ProverbCommunication
Spanish origin
Spanish originEl que no llora, no mama
Meaning: If you don't ask or complain, you won't get what you need.
Literally: He who doesn't cry, doesn't get fed
Example: “Reclama el reembolso; el que no llora, no mama.” — Ask for the refund: the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Equivalents in English, Portuguese, and Korean
English: The squeaky wheel gets the grease
Portuguese: Quem não chora não mama (literally: Whoever doesn't cry doesn't get suckled)
Korean: 우는 아이 젖 준다 (Uneun ai jeot junda) (literally: The crying child gets milk)
Origin: The baby who cries is the one that gets fed: mamar is to suckle.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Pablito clavó un clavito, ¿qué clavito clavó Pablito? A bouncy drill on the 'cl' cluster.
- Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal. A relentless run on the 'tr' sound.
- El cielo está enladrillado, ¿quién lo desenladrillará? A brutal test of the rolled 'r' and 'l'.
Keep exploring