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  What it means

  Literally, “such work, such pay.” It means that the quality and effort in your work affect the reward you receive. You get back what you put in. It can encourage someone to work well, or explain why a badly done job earned little. People also use it when a result matches the effort behind it.

  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

  This neutral proverb is used at work and in everyday conversation. It suggests that effort should match reward. It can also be ironic when someone works hard but is still underpaid. Teachers may use it when a student's grade matches their effort.

  Beginner

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