FundacionEscuelaMexicana.com - Spanish Learning Guides

You'll Be Speaking Like an Elder in No Time!   September 30, 2000

While it is not available on this site, another great book that covers traditional Puerto Rican proverbs is "How to Speak Puerto Rican" by Felix Hernandez. It is available on the island, and through some online catalogs that deal with Puerto Rican goods. I especially liked this book's compact size, and it's design, which allowed me to tag it along with me to work. After reading this book, you'll get a feeling of being much more wiser and reflective on life. It is a great book that should be explored by all, regardless of nationality. Students of the Spanish-language will find this book appealing, and it even makes a great gift for a friend or relative born on the island and/or raised in the island's traditions and culture.


Wise Thoughts From a Beautiful Island!   September 30, 2000
  1 out of 1 found this review helpful

In traditional Latin American/Iberian culture, proverbs are a way of transmitting ideals or messages to one another in order to allow the person receiving the saying to reflect on the though a bit longer. While growing up in a traditional Puerto Rican household in New York, my parents instilled these common proverbs whenever they wanted to make a point.

In this book, published by the great editorial staff at the University of Puerto Rico Press, editor Maria Elisa Diaz Rivera shares some of the most used proverbs/sayings heard among islanders. While many of the proverbs are traditional proverbs imported from Spain (e.g. "Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda" or translated "Although the monkey dresses in silk, it is still a monkey" which really means that "fine feathers don't make fine birds") others are native to the island. Written entirely in Spanish, this book will appeal to Puerto Ricans wanting to reconnect with their culture, or anyone who has a strong admiration or interest in Puerto Rico and her people.

While it is not available on this site, another great book that covers traditional Puerto Rican proverbs is "How to Speak Puerto Rican" by Felix Hernandez. It is available on the island, and through some online catalogs that deal with Puerto Rican goods. I especially liked this book's compact size, and it's design, which allowed me to tag it along with me to work. After reading this book, you'll get a feeling of being much more wiser and reflective on life. It is a great book that should be explored by all, regardless of nationality. Students of the Spanish-language will find this book appealing, and it even makes a great gift for a friend or relative born on the island and/or raised in the island's traditions and culture.