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  What it means

  Literally: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the apple tree.” Children resemble their parents in personality, habits, or flaws. Qualities — good or bad — tend to be passed down within families. Poles use it to point out a resemblance between a child and a parent, often when a child repeats a parent’s mistake or displays a characteristic trait.

  English equivalent

  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

  Vocabulary

  • niedaleko — not far (adverb)
  • jabłoni — of the apple tree (genitive of jabłoń — feminine)
  • jabłko — apple
  • upada — falls (third person singular of upadać — imperfective)

  Grammar note

  'Niedaleko jabłoni' uses the genitive case — 'niedaleko' (not far from) takes the genitive just like other preposition-like adverbs of distance. 'Jabłko' is the nominative subject. The imperfective 'upada' describes a general, habitual truth rather than a single completed event.

  Cultural context

  This proverb is virtually identical to its English counterpart and is one of the most widely recognized in Polish. It is used most commonly in families and is neutral in tone — it can be said admiringly ('he has his father's talent') or critically ('like father, like son — same bad temper'). Context determines whether it is a compliment or a reproach.

  Beginner

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