Licho nie śpi
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What it means
Literally “the devil doesn’t sleep.” Means trouble is always lurking, bad things can happen at any moment — “the devil never sleeps,” “evil never rests.” Used as a warning to stay vigilant.
Vocabulary
- licho — evil spirit, devil, bad luck
- spać — to sleep
Grammar note
'Nie śpi' — negated third person singular present of 'spać'. 'Licho' is a folk term for an evil spirit or misfortune personified.
Cultural context
Licho is a figure from Slavic folklore — a one-eyed spirit of misfortune. The phrase reflects the Polish folk belief that evil is always watchful.
Intermediate
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