Kamień węgielny
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What it means
Literally “cornerstone.” The foundational stone of a building — used figuratively for the fundamental basis of something. “The cornerstone,” “the foundation.”
Vocabulary
- kamień — stone
- węgielny — corner (adjective, from węgieł — corner)
Grammar note
Nominative masculine. Used figuratively: 'kamień węgielny demokracji' — the cornerstone of democracy.
Cultural context
Laying the cornerstone ('położenie kamienia węgielnego') is a ceremonial tradition in Polish construction — often marked with a formal event.
Intermediate
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