Thus, "old fox" works better because in Georgian folk tales, the fox is the archetypal cunning survivor—much like the devil in Spanish sayings. If you want to impress your Georgian friends by saying "mas sabe el diablo" in their language, here is a pronunciation aid:
Introduction: A Linguistic Cultural Bridge In the vast world of proverbs and idioms, few are as universally recognized as the Spanish saying, "Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo" (The devil knows more because he is old than because he is the devil). This phrase, which emphasizes the value of experience over innate cunning, has traveled far beyond Spanish-speaking borders. But what happens when we translate this phrase into Georgian? The search query "mas sabe el diablo qartulad" (literally "mas sabe el diablo in Georgian") represents a fascinating linguistic and cultural intersection—where a Romance-language proverb meets the ancient Kartvelian language of the Caucasus. mas sabe el diablo qartulad
For Georgian speakers learning Spanish, or for Spanish speakers curious about Georgian, the question is: Thus, "old fox" works better because in Georgian
| Aspect | Spain | Georgia | |--------|-------|---------| | | Central in Catholic theology—a fallen angel, tempter, cunning. | Less prominent; pre-Christian influence; ეშმაკი is more a mischievous spirit, not the ultimate evil. | | Proverbs with devil | Dozens: A más mal hombre, más diablo ; Diablo predicador . | Few; instead, foxes, snakes, and old wolves appear. | | Value of old age | Revered but mixed with humor about senility. | Deeply revered; Georgian elders ( ბებერი ) hold authoritative wisdom. | But what happens when we translate this phrase into Georgian
ეშმაკი მოხუცებულობის გამო უფრო მეტია, ვიდრე ეშმაკობის გამო. Simplified phonetics: Esh-mah-kee mo-khu-tse-bu-lo-bis ga-mo uf-ro me-tee-ah, vid-re esh-mah-ko-bis ga-mo.
მოხუცი მელა ხაფანგში არ მოხვდება. Transliteration: Mokhutsi mela khapangshi ar mokhvdeba. Meaning: An old fox does not get caught in a trap.
However, note that this is a direct translation that may sound artificial. A more natural Georgian proverb that captures the spirit of "mas sabe el diablo" is: