Licho nie śpi
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What it means
“The devil does not sleep.” Evil, mischief, and bad luck can strike at any time. It warns you to stay alert because trouble can appear without notice.
English equivalent
The devil never sleeps.
Vocabulary
- licho — the devil, evil spirit, mischief
- spać — to sleep
Grammar note
'Nie śpi' is the third-person singular present tense negation of 'spać' (to sleep).
Cultural context
'Licho' is a folk figure of evil or bad luck in Slavic tradition. It sounds less formal than 'diabeł', the usual word for devil.
Beginner
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