Dobry zwyczaj nie pożyczaj
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What it means
A good custom — don’t borrow it (keep it for yourself). Good habits and traditions should be maintained and not given away or abandoned.
Vocabulary
- zwyczaj — custom, habit, tradition
- pożyczać — to lend, to borrow
Grammar note
'Nie pożyczaj' — negative imperative of 'pożyczać'. The rhyme 'zwyczaj / pożyczaj' makes this highly memorable.
Cultural context
A proverb defending the preservation of good traditions. The rhyme is the main vehicle — 'pożyczaj' is used for its sound as much as its meaning.
Beginner
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