# Do other languages use rhyming reduplication? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410 "2025-10-30T03:22:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410/61 "2025-11-01T22:14:29Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Then in [this SDMB thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abracadabra/144) soon after, a user (apparently the user attributions are lost in this very old thread; all posts are attributed to “system”, but the post is signed “Chaim Mattis Keller”) That poster is probably [cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller/summary), who most recently posted last year. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410/62 "2025-11-01T22:24:07Z")
Wiktionary gives the following rhyming phrases in Spanish, but few are reduced to one or two words. ### A - [a diestro y siniestro](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_diestro_y_siniestro#Spanish) - [a Dios rogando y con el mazo dando](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_Dios_rogando_y_con_el_mazo_dando#Spanish) - [a la zumba marumba](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_la_zumba_marumba#Spanish) - [a las duras y a las maduras](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_las_duras_y_a_las_maduras#Spanish) - [a lo hecho, pecho](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_lo_hecho,_pecho#Spanish) - [a otra cosa, mariposa](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_otra_cosa,_mariposa#Spanish) - [a trancas y barrancas](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_trancas_y_barrancas#Spanish) - [a troche y moche](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_troche_y_moche#Spanish) - [al hierro caliente batir de repente](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/al_hierro_caliente_batir_de_repente#Spanish) - [allá donde fueres, haz lo que vieres](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/all%C3%A1_donde_fueres,_haz_lo_que_vieres#Spanish) - [amor y paz y nada más](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/amor_y_paz_y_nada_m%C3%A1s#Spanish) - [ante la duda, la más tetuda](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ante_la_duda,_la_m%C3%A1s_tetuda#Spanish) - [aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/aunque_la_mona_se_vista_de_seda,_mona_se_queda#Spanish) ### C - [cada maestrillo tiene su librillo](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cada_maestrillo_tiene_su_librillo#Spanish) - [callo malayo](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/callo_malayo#Spanish) - [chachi pistachi](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chachi_pistachi#Spanish) - [corriente y moliente](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/corriente_y_moliente#Spanish) ### D - [de aquellos polvos, estos lodos](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/de_aquellos_polvos,_estos_lodos#Spanish) - [de cabo a rabo](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/de_cabo_a_rabo#Spanish) - [de ciento en viento](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/de_ciento_en_viento#Spanish) - [de hecho y de derecho](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/de_hecho_y_de_derecho#Spanish) - [de todos modos](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/de_todos_modos#Spanish) - [de tomo y lomo](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/de_tomo_y_lomo#Spanish) - [del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/del_dicho_al_hecho_hay_mucho_trecho#Spanish) - [donde no hay harina todo es mohína](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/donde_no_hay_harina_todo_es_moh%C3%ADna#Spanish) - [donde no hay mata no hay patata](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/donde_no_hay_mata_no_hay_patata#Spanish) - [donde tengas la olla no metas la polla](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/donde_tengas_la_olla_no_metas_la_polla#Spanish) ### E - [el que fue a Melipilla perdió su silla](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/el_que_fue_a_Melipilla_perdi%C3%B3_su_silla#Spanish) - [el que no transa no avanza](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/el_que_no_transa_no_avanza#Spanish) - [el que tiene boca, se equivoca](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/el_que_tiene_boca,_se_equivoca#Spanish) - [el que va a Sevilla pierde su silla](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/el_que_va_a_Sevilla_pierde_su_silla#Spanish) - [el sábado, sabadete, camisa nueva y polvete](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/el_s%C3%A1bado,_sabadete,_camisa_nueva_y_polvete#Spanish) - [en tiempos de guerra cualquier agujero es trinchera](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/en_tiempos_de_guerra_cualquier_agujero_es_trinchera#Spanish) ### F - [fino filipino](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fino_filipino#Spanish) ### G - [genio y figura hasta la sepultura](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/genio_y_figura_hasta_la_sepultura#Spanish) - [guay de Paraguay](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/guay_de_Paraguay#Spanish) - [guay del Paraguay](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/guay_del_Paraguay#Spanish) ### H - [hasta decir basta](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hasta_decir_basta#Spanish) - [hecho y derecho](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hecho_y_derecho#Spanish) ### J - [jugar y nunca perder no puede ser](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/jugar_y_nunca_perder_no_puede_ser#Spanish) ### L - [la ocasión hace ladrón](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/la_ocasi%C3%B3n_hace_ladr%C3%B3n#Spanish) ### N - [nel pastel](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nel_pastel#Spanish) - [neles pasteles](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/neles_pasteles#Spanish) - [ni ir ni venir](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ni_ir_ni_venir#Spanish) - [no atar ni desatar](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/no_atar_ni_desatar#Spanish) - [no se ganó Zamora en una hora](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/no_se_gan%C3%B3_Zamora_en_una_hora#Spanish) - [no te acostarás sin saber una cosa más](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/no_te_acostar%C3%A1s_sin_saber_una_cosa_m%C3%A1s#Spanish) ### O - [okey, makey](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/okey,_makey#Spanish) - [oro y el moro](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/oro_y_el_moro#Spanish) ### P - [poderoso caballero es don dinero](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/poderoso_caballero_es_don_dinero#Spanish) - [puro y duro](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/puro_y_duro#Spanish) ### Q - [qué nivel, Maribel](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/qu%C3%A9_nivel,_Maribel#Spanish) - [quien hace un cesto hará ciento, si le dan mimbres y tiempo](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/quien_hace_un_cesto_har%C3%A1_ciento,_si_le_dan_mimbres_y_tiempo#Spanish) - [quien parte y reparte se lleva la mejor parte](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/quien_parte_y_reparte_se_lleva_la_mejor_parte#Spanish) - [quien roba a un ladrón, tiene cien años de perdón](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/quien_roba_a_un_ladr%C3%B3n,_tiene_cien_a%C3%B1os_de_perd%C3%B3n#Spanish) - [quien tiene boca, se equivoca](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/quien_tiene_boca,_se_equivoca#Spanish) - [quien va a Sevilla pierde su silla](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/quien_va_a_Sevilla_pierde_su_silla#Spanish) ### S - [sana, sana, colita de rana](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sana,_sana,_colita_de_rana#Spanish) - [si quieres conocer a Agapito, dale un puestito](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/si_quieres_conocer_a_Agapito,_dale_un_puestito#Spanish) - [sin arcada no hay mamada](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sin_arcada_no_hay_mamada#Spanish) ### T - [tal cual](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tal_cual#Spanish) - [tal para cual](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tal_para_cual#Spanish) - [tanto peca el que mata a la vaca como el que le agarra la pata](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tanto_peca_el_que_mata_a_la_vaca_como_el_que_le_agarra_la_pata#Spanish) - [te casaste, la cagaste](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/te_casaste,_la_cagaste#Spanish) - [tiran más dos tetas que dos carretas](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tiran_m%C3%A1s_dos_tetas_que_dos_carretas#Spanish) - [tranquilo como Camilo](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tranquilo_como_Camilo#Spanish) - [truco del almendruco](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/truco_del_almendruco#Spanish) ### U - [un grano no hace granero, pero ayuda al compañero](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/un_grano_no_hace_granero,_pero_ayuda_al_compa%C3%B1ero#Spanish) ### V - [vacas flacas](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vacas_flacas#Spanish) - [vérselas y deseárselas](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/v%C3%A9rselas_y_dese%C3%A1rselas#Spanish) ### ¿ - [¿dónde va Vicente? donde va la gente](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%C2%BFd%C3%B3nde_va_Vicente%3F_donde_va_la_gente#Spanish) - [¿eres poeta? ¡pues súbete la bragueta!](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%C2%BFeres_poeta%3F_%C2%A1pues_s%C3%BAbete_la_bragueta!#Spanish) - > **[Category:Spanish rhyming phrases - Wiktionary, the free dictionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Spanish_rhyming_phrases)** ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410/63 "2025-11-02T11:14:35Z")
Many languages use reduplication for their equivalent of the English “so-so.” :French: comme si comme sa Spanish: mas a menos Greek- έτσι κι έτσι Hungarian: szóval szóval Basque: hain horrela Japanese: ma ma Esperanto: tiel teil Hebrew: khacha khacha ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410/64 "2025-11-02T11:24:18Z")
Also German: soundso. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410/65 "2025-11-02T11:45:36Z")
Surprised it doesn’t include _sale vale_ – commonly heard (at least in Mexico) to mean “okay; agreed.” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410/66 "2025-11-02T14:11:45Z")
Italian: _così così_ ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410/67 "2025-11-02T14:41:27Z")
> **[Funiculì, Funiculà](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicul%C3%AC,_Funicul%C3%A0)** > > "Funiculì, Funiculà" (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}IPA: \[funikuˈli (f)funikuˈla\]) is a Neapolitan song composed in 1880 by Luigi Denza with lyrics by Peppino Turco. It was written to commemorate the opening of the first funicular railway on Mount Vesuvius. It was presented by Turco and Denza at the Piedigrotta festival the same ... ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410/68 "2025-11-02T14:54:24Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GilH6c5TFEA/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAGNN55ExyWFKUnal5ryxA8AB7-XA "Marx Brothers Musical | A Night at the Opera | 2. Cosi Cosa - Allan Jones, Chico Marx & Harpo Marx") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GilH6c5TFEA) ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410/69 "2025-11-03T18:20:20Z")
Adding another German term: _Hickhack_ (a drawn out quarrel) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410.md?page=3)