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  What it means

  Literally “to give life,” this phrase is used in two main ways. In its literal sense it means to give birth — a mother gives life to a child. In a broader, figurative sense it means to bring something to life, to animate it, or to be the source of something’s existence and vitality. You might hear it about an artist giving life to a painting, a director giving life to a script, or a community leader giving life to a movement. The figurative use is elevated and often appears in speeches, journalism, and literature.

  Vocabulary

  • dać — to give (perfective)
  • życie — life (noun, neuter; accusative form matches nominative)
  • dawać życie — to give life (imperfective ongoing form)

  Grammar note

  *Życie* is a neuter noun whose accusative form is identical to the nominative — *dać życie* takes the direct object in accusative. When speaking of giving birth the phrase is often expanded: *dać życie dziecku* (to give life to a child), where *dziecku* is the dative of beneficiary. The imperfective counterpart *dawać życie* is used for habitual or ongoing acts.

  Cultural context

  In everyday speech *dać życie* in the birth sense is slightly formal or poetic; Poles more commonly say *urodzić dziecko* (to give birth to a child). The figurative 'bring to life' sense appears frequently in cultural criticism and reviews. No strong regional or register restrictions — it ranges from literary prose to casual creative conversation.

  Beginner

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