Kto ojca i matki nie słucha, ten na zimną wodę dmucha
Listen
What it means
“Whoever doesn’t listen to their father and mother blows on cold water.” Blowing on cold water is pointless, so is the life of someone who ignores their parents’ guidance. Disobedience leads to futile effort.
Vocabulary
- słuchać — to listen to, to obey
- dmuchać — to blow
- zimna woda — cold water
Grammar note
'Nie słucha' takes the genitive: 'ojca i matki' (not accusative). 'Na zimną wodę' is accusative after 'na'.
Cultural context
Companion proverb to the harsher variant about falling into the executioner's hands.
Beginner
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