Na świętego Macieja prędzej wiosny nadzieja
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What it means
“On Saint Matthias’s day, sooner hope for spring.” Tied to February 24th (St. Matthias), this proverb says that once this feast day arrives, spring can be expected sooner rather than later.
Vocabulary
- prędzej — sooner, more quickly
- wiosna — spring
- nadzieja — hope
Grammar note
'Wiosny nadzieja' — 'nadzieja' (hope) takes the genitive 'wiosny' (of spring) to express hope for something.
Cultural context
St. Matthias's Day (February 24) was seen as a turning point in the Polish folk calendar, signalling that the worst of winter was over.
Beginner
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