
ProverbWisdom
Spanish origin
Pecado confesado, medio perdonado
Meaning: Admitting a fault goes a long way toward being forgiven.
Literally: A sin confessed is half forgiven
Example: “Dile la verdad a tu madre. Pecado confesado, medio perdonado.” — Tell your mother the truth: a fault confessed is half redressed.
Equivalents in English, French, and Japanese
English: A fault once denied is twice committed.
French: Une faute niée est deux fois commise (literally: A fault denied is twice committed)
Japanese: 過ちて改めざる、是を過ちと謂う (Ayamachite aratamezaru, kore o ayamachi to iu) (literally: To err and not correct it — that is what is called an error)
Origin: An image from confession: owning up to the sin is already half the pardon.
Explore another collection: False Friends
Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
- Lectura Actually means 'reading'. A lecture is una conferencia.
- Compromiso Actually means 'commitment', 'obligation', or 'engagement'. For a negotiated compromise,…
- Gracioso Actually means 'funny' or 'amusing'. For gracious (kind and polite), say amable.
Keep exploring