Matko Boska!
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What it means
Literally “Mother of God!” A common Polish exclamation expressing shock, surprise, fear, or exasperation, and one of the most frequently used emotional interjections in Polish.
Vocabulary
- matka — mother
- Boska — of God / divine (feminine adjective from 'Bóg')
Grammar note
'Matko' is the vocative of 'matka', used when addressing someone directly. 'Boska' is the vocative feminine of 'Boski'.
Cultural context
Rooted in Polish Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary. It is used freely even by non-religious speakers as a general exclamation, and is very recognisably Polish.
Beginner
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