Polish Proverbs - Polish Sayings - Learn Polish Language

There are more than 100 good old Polish proverbs here. And, down the page there are some Polish sayings. Some of these are printed in both languages.

See more sayings [Click Here]
Love Phrases [Click Here]
Polish Idioms [Click Here]
Even more sayings [Click Here] On-Line Translator [Click Here]

Polish Quotations [Click Here]

Polish Love Poems

Very Interesting
A must have book

Polish-English Dictionary

POLISH PROVERBS

The book seen on the right is a fantastic source.

A good appetite needs no sauce.
A good bargain is a pick-purse.
A good painter need not give a name to his picture, a bad one must.
A guest sees more in an hour than the host in a year.
A noisy cow gives little milk.
A poor dancer will be disturbed even by the hem of her skirt.
All times are good when old.
Do not push the river, it will flow by itself.
Even a clock that does not work is right twice a day.
Even the goats will jump on a slanted tree.
Every error has its excuse.
Fish, to taste good, must swim three times: in water, in butter, and in wine.
God grant me a good sword and no use for it.
Hunger will lead a fox out of the forest.
Hungry bellies have no ears.
Ink, if not used, will dry up.
Innocence itself sometimes hath need of a mask.
Innocence plays in the backyard of ignorance.
Love enters a man through his eyes, woman through her ears.
Never seek the wind in the field. It is useless to try and find what is gone.
Nowadays you must go to heaven to meet an angel.
On a thief, the hat's on fire.
The doctor demands his fees whether he has killed the illness or the patient.
The greater love is a mother's; then comes a dog's; then a sweetheart's.
The greatest love is a mother's, then a dog's, then a sweetheart's.
The greatest oaks have been little acorns.
The woman cries before the wedding and the man after.
There will be no bread from that flour.
Under capitalism man exploits man; under socialism the reverse is true.
Watch the faces of those who bow low.
What little Johnny has not learned, big John will not know.
Wherever you go, you can't get rid of yourself.
Words must be weighed, not counted.

Jak cie widza, tak cie pisza
How they see you, that's how they perceive you

Gdyby kózka nie skakala, to by nózki nie zlamala
If the goat didn't jump, she wouldn't have broken her leg

Gdyby kózka nie skakala, to by smutne zycie miala
If the goat didn't jump, she'd have a miserable life

Swój ciagnie do swojego
Same kinds attract

Kazdy sadzi wedlug siebie
Everyone judges according to themselves

Z kim sie zadajesz, takim sie stajesz
You become whom you befreind

Kto sie czubi, ten sie lubi
Those who argue, like each other

Baba z wozu koniom lzej
When the woman gets off the wagon, horses have an easier time

Reka reke myje
One hand washes the other

Lepszy wróbel w garsci niz golab na dachu
It's better to have a sparrow in your hand, than a pigeon on the roof

Co nagle, to po diable
The devil dictates when you're in a hurry

W zdrowym ciele, zdrowy duch
Healthy soul in a healthy body

Madry Polak po szkodzie
Smart pole after the damage is done

Co kraj to obyczaj
Each country has it's own tradition

Co cialo lubi, to dusze zgubi
What likes the body will lose the soul

Komu pora, temu czas
When it's your time, you have to go

Kwiat bez zapachu, jak czlowiek bez duszy
A flower without a smell is like a man without a soul

Komu w droge, temu gwózdz w noge
who wants/needs to leave, stick a nail in his foot

Moja dupa i twoja twarz to blizniacy
My arse and your face are twins

Sukces ma wieju ojców, porazka jest sierota
A success has many fathers, a failure is an orphan

Musi to na Rusi, a w Polsce jak kto chce
A must is in Russia, in Poland you do however you want

Kto pije i pali ten nie ma robali
The one who both smokes and drinks doesn't get roundworms

Modli sie pod figura a diabla ma za skora
He(she) prays but has a devil under the skin.

Pan Bogu swieczke, a diablu ogarek
A candle for God, a stump for the devil (said about two faced people)

Szczescie jest pomiedzy ustami i brzegiem kielicha
Happiness is between the lips and the rim of a glass

Jeden lubi grac na skrzypcach, a drugi jak mu nogi smierdza
One man likes playing violin, and the other when his feet are smelly

Ladnemu we wszystkim ladnie.
A pretty person looks pretty in every clothing

Nie chwal dnia przed zachodem slonca
Don't praise the day before sunset

Wszedzie dobrze, ale w domu najlepiej
Everywhere's fine, but best at home

Zobaczysz, jak swinia niebo
You will see it as surely as a pig will see the sky (pigs cannot look up)

Potrzeba jest matka wynalazków
Necessity is the mother of invention

POLISH SAYINGS

"Słowo się rzekło, kobyłka u płotu"

Few have a chance to understand the meaning of this old Polish saying. Most Poles might point to the very sense of it and they know why they pronounce these few strange-arranged words to say what is intended, but few understand their real meaning. Translation French to Polish: Noblesse oblige! (Szlachectwo zobowiazuje!)

We have an expression, taken from French, which does not really have an English equivalent. "Noblesse oblige" refers to the implied "obligation" that the rich are supposed to have to help the poor.

"Słowo się rzekło, kobyłka u płotu"
Means "Noblesse oblige"!!

It seems nonsense when translated literally: "A word was said - a mare is standing by the fence". This old saying has a long historic background. In the 15th century, before there were newspapers and photographs, the kings could often venture out "incognito" among their subjects and "check up on them".

The story goes that the famous Polish King Jan Sobieski III, the savior of Vienna (1683), not far from his palace, made a bet with a petty noble who didn't recognize him. Sobieski was kidding him that a man in his position would never get a chance to speak to the King. Jan bet his favourite mare. He was obviously going to "throw" the bet and let the poor man win, just for the amusement of his traveling companions. The hot-headed gentryman demanded that his partner must present him immediately to the King. Sobieski then said to the confused gentryman: "słowo się rzekło, kobyłka u płotu", pointing to the horse.

Hundreds of such wonderful sayings are functioning in the Polish language making it rich and nice to hear. The language is really a living monument.

"Nie dla wszystkich skrzypce graja"

"The violin doesn't play for everybody"

This is the reason why Itzhak Perlman can make pretty music with the cheapest fiddle, while even a Stradivarius is of no help to me.

"Co po trzezwemu mysli, to po pijanemu powie"

"What one thinks when sober, one says when drunk"

This one is as old as the hills. "In vino veritas" is Latin for "In wine there is truth"

"Potrzebny jak dziura w moscie"

"As necessary as a hole in the bridge"

I need that like a hole in the head!

"Reka reke myje, noga Noge wspiera"

"Hand washes hand, leg supports leg"

You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours! Quid pro quo (Latin for "something for something").

What a Polish Folk Song really means

"Hej, górale, nie bijcie sie.
Ma góralka dwa warkocze podzielicie sie!"

"Hey hillbilly boys, don't fight.
The girl will dance with both of you!"

Literally: The girl has two pigtails, and she will share!

Love phrases in Polish

More Love Sayings [Click Here]

I love you

Kocham cię
I love you

Lubie cię
I like you

Kochasz mnie?
Do you love me?

Podobasz mi się.
I like you

Potrzeba wiele serca, aby tylko trochę kochać
You have to have a big hart to love a little.

Czlowiek stworzony jest z milości i do milości
People were created because of love and to love

Milosc to cud, który zawsze może się znów zdarzyć
Love is a wonder wich can happen again.

Nie bój się kochać.
Don’t be afraid of love.

Milcz i całuj.
Don’t talk. Just kiss.

Milość sama w sobie jest szczęściem.
Love is a happiness.

Ten cię kocha przez kogo płaczesz.
Those loves you, because of whom you are crying.

Nie kocha się nigdy jak przedtem
You would never love like before.

Myślę o Tobie.
I think about you

Śniłaś mi się tej nocy.
I was dreaming about you last night

Milo Cię widzieć.
Nice to meet you.

Expression of beauty

Masz ładne oczy.
Your eyes are beautiful.

Jesteś piękna.
You are beautiful.

Świetnie wyglądasz!
You look great!

Wyrażanie uczuć.
Express feelings

Jesteś śliczna.
You are so sweet.

Nie chcę Cię stracić.
I don’t want to lose you.

Nigdy nie zapomnę o Tobie.
I never forget you.

Serce, które kocha, zawsze pozostaje młodym.
Heart that is in love, always stay alive.

Moje slońce.
My sun.

Mój kwiatuszku.
My flower.

Jesteś najpiekniejszą kobietą, jaką w życiu spotkalem.
You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

Jesteś moim powietrzem.
You are my air.

Istniejemy na tyle, na ile kochamy.
We exist only when we love.

Milość spada znienacka.
Love comes unexpected.

Kocham życie bo dalo mi Ciebie... Kocham Ciebie bo – jesteś calym moim życiem.
I love my life, because it gives you to me. I love you, because you are all my life.

Szukam cię
I’m looking for you.

Ja dla Ciebie wszystko zrobię jesli tego chcesz, bedę zawsze wciąż przy Tobie, dobrze o tym wiesz.
I can do everything for you, only if you want. I always stay with you. You know about it.

Kocham Cię!!! Ale nie mogę sobie przypomnieć dlaczego.
I love you, but I can’t remind why.

Serce to zegar, który o każdej dobie każe mi śnić i myśleć tylko o Tobie.
Heart is a clock which say me to thing about you every time.

Bez Ciebie jak bez uśmiechu, niebo pochmurnieje.
Without you like without smile-the sky is dark.

Jak zaprosić na randke.
How to ask for a date.

Chciałbym się z Tobą spotkać.
I want to met you.

Co robisz wieczorem?
What are you doing this evening?

Pójdziemy do kina?
Can we go to the cinema?

Zapraszam Cię na romantyczną kolację.
I invite you for a romantic supper.

Zatańczymy?
Shall we dance?

Lubisz rock? Posłuchamy razem muzyki?
Do you like rock? Can we listen to music togather?

Tu niedaleko jest fajna knajpka. Idziemy?
Not far from us is nice pub. Do you go with me?

Ślub.
Marriage.

Chciałbym spędzić swoje życie z Toba.
I want to spend my lifetime with you.

Życie zdobywa swą wartość tylko dzięki milości.
Love gets valuable because of love.

Chciałabym, żeby nasze dzieci miały Twoje oczy.
I want our children have your eyes.

Każda milość przychodzi w porę.
Love comes when its time is coming.

Wyjdziesz za mnie?
Would you marry me?

POLISH PROVERBS
at your finger tips

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