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  What it means

  Literally: “Better a sparrow in the hand than a black grouse on a branch.” This is the Polish version of “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Something you already have, even if it is modest, is worth more than a bigger thing you may get later and then lose. People use it to warn against careless risks or chasing too much when a sure thing is close by.

  English equivalent

  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

  Vocabulary

  • lepszy — better (masculine nominative comparative adjective)
  • wróbel — sparrow (masculine noun)
  • w ręku — in the hand (locative form of ręka: ręku)
  • niż — than (comparison word)
  • cietrzew — black grouse (a large game bird)
  • na sęku — on a branch knot (locative form of sęk: sęku)

  Grammar note

  'W ręku' uses the locative form of 'ręka' (hand) after 'w' when it means a place. 'Na sęku' also uses the locative of 'sęk' (a knot in wood or branch stub). The pattern 'lepszy X niż Y' means "better X than Y." The locative 'sęku' ends in -u, as many masculine nouns do in this form.

  Cultural context

  Polish has many proverbs about caution and practical choices. Using a cietrzew, or black grouse, instead of an English bush gives this version a rural setting of forests and hunting. It is still well known and used in everyday speech.

  Intermediate

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