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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