A cada chancho le llega su San Martín
/ah KAH-dah CHAN-choh leh YEH-gah soo sahn mar-TEEN/
Everyone eventually gets what they deserve; there is a day of reckoning for those who do wrong.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'To every pig comes its Saint Martin'.
It means everyone eventually faces the consequences for their bad actions.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
El jefe que maltrataba a todos fue despedido. A cada chancho le llega su San Martín.
C1The boss who mistreated everyone was fired. What goes around, comes around.
No te preocupes por el que te estafó. Tarde o temprano, a cada chancho le llega su San Martín.
C1Don't worry about the person who scammed you. Sooner or later, everyone gets what they deserve.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase has fascinating roots in European farming traditions. Saint Martin's Day, November 11th, historically marked the beginning of winter and was the traditional time for the 'matanza' – the slaughter of pigs. The pigs, having been fattened all year, would be prepared into sausages, hams, and other products to last the cold months. So, for a pig, its 'San Martín' was its final day, its day of reckoning. The proverb cleverly transfers this unavoidable fate to people who behave badly, suggesting their day of consequences will surely arrive.
⭐ Usage Tips
Predicting Karma
Use this idiom when you see someone acting unfairly or dishonestly. It's a way of expressing your belief that justice will eventually be served, and they will face the negative consequences of their actions.
Use it About Someone, Not To Them
This phrase is almost always said when talking about a third person. Saying it directly to someone's face would sound like a very serious threat, so it's best used when commenting on a situation with a friend.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Saint
Mistake: "Thinking 'San Martín' refers to José de San Martín, the famous South American general and liberator."
Correction: The idiom refers to Saint Martin of Tours, a European saint. The connection is to his feast day (November 11th), which was linked to the agricultural calendar, not to the historical figure from the Americas.
🌎 Where It's Used
Argentina
Extremely common and a cornerstone of popular wisdom. The use of 'chancho' is very typical of this region.
Uruguay
Very common and used in exactly the same way as in Argentina.
Spain
The original version, 'A cada cerdo le llega su Sanmartín', is known and originates here, but it's less common in everyday conversation today. The 'chancho' version is distinctly Rioplatense (from the River Plate area).
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: A cada chancho le llega su San Martín
Question 1 of 1
If you say 'A cada chancho le llega su San Martín' about someone, what are you implying?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'cerdo' instead of 'chancho'?
Absolutely! 'A cada cerdo le llega su San Martín' is the original Spanish version. 'Chancho' is a very common, slightly more informal synonym for 'pig' in many parts of Latin America, especially Argentina and Uruguay, where this version of the idiom is most popular.
Is this idiom considered aggressive?
It can be, depending on the context. It's generally used to comment on a situation rather than to confront someone directly. Using it in a direct conversation with the person you're talking about would be a very strong and confrontational statement.