• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “There you have fate,” this common exclamation is used to express disappointment, resignation, or frustration when something goes wrong unexpectedly. It is the Polish equivalent of saying “Just my luck!” or “Typical!” It is used in those small, annoying moments of life, like when you miss the bus by a second or realize you left your umbrella at home just as it starts to rain.

  Vocabulary

  • masz — you have (2nd person singular)
  • ci — for you / to you (short dative form of 'ty')
  • los — fate / destiny / lottery ticket
  • pech — bad luck

  Grammar note

  The word 'ci' here is a "dative of interest" (ethic dative), which doesn't translate literally to English but adds an emotional, personal flavor to the sentence. 'Masz' is the imperative/indicative form of 'mieć,' essentially presenting the "fate" to the listener.

  Cultural context

  This is an old-fashioned but still very popular expression. It carries a slightly theatrical, dramatic tone, often used with a sigh or a shrug of the shoulders. It reflects a certain Polish fatalism—the idea that fate occasionally likes to play minor tricks on us.

  Beginner

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!