• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “cannon meat.” Figuratively, it refers to people treated as expendable, especially in dangerous situations like war or risky work. It emphasizes the idea that individuals are used without regard for their safety or value. Poles use it in serious contexts, often when criticizing authority or describing injustice.

  Vocabulary

  • mięso — meat
  • armatnie — of a cannon (adjective from 'armata')
  • armata — cannon
  • żołnierz — soldier
  • poświęcać — to sacrifice

  Grammar note

  "Armatnie" is an adjective derived from "armata" and agrees with the neuter noun "mięso." The phrase forms a fixed expression where the adjective specifies the type or purpose metaphorically. Polish often creates such compounds to convey strong imagery.

  Cultural context

  This is a strong, expressive phrase with historical associations, especially related to warfare. It corresponds directly to the English term "cannon fodder." It is used in both historical discussions and modern criticism of exploitative situations.

  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!