In this article, we are going to focus on six Spanish proverbs with el que. Proverbs are commonly known for adding dynamism to communication. In many cases they help condense our viewpoints into brief sayings and can serve as a concluding remark on a particular matter.

You must know that, since proverbs are common knowledge, speakers can omit part of them in oral speech without causing a conversational gap. This happens because listeners also know the omitted part of the proverb, so they can fill the proverb out in their minds and understand the speaker perfectly. However, the first part of the proverb must never be omitted, since it is the clue for the listener to identify what proverb it is. Thus, in the case of the Spanish proverbs with el que we show in this article, you could simply say the first part: el que algo quiere…, el que calla….

Also, take into account that there are many times when there’s more than one way to express the proverb, although the meaning always remains the same. For example, in the case of the proverb el que ríe último, ríe mejor, you might also hear el que ríe último, ríe dos veces or other alternatives which, in any case, will keep the exact meaning of the proverb as we will state here.

Spanish Proverbs with El que

Spanish proverbs with el que usually convey wisdom or moral lessons derived from observing human behavior. These proverbs are structured to identify a subject (el que, meaning he who or the one who) and then describe an outcome, lesson, or piece of advice related to that subject’s actions. Additionally, quien is often used synonymously with el que in these proverbs. Let’s have a look at the following list of six popular Spanish proverbs with el que.

El que ambiciona lo ajeno pronto pierde lo propio (he who covets what belongs to another soon loses what was his)

Germán estaba tan pendiente de la competencia que dejó de cuidar su propia tienda de juguetes y perdió clientes. Ya sabes, el que ambiciona lo ajeno pronto pierde lo propio.

Germán was so concerned with his competition that he stopped taking care of his own toy store and lost customers. You know, he who covets what belongs to another soon loses what he has.

El que tiene padrino se bautiza (it’s not what you know but who you know)

Como su profesor de historia tiene buena reputación en estudios políticos, él escribió su tesis sobre la situación política del país. Como bien dice el refrán, el que tiene padrino se bautiza.

Since his history teacher has a good reputation in political science, he wrote his thesis on the political situation of the country. As the saying goes, it’s not what you know but who you know that counts.

El que parte y reparte se queda con la mejor parte (he who hands out keeps the lion’s share)

Gonzalo nos dio una porción de pizza a cada uno y él se comió dos porciones. Ya sabes, el que parte y reparte se queda con la mejor parte.

Gonzalo gave us one slice of pizza each and he ate two slices. You know, he who hands out keeps the lion’s share.

El que la hace la paga (if you do crime, you do the time)

Un delito menor llevó a Jose Antonio a la cárcel, pero una vez allí, todas sus víctimas aprovecharon para denunciarlo y evitar que alguna vez salga en libertad. Es así: El que la hace la paga.

A misdemeanor landed Jose Antonio in jail, but once there, all his victims took advantage of that to report him and prevent him from ever getting out. That’s how it is: You made your bed, now lie in it.

El que ríe último, ríe mejor (he who laughs last, laughs best)

Todos los compañeros de trabajo se burlaban de Javier porque trabajaba duro cada día. Cuando la gerente lo llamó para decirle que lo ascendía, sonrió y por dentro pensó: El que ríe el último ríe mejor.

All of Javier’s co-workers used to make fun of him because he used to work very hard every day. When the general manager called him to tell him that he was being promoted, he smiled and thought to himself: he who laughs last laughs best.

El que avisa no es traidor (he who warns you is no traitor at all)

Eugenia tiene miedo de que Marcela interprete mal su decisión de contarle la verdad. Ha esperado demasiado, es verdad, pero ahora tiene la conciencia tranquila. El que avisa no es traidor.

Eugenia’s afraid that Marcela might misunderstand her decision to tell her the truth. She waited too long, that’s true, but her conscience is now clean. He who warns you is no traitor at all.

Exercises

In this article, we have only covered six common Spanish proverbs with el que. Now let’s practice them with the following exercises.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

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Idioms and Phrases