noh AI mahl keh DOO-reh see-EN AH-nyohs
Literally, this means 'there is no bad thing that lasts 100 years'.
It's used to tell someone 'This too shall pass' and that bad times will end.
Sé que estás triste por la ruptura, pero ánimo, no hay mal que dure cien años.
B2I know you're sad about the breakup, but cheer up, tough times don't last forever.
Perder el trabajo fue un golpe duro, pero como dice el refrán: no hay mal que dure cien años.
B2Losing my job was a tough blow, but as the saying goes: this too shall pass.
This is a traditional Spanish proverb (refrán) born from popular wisdom. It reflects a resilient and philosophical outlook on life, acknowledging that all things, good and bad, are temporary. The full version, 'No hay mal que dure cien años, ni cuerpo que lo resista' (...nor a body that can withstand it), adds another layer: either the problem will end, or life will, so either way, the suffering is not infinite.
Use this to comfort someone going through a genuinely hard time—a breakup, a job loss, or a personal failure. It’s a warm way to offer perspective and encouragement, like saying 'hang in there'.
This phrase sounds like a piece of timeless advice. You can introduce it by saying 'Como dice el refrán...' ('As the proverb goes...') to give it more weight.
Mistake: “Using it for a minor inconvenience, like 'Se me acabó el café. ¡Bueno, no hay mal que dure cien años!' ('I ran out of coffee. Oh well, this too shall pass!').”
Correction: This can sound overly dramatic or sarcastic. Reserve this phrase for situations where someone needs real encouragement to get through a genuinely difficult period.
Extremely common. It's a cornerstone of the 'refranero español' (collection of Spanish proverbs).
Universally understood and widely used across all Spanish-speaking countries. It's a fundamental piece of shared cultural wisdom.
Question 1 of 1
You would say 'No hay mal que dure cien años' to a friend when...
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Yes, the full proverb is 'No hay mal que dure cien años, ni cuerpo que lo resista.' This translates to 'There is no bad thing that lasts 100 years, nor a body that can withstand it.' It powerfully reinforces the idea that all suffering is temporary.
