Q. What is a “dicho?”
A. The word “dicho” is a Spanish word and basically translates to “sayings” or “proverbs,” often with humor.
Every culture has, by way of oral history, proverbs and sayings that are universal in their wisdom. The Spanish language, especially that spoken by individuals from Mexico, has a very strong tradition of this — dichos. This week, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to highlight this oral history tradition. In the introduction to the children’s book “Mi Primer Libro de Dichos/ My First Book of Proverbs” by Ralfka Gonzalez and Sandra Cisneros — poet/writer, teacher and civil rights activist says, “In too many lifetimes so many things get said, it is impossible to remember who said them or what they mean sometimes. But here is a book of things said — of dichos, of sayings — gathered from many lives long ago, and passed on and on and on from one mouth to an ear and from an ear to another mouth…Some of these dichos, I am too old to understand and some I am not yet old enough. But whether you are a big child or a little child, whether they are familiar or new, dichos will fill you with a wise and foolish laughter.”
