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  What it means

  Literally “Such work, such pay.” The proverb means that the quality and effort of your work directly determines the reward you receive — you get what you put in. It can be used as encouragement to do your best, or as a resigned observation that poor effort earns poor compensation. Poles use it both to motivate someone to work harder and to explain why a poorly done job received little reward.

  English equivalent

  You get what you pay for / You reap what you sow.

  Vocabulary

  • jaka — such as, what kind of; feminine correlative pronoun agreeing with 'praca'
  • praca — work, labour; feminine nominative singular
  • taka — such, that kind of; feminine correlative pronoun agreeing with 'płaca'
  • płaca — pay, wage, salary; feminine nominative singular

  Grammar note

  The structure 'jaki X, taki Y' (as X is, so Y will be) is a classic Polish correlative pattern extremely common in proverbs. Both 'jaka' and 'taka' are feminine forms in the nominative case, agreeing with 'praca' and 'płaca' respectively. The implied verb 'jest' (is) is omitted, giving the proverb its punchy, balanced rhythm.

  Cultural context

  Neutral register, widely used in workplaces and everyday conversation. The proverb reflects a meritocratic view of labour. In modern usage it can be said ironically — sometimes people work hard but are still underpaid, and the proverb then sounds bitter rather than encouraging. Also heard in schools when a student receives a grade that matches their effort.

  Beginner

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