I króla robaki zjedzą.
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What it means
“Even a king will be eaten by worms.” Death is the great equaliser — no rank, wealth, or power can save anyone from mortality. A memento mori.
English equivalent
Death is the great leveller.
Vocabulary
- król — king
- robak — worm, bug
- zjeść — to eat up
Grammar note
'Króla' is the accusative of 'król' (direct object). 'Robaki' is the nominative plural subject. 'Zjedzą' is the third-person plural future perfective.
Cultural context
A common theme in medieval Polish literature and folk wisdom, reflecting Catholic meditation on mortality.
Beginner
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