Jak nie wiadomo, o co chodzi, to chodzi o pieniądze
Listen
What it means
Literally “when you don’t know what it’s about, it’s about money.” A cynical but widely-shared observation that money is the hidden motive behind most conflicts or mysteries.
Vocabulary
- wiadomo — it is known (impersonal)
- chodzić o coś — to be about something
- pieniądze — money
Grammar note
'Nie wiadomo' is an impersonal negation — 'it is not known.' 'Chodzi o' + accusative means 'it is about.'
Cultural context
A piece of folk wisdom with a distinctly Polish cynical edge — often quoted with a knowing smile.
Intermediate
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!
More Polish idioms
- Literally "one's whole life flew past before the eyes," this phrase describes the vivid, involuntary …
- Literally "for an example," na przykład is the standard Polish phrase for "for example" or "for …
- Literally "in the last/recent times," ostatnimi czasy is a common temporal phrase meaning "lately," …
- Literally "in the manner of Judas," this adverb describes acting in a treacherous, backstabbing way …