Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho
/del DEE-choh al EH-choh EYE MOO-choh TREH-choh/
It's much easier to say you will do something than to actually do it. It highlights the gap between intentions and actions.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'From the saying (dicho) to the deed (hecho) there is a long stretch (mucho trecho)'.
It's used to say that carrying out a plan is much harder than just talking about it.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Prometió que arreglaría el coche en un día, pero del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
B2He promised he would fix the car in one day, but that's easier said than done.
Todos hablan de cambiar el mundo, pero del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
B2Everyone talks about changing the world, but there's a big gap between saying and doing.
Mi propósito de Año Nuevo es ir al gimnasio todos los días. Ya veremos, porque del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
B2My New Year's resolution is to go to the gym every day. We'll see, because it's easier said than done.
📜 Origin Story
This is an ancient proverb, a piece of folk wisdom that exists in many languages and cultures. It doesn't come from a single story, but from the timeless human experience of realizing that making promises is easy, while following through requires effort. The rhyming words 'dicho' and 'hecho', followed by 'trecho', make it especially memorable and popular in Spanish.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Gentle Reality Check
Use this proverb to express friendly skepticism about a big promise or an ambitious plan. It's not usually meant to be critical, but rather a wise and realistic reminder that a task will require real effort. You can say it to others or even to yourself when you're making plans.
It's a Complete Thought
Unlike some idioms that you fit into a sentence, this one often stands on its own. You can state a situation and then follow it with, 'Pero, del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho' to make your point.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Change the Words
Mistake: "Trying to substitute words, for example: 'De la palabra a la acción hay mucha distancia.'"
Correction: While that sentence is grammatically correct and means something similar, the power of this expression is in its fixed, poetic form. Always use the exact wording: 'Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho'. Treat it like a famous quote.
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Extremely common and universally understood. A core part of the Spanish collection of proverbs ('refranero').
Latin America
Universally known and used across all of Latin America. It's one of the most common proverbs in the entire Spanish language.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho
Question 1 of 1
If your friend says they will learn fluent Japanese in two months, a good Spanish response would be:
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is saying 'Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho' considered rude or pessimistic?
It's generally not considered rude, but rather realistic or pragmatic. The tone you use is important. Said with a smile, it's a friendly reminder. However, if said in a dismissive tone, it could sound like you doubt someone's ability. It's more about acknowledging difficulty than predicting failure.