Żeby kózka nie skakała, toby nóżki nie złamała
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What it means
Literally “If the little goat hadn’t jumped, she wouldn’t have broken her legs.” A classic rhyme used to tell someone that their current misfortune is a direct result of their own reckless behavior or “showing off.”
Vocabulary
- kózka — little goat
- skakać — to jump
- złamać — to break
Grammar note
Conditional mood ('toby').
Cultural context
Every Polish child hears this from their parents after a playground accident.
Intermediate
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