Chlebem i solą ludzie ludzi niewoląý.
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What it means
“With bread and salt people bind people.” Offering bread and salt — the traditional Polish greeting of honour — creates a bond of hospitality and obligation between host and guest.
Vocabulary
- chleb — bread
- sól — salt
- niewolić — to bind, to enslave (here: to win over)
Grammar note
'Chlebem i solą' are instrumental forms. 'Niewoląý' (niewoląý) is an archaic spelling of 'niewoląý' — third person plural present.
Cultural context
Welcoming guests with bread and salt is one of Poland's most enduring customs, symbolising prosperity and friendship.
Intermediate
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