Mezclar churras con merinas
backTo mix Churra sheep with Merino sheep.
to mix apples and oranges; **to mix apples and oranges**; **to compare apples and oranges**; **to confuse two different things**; **to lump everything together**; **to compare incomparable things**
Mezclar churras con merinas means to compare or confuse two things that are fundamentally different, to mix apples and oranges, or to lump together unrelated things.
Estás mezclando churras con merinas.
You're mixing apples and oranges.
No mezclemos churras con merinas.
Let's not compare apples and oranges.
Comparar esos dos casos es mezclar churras con merinas.
Comparing those two cases is misleading because they're completely different.
Estás hablando de dos problemas distintos; no mezcles churras con merinas.
You're talking about two separate issues.
It is used when someone makes an invalid comparison or combines ideas that should be kept separate.
- compares unrelated topics
- mixes different arguments
- confuses separate issues
- draws unfair comparisons
- combines concepts that belong in different categories
The expression comes from two well-known Spanish sheep breeds.
The Merino became internationally famous for its exceptionally high-quality wool, while the Churra was traditionally raised mainly for milk and meat.
Because they served different purposes, comparing them directly made little sense.
Over time, this agricultural distinction became a metaphor for confusing or comparing things that belong to different categories.
The idiom remains extremely common even though many speakers know little about sheep farming.
Most Spaniards immediately understand it as meaning that someone is making an unfair or illogical comparison.
It is especially common during political debates and discussions on television.
Several languages have idioms about making unfair comparisons:
- Mezclar churras con merinas → to mix apples and oranges.
- Comparar peras con manzanas (less common in Spanish) → to compare apples and pears.
- Apples and oranges is by far the most common English equivalent.
Unlike the English expression, the Spanish idiom preserves a fascinating reference to two historic sheep breeds that played an important role in Spain's agricultural and economic history.
Do not translate the expression literally.
English speakers would never say:
You're mixing Churras and Merinos.
Instead, use expressions such as:
- You're mixing apples and oranges.
- Those things aren't comparable.
- You're confusing two different issues.
The English idiom mix apples and oranges is an excellent equivalent.
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