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  What it means

  Literally “like two drops of water,” this idiom describes two things — most often two people — that are indistinguishable from each other. Just as two drops of water look completely identical, the idiom captures perfect resemblance. It is overwhelmingly used about twins or siblings who look uncannily alike, but can also describe any two objects or situations that are mirror images of each other. “Ona jest podobna do matki jak dwie krople wody” — She looks exactly like her mother.

  Vocabulary

  • jak — like, as (comparison)
  • dwie — two (feminine numeral)
  • krople — drops (nominative/accusative plural of kropla)
  • wody — water (genitive singular of woda)

  Grammar note

  'Krople wody' uses genitive 'wody' after 'krople' to express the type of drop — a standard genitive of material or content in Polish. 'Dwie' is the feminine form of the numeral 'dwa' (two), agreeing with the feminine noun 'krople.' The whole phrase functions as a predicative complement following 'podobny jak' or 'wyglądać jak.'

  Cultural context

  The image of indistinguishable water drops is ancient and cross-cultural — similar expressions exist in many European languages. In Polish it is the standard idiom for identical appearance and is not considered elevated or old-fashioned. It applies only to visual resemblance, not to personality, habits, or ideas.

  Beginner

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