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  What it means

  Literally “to live from the 1st to the 1st,” this phrase means to live paycheck to paycheck. It refers to the first day of the month when salaries were traditionally paid, implying that all the money is gone just as the next payment arrives. It is used to describe a tight financial situation where there is no room for savings.

  Vocabulary

  • żyć — to live
  • pierwszy — first (day of the month)
  • pieniądze — money
  • wypłata — paycheck / salary

  Grammar note

  Both 'od' (from) and 'do' (to) require the genitive case. 'Pierwszego' is the genitive masculine/neuter form of the ordinal number 'pierwszy.'

  Cultural context

  This is a very common expression in Poland when discussing the economy or personal finances. It reflects the reality of many households and is used with a tone of weariness or social commentary.

  Beginner

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