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  What it means

  Literally “as they say,” this is a framing phrase used to introduce or follow a well-known saying, proverb, cliché, or familiar expression. It signals that the speaker is drawing on received wisdom rather than their own original words. For example: “Jak to mówią, nie wszystko złoto, co się świeci” — “As they say, not all that glitters is gold.” It can appear at the start or end of the cited phrase.

  Vocabulary

  • jak — as, like (comparison/quotative conjunction)
  • to — it, this (discourse particle, adds mild emphasis)
  • mówią — they say (3rd person plural present of mówić)
  • mówić — to say, to speak (imperfective)

  Grammar note

  The third person plural 'mówią' here has an unspecified, indefinite subject — 'people say,' 'they say.' This impersonal use of the 3rd person plural is a common Polish construction for expressing general knowledge or shared wisdom, equivalent to the English impersonal 'they' in 'they say.'

  Cultural context

  This is a universal, neutral phrase found in all registers, from casual conversation to formal writing. It is the standard Polish equivalent of English 'as they say,' 'as the saying goes,' or 'as people say.' Using it can soften a cliché by attributing it to collective wisdom rather than the speaker's own claim.

  Beginner

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