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  What it means

  Literally “king of life,” this phrase describes someone who lives lavishly, enjoys life to the fullest, and seems carefree and prosperous — a bon vivant. It can be used admiringly, enviously, or ironically: ‘Wydaje pieniądze jak król życia’ — “He spends money like a king of life” (implying reckless extravagance). The ironic use implies someone is living beyond their means or is delusionally self-satisfied.

  Vocabulary

  • król — king (masculine noun)
  • życia — life (genitive of życie)
  • życie — life (neuter noun)

  Grammar note

  The structure is 'król' (nominative masculine) + 'życia' (genitive of the neuter noun 'życie'). The genitive of 'życie' is 'życia,' following the standard neuter pattern. The phrase can be used in other cases: accusative 'króla życia,' dative 'królowi życia,' etc., as dictated by context.

  Cultural context

  The phrase is neutral to colloquial and carries an ambivalent tone — it can express genuine admiration ('he really knows how to live') or sarcasm ('he's playing the big shot but he's broke'). Context and intonation determine the meaning. There is no precise single-word English equivalent, but 'living like a king,' 'bon vivant,' or 'high roller' approximate it.

  Intermediate

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