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  What it means

  Literally “One swallow does not make a spring.” This proverb means that a single positive event or sign does not guarantee a general trend or a permanent change. It is used to caution someone against being too optimistic after just one small success.

  English equivalent

  One swallow does not make a summer.

  Vocabulary

  • jaskółka — swallow (the bird)
  • wiosny — of spring (genitive case)
  • czyni — makes / does (literary/formal)

  Grammar note

  The noun 'wiosna' changes to the genitive 'wiosny' because the verb is negated ('nie czyni'). In Polish, the direct object of a negated verb almost always moves from the accusative to the genitive case.

  Cultural context

  While the English version mentions summer, the Polish version (like many other European versions) focuses on spring. The return of swallows is a classic European herald of the end of winter.

  Beginner

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