• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “to speak as if to a wall.” This idiom is used when you are trying to explain something or give advice to someone, but they are completely ignoring you or failing to understand. It highlights the futility and frustration of communicating with someone who is unresponsive.

  Vocabulary

  • mówić — to speak / talk
  • ściana — wall
  • słuchać — to listen

  Grammar note

  'Ściany' is in the genitive case because the preposition 'do' (to/towards) always requires the genitive. The 'jak' (as/like) makes it a comparative construction.

  Cultural context

  This is a very common complaint used by parents with children or teachers with students. It's a high-frequency phrase in everyday emotional Polish.

  Beginner

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