone. It can be used when you’re feeling genuinely frustrated, or in a softer, more affectionate way (for example, if a friend is teasing you about something). It’s a bit like saying “get lost” in English. 

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Deja de burlarte de mí, ¡vete a freír espárragos!”

“Stop making fun of me! Go fry asparagus!”

By learning these 11 everyday Spanish idioms, you’ll gain more than just vocabulary — you’ll also get an insight into the way Spanish speakers think and communicate.