Dobry chleb, gdy kołacza nie masz
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What it means
Bread is good when you have no cake. Plain things become precious when better alternatives are unavailable.
English equivalent
Half a loaf is better than none.
Vocabulary
- kołacz — kołacz (a rich braided bread or cake)
- masz — you have
Grammar note
'Nie masz' is an archaic second-person singular form of 'nie mieć' (not to have), equivalent to modern 'nie masz'.
Cultural context
Kołacz is a traditional Polish festive bread, richer than everyday chleb. The contrast underlines the relativity of satisfaction.
Beginner
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