Co matka, to matka, a co macocha, to macocha
Listen
What it means
A mother is a mother, and a stepmother is a stepmother , nothing can replace a biological mother’s love.
English equivalent
There's no substitute for a mother's love.
Vocabulary
- matka — mother
- macocha — stepmother
Grammar note
Repeated 'co … to …' structure emphasising the distinction. No verb needed , the repetition itself carries the meaning.
Cultural context
Stepmothers appear frequently as antagonists in Polish folklore and fairy tales, giving this proverb a strong cultural resonance.
Beginner
Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!
More Polish proverbs
- "A stepmother, even if made of sugar, is always bitter." However kind she may be, a stepmother may …
- "For a wise head, two words are enough." A clever person needs only a short hint to understand. Long …
- "A Pole is wise after the damage is done." Poles, or people in general, often learn from mistakes …
- "The wise will accept advice; the fool will reject it with scorn." Wise people listen to advice, …