Dicho español · Spanish proverb
«El que tiene padrino se bautiza.»
Word for word
He who has a godfather gets baptized.
What it really means
The closest English equivalent: It's not what you know, it's who you know.
Used to point out that connections and patronage open doors more than merit does. Very common in discussions about jobs, politics, and favors.
Hear it in a sentence
Consiguió el puesto sin experiencia; el que tiene padrino se bautiza.
He got the job without experience; he who has a godfather gets baptized.
More Spanish sayings
- Cuando una puerta se cierra, otra se abre. — When one door closes, another opens.
- No hay mal que por bien no venga. — Every cloud has a silver lining.
- Más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer. — Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
- Hecha la ley, hecha la trampa. — Every law has a loophole.
- Más vale caer en gracia que ser gracioso. — It's better to be liked than to be clever.
Why learn dichos?
Proverbs like this one are everywhere in spoken Spanish — dropped mid-conversation, usually just the first half, with the rest left for you to complete. Recognizing them is one of the fastest ways to sound less like a textbook and follow real speech. Every Lingocito edition signs off with the dicho del día, so you meet one a day next to news written at your level.