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  What it means

  Literally “Nature pulls the wolf to the forest.” This proverb means that a person’s innate character or habits always reassert themselves, no matter how much they try to change — equivalent to “a leopard can’t change its spots.” It is used when someone reverts to old behaviour despite promises or efforts to reform.

  Vocabulary

  • natura — nature, character, instinct
  • ciągnie — pulls, draws (3rd person singular present of 'ciągnąć')
  • wilka — wolf (genitive singular of 'wilk', used as the direct object here)
  • do — to, towards (preposition governing genitive)
  • lasu — forest (genitive singular of 'las')

  Grammar note

  'Wilka' is the genitive singular of the masculine animate noun 'wilk' — animates use genitive for the direct object in accusative-like constructions. 'Lasu' is the genitive singular of 'las' after the directional preposition 'do'. The verb 'ciągnie' is imperfective, expressing habitual/repeated action.

  Cultural context

  A well-known Polish proverb with equivalents across many European languages ('You can take the boy out of the country…'). Used to comment on recidivism, nostalgia, or simply unchangeable character traits. Neutral to slightly ironic register; common in both speech and writing.

  Intermediate

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