• Listen

  What it means

  Literally: “Better a sparrow in the hand than a falcon on a branch.” Value what you already have instead of chasing something grander but uncertain. A sparrow in your hand is real; a falcon on a branch may fly away before you catch it. People use it to favour a practical choice over a risky gamble for a bigger reward.

  English equivalent

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

  Vocabulary

  • wróbel — sparrow
  • ręka — hand; 'w ręku' means in the hand (locative singular)
  • sokół — falcon
  • sęk — knot in wood; branch stub; 'na sęku' means on the branch (locative singular)
  • lepszy — better (comparative of 'dobry')

  Grammar note

  'W ręku' and 'na sęku' both use the locative case after 'w' (in) and 'na' (on) when they show a place. 'Lepszy' is the comparative adjective and acts as the predicate, with 'jest' (is) left unsaid. The proverb has no written verb because the comparison is complete on its own.

  Cultural context

  This is one of the best-known Polish proverbs and has close versions across Europe. The sparrow and falcon make the contrast clear: modest certainty versus a grand but hard-to-get prize. Its tone is neutral and everyday.

  Intermediate

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