Kto rano wstaje, temu Pan Bóg daje
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What it means
“Whoever rises early, God gives to them.” Early risers are rewarded. Hard work and an early start bring divine favour and material success.
English equivalent
The early bird catches the worm.
Vocabulary
- rano — early, in the morning
- wstawać — to get up, to rise
- dawać — to give
Grammar note
'Temu' is the dative of 'ten' in the 'kto … temu' correlative pattern. 'Pan Bóg' (Lord God) is the subject.
Cultural context
One of the most widely known Polish proverbs, reflecting both religious faith and the work ethic of an agrarian society.
Beginner
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