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  What it means

  Literally, “Time is money.” The proverb equates time with financial value, arguing that wasting time is as costly as wasting money. It urges efficiency, punctuality, and productive use of every moment. Poles use it to justify hard work, decline unnecessary interruptions, or encourage others to move faster. The proverb is direct and universally understood, making it one of the most frequently quoted in professional and business contexts.

  English equivalent

  Time is money.

  Vocabulary

  • czas — time (masculine noun, nominative singular)
  • to — is, equals (linking particle, not the demonstrative pronoun)
  • pieniądz — money (masculine noun; formal/archaic singular)
  • pieniądze — money (plural form, more common in everyday speech)

  Grammar note

  'To' here is a linking particle used to create a nominal predicate sentence: 'X to Y' = 'X is Y.' This construction does not use the verb 'być' (to be) in the present tense — the particle 'to' replaces it. This is the standard Polish pattern for definitional or equivalence statements (e.g. 'Polska to kraj w Europie' — Poland is a country in Europe). The noun 'pieniądz' is the formal or archaic singular; in everyday speech, Poles more commonly say 'pieniądze' (plural).

  Cultural context

  This is a direct parallel of Benjamin Franklin's 'time is money,' and it entered Polish through American business culture, becoming widespread in the 20th century. It is most common in professional and entrepreneurial contexts. In casual speech it can be said with irony to hurry someone along. Its conciseness and universal meaning make it easily understood even by beginners.

  Beginner

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