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  What it means

  Literally “However a mother raised her son, that is how he will treat you.” The proverb means that a person’s upbringing and home environment shape their behaviour and character for life. It is most often used to comment on a man’s poor manners or unkind actions, attributing them to bad parenting. It can carry a critical tone directed at the mother’s upbringing choices.

  English equivalent

  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

  Vocabulary

  • jakoś — however, in whatever way (here used as 'in the way that')
  • chować — to raise, to bring up (a child); imperfective verb
  • chowała — she raised (past tense feminine singular)
  • poczynać — to behave, to act, to conduct oneself (imperfective, somewhat archaic)
  • poczyna — he/she acts, behaves (third person singular present)

  Grammar note

  The proverb uses a correlative structure: 'Jakoś… tak…' (However… so…), which sets up a parallel between cause and result. 'Chowała' is a past tense feminine form, implying the subject is the mother. 'Poczynać' in the sense of 'to behave' is somewhat archaic and lends the proverb a traditional, folk quality.

  Cultural context

  This proverb reflects traditional Polish values around maternal responsibility for a child's moral upbringing. It carries a slightly accusatory tone and is typically used in real life when someone's bad behaviour is being explained or excused by pointing to their parents. It is more common in older or rural registers of speech.

  Intermediate

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