• Listen

  What it means

  Literally, it means “despite (one’s) will.” Figuratively, it describes doing something unintentionally or against one’s conscious intention. It often implies that something happened automatically or without control. Poles use this phrase when talking about reactions, emotions, or accidental actions.

  Vocabulary

  • wola — will
  • woli — will (genitive form)
  • mimo — despite
  • wbrew — against (as in "against one's will")

  Grammar note

  "Woli" is the genitive singular of "wola," required by the preposition "mimo." The phrase is fixed and does not change form. It often modifies a verb, describing how an action happened.

  Cultural context

  This is a neutral expression used in both spoken and written Polish. It is similar to English "in spite of oneself" or "unintentionally." It is common in narrative and descriptive contexts.

  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!