Nie dziel skóry na niedźwiedziu
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What it means
Literally “don’t divide the skin while it’s still on the bear.” Don’t count your chickens before they hatch — don’t make promises or plans based on something you haven’t secured yet.
Vocabulary
- dzielić — to divide / to share
- skóra — skin / hide
- niedźwiedź — bear
Grammar note
Imperative negation: 'nie dziel.' 'Skóry' is genitive of 'skóra' — after negated verbs Polish uses genitive. 'Na niedźwiedziu' is locative of 'niedźwiedź' after 'na.'
Cultural context
A hunter's proverb: you don't divide the bear's pelt among your friends before you've actually caught the bear. Practical wisdom from the forest.
Intermediate
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