polski.directory

[ Learn Polish. All resources, one place. ]
  • Listen

    What it means

    Literally “the hen that lays golden eggs.” A source of continuous wealth or profit that should not be destroyed out of greed — from Aesop’s fable. “The goose that lays the golden eggs.”

    Vocabulary

    • kura — hen
    • znosić — to lay (eggs)
    • złoty — golden
    • jajko — egg

    Grammar note

    'Znosząca' is a present active participle agreeing with 'kura' (feminine). 'Złote jajka' is accusative plural — direct object of 'znosząca'.

    Cultural context

    From Aesop's fable — the farmer kills the hen to get all the gold at once and loses everything. A universal warning against short-sighted greed.

    Intermediate

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!

More Polish idioms

  • Literally "one's whole life flew past before the eyes," this phrase describes the vivid, involuntary …
    Intermediate
  • Literally "for an example," na przykład is the standard Polish phrase for "for example" or "for …
    Beginner
  • Literally "in the last/recent times," ostatnimi czasy is a common temporal phrase meaning "lately," …
    Beginner
  • Literally "in the manner of Judas," this adverb describes acting in a treacherous, backstabbing way …
    Intermediate