Bez pracy nie ma kołaczy.
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What it means
“Without work there are no kołacze.” One of the most well-known Polish proverbs. You only get rewards — food, comfort, success — if you put in the effort. There are no shortcuts.
English equivalent
No pain, no gain. / No work, no reward.
Vocabulary
- praca — work, labour
- kołacz — kołacz — a traditional sweet bread; here symbolises reward or good things
Grammar note
'Bez pracy' — genitive of 'praca' after 'bez'. 'Nie ma kołaczy' — negated existential construction with genitive plural 'kołaczy'.
Cultural context
Kołacze (sweet braided breads) were a prized treat, making them a natural symbol of reward in folk wisdom.
Beginner
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