Jedna jaskółka nie czyni wiosny
Listen
What it means
Literally “One swallow does not make spring.” This is a common variation of the “czyni” proverb, reinforcing the idea that a single event is not a pattern. It warns against jumping to conclusions based on limited evidence or a single stroke of luck.
English equivalent
One swallow does not make a summer.
Vocabulary
- jaskółka — swallow
- czyni — makes / performs (3rd person singular)
- wiosna — spring
Grammar note
The word 'wiosny' is in the genitive case because of the negation 'nie czyni'. This is a fundamental rule in Polish grammar: 'biernik' (accusative) changes to 'dopełniacz' (genitive) in negative sentences.
Cultural context
The swallow is a deeply symbolic bird in Slavic folklore, often associated with the arrival of warmth and the awakening of nature after a long winter.
Beginner
Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!
More Polish proverbs
- "A stepmother, even if made of sugar, is always bitter." No matter how kind a stepmother tries to …
- "For a wise head, two words are enough." A clever person needs only a brief hint to understand; …
- "A Pole is wise after the damage is done." Poles (or people in general) tend to learn from mistakes …
- "The wise will accept advice; the fool will scorn it." Intelligent people are open to counsel, while …