Phrase · 📜 Proverbs in conversation
Es electricista y tiene la lámpara rota: en casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
He's an electrician and his lamp is broken: the shoemaker's children go barefoot.
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Why every word is where it is
Esverbhe isser · present · 3rd sing.electricistanounelectriciansing.yconjunctionandtieneverbhastener · present · 3rd sing.ladeterminertheel · fem. · sing. · definitelámpara4nounlampfem. · sing.rota3adjectivebrokenroto · fem. · sing.:en2prepositionincasa1nounhousefem. · sing.de1prepositionofherrero1nounblacksmithmasc. · sing.,cuchillo1nounknifemasc. · sing.de1prepositionofpalo1nounwood (stick)masc. · sing..
- en → palo: frozen proverb
- rota → lámpara: rota agrees with lámpara (f. sg.)
- casa → cuchillo: in X, Y: no verb (ellipsis)
Word for word: “…in the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo = the shoemaker's children go barefoot (lit. in the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife).
- 2Natural and humorous, usually said with a laugh. No verb at all: typical proverb ellipsis.
- 3roto = broken, the irregular participle of romper, agreeing with la lámpara. Passive voice and resultative estar →
- 4lámpara = lamp; a light bulb is bombilla (Spain), foco (Mexico) or bombillo (Colombia).
Variations
- Es electricista y en su casa nada funciona: en casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
- Mi tía es peluquera y siempre va despeinada: en casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.
- Es dentista y nunca va al dentista: en casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.