Każdy jest kowalem swojego losu
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What it means
Literally “everyone is the blacksmith of their own fate.” Means you are responsible for shaping your own destiny — “every man is the architect of his own fortune.”
Vocabulary
- kowal — blacksmith
- los — fate, destiny
- swój — one's own
Grammar note
'Kowalem' is the instrumental of 'kowal' — predicate instrumental after 'jest' (is). 'Swojego losu' is genitive of possession.
Cultural context
A translation of the Latin 'faber est suae quisque fortunae' — the blacksmith metaphor resonates strongly in Polish culture, where craftsmanship and hard work are deeply valued.
Intermediate
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