No hay mal que dure cien años
/noh AI mahl keh DOO-reh see-EN AH-nyohs/
Tough times don't last forever. This is a phrase of encouragement used to comfort someone going through a difficult period, reminding them that their situation is temporary.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
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.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
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.
📜 Origin Story
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.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Dose of Hope
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'.
Sounds Like Wisdom
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.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Use for Trivial Problems
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.
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Extremely common. It's a cornerstone of the 'refranero español' (collection of Spanish proverbs).
Latin America
Universally understood and widely used across all Spanish-speaking countries. It's a fundamental piece of shared cultural wisdom.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: No hay mal que dure cien años
Question 1 of 1
You would say 'No hay mal que dure cien años' to a friend when...
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a longer, more complete version of this phrase?
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.