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  What it means

  Literally “experimental rabbit.” Used figuratively to describe a person or group used as a test subject — someone on whom new procedures, experiments, drugs, policies, or ideas are tried out without their full consent or with uncertain outcome. It carries a slightly negative or ironic tone, implying the test subject is passive and at risk.

  Vocabulary

  • królik — rabbit
  • doświadczalny — experimental, used for testing (adjective)
  • doświadczenie — experiment; also experience

  Grammar note

  The adjective 'doświadczalny' agrees with 'królik' in gender (masculine), number (singular), and case (nominative). It derives from 'doświadczenie' (experiment/experience). The phrase functions as a noun phrase and can be used in all cases: 'Czuję się królikiem doświadczalnym' = 'I feel like a guinea pig.'

  Cultural context

  Polish uses 'królik' (rabbit) where English uses 'guinea pig' (the Polish for actual guinea pig is 'świnka morska,' literally 'sea pig'). The meaning is identical: an unwilling or unwitting test subject. The phrase is used with irony or mild resentment in medical, political, and workplace contexts.

  Beginner

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