• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “a boy for errands.” The phrase describes a person — not necessarily young or male — who is used as a general helper or gofer: someone sent on minor tasks, fetching things, or doing whatever others don’t want to bother with. It often implies a lack of respect or that the person is not taken seriously in a professional context. The equivalent English expression is “errand boy” or “gofer.”

  Vocabulary

  • chłopak — boy, guy, lad
  • posyłki — errands (plural of posyłka — an errand, a task to be carried out)
  • na posyłki — for errands, to run errands

  Grammar note

  The preposition 'na' here governs the accusative case and expresses purpose ('for the purpose of errands'). 'Posyłki' is genitive plural, which follows 'na' in this fixed phrase. The masculine noun 'chłopak' declines regularly.

  Cultural context

  Despite 'chłopak' being masculine, the phrase is applied to anyone reduced to a subordinate helper role regardless of gender or age. In an office context it describes the newest or lowest-ranking employee who gets stuck with mundane tasks. It carries a mildly dismissive or pitying tone.

  Beginner

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!