• Listen

  What it means

  Literally: “holy words.” This exclamation shows wholehearted agreement with something someone has just said, like “truer words were never spoken” or “you said it” in English. A Pole says “święte słowa!” when they think the other person has said something so correct, wise, or apt that they could not put it better. It has a tone of enthusiastic, almost reverent agreement. Depending on context, it can be sincere (approving a wise observation) or lightly humorous (strongly agreeing with a minor complaint).

  Vocabulary

  • święte — holy, sacred (neuter plural adjective agreeing with 'słowa')
  • słowa — words (nominative plural of 'słowo')

  Grammar note

  The phrase is a nominative noun phrase functioning as a standalone exclamation. 'Święte' is the neuter plural form of the adjective 'święty' (holy/sacred), agreeing with the neuter plural noun 'słowa' (words). It is typically used as a complete utterance in response to something just said, not embedded in a longer sentence.

  Cultural context

  A very common, neutral expression used by all age groups in everyday conversation. The adjective 'święty' gives it a slightly biblical sound, but the phrase is fully modern and colloquial. The closest English equivalents are 'truer words were never spoken', 'you said it', 'exactly!', or 'spot on'.

  Beginner

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