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  What it means

  Literally “what pay, such work,” this proverb means that the quality of work reflects the wages offered — low pay produces low-quality effort. It is used to justify doing only as much as you are paid for, or to observe that cheap services rarely produce excellent results. For example: “Nie oczekuj cudów za te pieniądze — jaka płaca, taka praca” — “Don’t expect miracles for that money — you get what you pay for.”

  English equivalent

  You get what you pay for.

  Vocabulary

  • jaka — what kind of (feminine correlative adjective, nominative)
  • płaca — pay, wage (feminine noun)
  • taka — such, like that (feminine correlative adjective, nominative)
  • praca — work, labor (feminine noun)

  Grammar note

  This proverb uses the same 'jaki...taki' correlative pattern as 'Jaka matka, taka córka.' Both 'jaka' and 'taka' are feminine nominative forms agreeing with 'płaca' and 'praca' respectively. The verb 'jest' (is) is again omitted. The rhyme between 'płaca' and 'praca' makes the proverb especially memorable.

  Cultural context

  This proverb is widely used in workplace and consumer contexts. Workers cite it to defend minimal effort when underpaid; consumers use it to rationalize spending more for quality. It has a slightly cynical tone. The English equivalent 'you get what you pay for' captures both the meaning and the practical register.

  Beginner

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