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  What it means

  Literally: “You cannot buy a mother.” This proverb asserts that a mother’s love, care, and devotion are priceless and irreplaceable — no amount of money or substitute can replicate what a mother gives. It is used to express deep gratitude for one’s mother, to honour maternal sacrifice, or to remind someone that material things cannot replace genuine parental love.

  English equivalent

  A mother's love is worth more than gold. / There's no substitute for a mother.

  Vocabulary

  • matki — of a mother (genitive singular of matka, used after negation)
  • nie kupisz — you cannot buy (negated second-person singular of kupić)

  Grammar note

  After the negation particle 'nie', direct objects shift from the accusative to the genitive case in Polish. So 'kupić matkę' (to buy a mother, accusative) becomes 'nie kupisz matki' (you cannot buy a mother, genitive). This genitive-of-negation rule is fundamental in Polish grammar and this proverb is a concise illustration of it.

  Cultural context

  Poland is a strongly family-oriented society, and the figure of the mother ('matka') holds special cultural and religious significance — especially as the image of the Mater Dolorosa in Catholic tradition. Phrases honouring mothers are common in Polish folk wisdom. This proverb is often quoted sincerely rather than ironically, and may be heard on Mother's Day (Dzień Matki, May 26th) or in contexts celebrating maternal sacrifice.

  Beginner

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