Tag Archives: spanish

Healing frogs

AGE

21

Date_of_performance

2/23/25

Language

English

Nationality

American

Occupation

Student

Primary Language

Spanish

Residence

San Martin, CA

Folk Speech: sana sana, colita de rana si no sanas hoy, sanaras manana

Translation: heal, heal, little frog’s tail. If you don’t feel better today, you’ll feel better tomorrow

Context + Text: The individual is my roommate in college for the past 4 years. The informant is from Mexican descent and when he was a little boy, his grandma would say this to him whenever he was sick. He never really understood what it meant, but it had been said to him since he could remember, and he believes that it actually healed him. “When I finally got old enough to understand what was being said, I got a little confused and asked my grandma why this was a cultural saying”, he explains. “She told me it was a little bit of nonsense, but it was a little silly rhyme that kids could learn.” When I asked him how he feels about it today, he said it was his favorite thing to say whenever he was sick, and he would beg his mom to buy little frog plush toys whenever they were at the store. “I built a collection of 12 little frogs, and every time I got sick, I used to sleep with them hoping their tails would heal me.” I then asked him if he still had them, and he said “Of course, I still get sick today and my kids one day will need them!”

Analysis: This little folk saying stems from Latin American culture, and it turned into a belief for little children that a frog’s tail truly had healing powers. The short version of the saying it simply “heal, heal, little frog’s tail”, calling for the child to heal from the powers of the little frog. The longer version provides a better explanation, that if you are not healed by tonight, tomorrow will heal you. It falls along with parental advice that if you sleep while sick, you will always feel better when you wake up. The short version is what many of the kids learned as it was just easier to remember, and in the original Spanish version it rhymes. We have seen that rhymes are easier to remember, especially for children. 

Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres.

Age: 19
Language: Spanish/English

Text: Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres. (Literal translation: Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.)

Context: The participant, upon getting into and preparing to attend college, described the saying her father taught her that he thought would best help her in her transition. In her new school, her father wanted her to make good decisions to ensure a good future. Since he believes that one’s environment is oftentimes a predictor of one’s success, he wanted to imbue a great sense of importance upon the participant that her friends were included in this environment. According to the participant, he wanted to make sure the friends she made were “like-minded and focused with good study habits”. 

Analysis: A popular Spanish proverb, this saying speaks to one’s character, and the people they choose to surround themselves. Supposedly, it is meant to convey the idea that our personalities and the way we are perceived by others is entirely predicated upon the company that we choose to keep. This sentiment is not unique to Spanish-speaking cultures, as other proverbs across different languages (such as “birds of a feather flock together”) hold similar meanings. This proverb (and subsequently, those in other languages meant to convey the same idea) is most likely intended to encourage people to be particular about those close to them, and make sure that their morals align with their friends’.

Al mejor escribano se le va un borrón.

Age: 59
Language: Spanish/English

Text: Al mejor escribano se le va un borrón. (Literal translation: To the best scribe comes a blot/smudge.)

Context: The participant remembers his father telling him this phrase when he was younger. His father would notice that he was frustrated that his art wasn’t turning out how he hoped it would, or when he was taking a long time to work on small details in projects. The participant believes that his father was trying to teach him that it’s okay to make mistakes and that his work didn’t have to be perfect.  

Analysis: This saying is meant to convey that perfectionism is an unsustainable behavior. Even those who might be incredibly experienced at something are still prone to err. As the proverb suggests – the best, most skilled scribe can still leave smudges and stains on a paper; they are still human, after all.  Although this specific saying is in Spanish, the message conveyed by it is universal in its appearance across cultures and languages. This universality only further proves the point of this proverb – making mistakes is a universal experience, and no one is exempt. 

You always do kind things with expecting nothing in return.

Age: 22
Language: Spanish/English

Text: You always do kind things with expecting nothing in return.

Context: The participant remembers hearing this saying a lot around his family, especially coming from his mother. Although originally the phrase was said to him in Spanish, he does not remember the original Spanish phrasing; as such, he only remember this translation. He recounted that in his youth, his mother enjoyed volunteer work and would always encourage his entire family to volunteer and help out their local community. To the participant, this saying reminds him that he should be doing good “not as a means to something but for the act of doing good”. 

Analysis: This saying is meant to convey an ethical lesson in support of altruism. In other words, it’s meant to encourage the helping of others without the expectation of any reward – monetary, praise, or otherwise. This proverb feels pretty universal in its applicability – although the participant has been told the saying in Spanish, the main message of selflessness transcends language.

Spanish Proverb

Nationality: Mexican-American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

Spanish: “el que se enoja, pierde”

Translation: “The one who gets mad loses”

Context:

“It’s kind of hard to pin point as to when I first heard it. I’ve always known this phrase since I was young. I think my grandpa was the one who taught me this concept since I would often talk back or argue with my siblings. I think the phrase explains that when we become very emotional in any given situation, like being angry, we often don’t think rationally.”

Analysis:

This phrase represents Latin culture, showing the informant’s culture to be considered as hard-workers and diligent in the workforce, which also emphasizes the group’s oichotype. For the literal meaning, the phrase values and favors those who are patient rather than those who let their anger win. The saying also consists of an importance within family values as the informant states that she mostly heard it within family contexts. This relates to the folk as the informant family in addition to their culture with the lore showcasing the idea of patience winning over anger. It’s used in situations of emotions or a battle between favorable and undesirable feelings.