Pankracy, Serwacy, Bonifacy, każdy swoim zimnem raczy
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What it means
Pancras, Servatius, Boniface — each one treats you to his own cold. Each of the three Ice Saints brings his own cold snap, so expect three separate frosts around their feast days in May.
Vocabulary
- Pankracy — Pancras (saint's name)
- Serwacy — Servatius (saint's name)
- Bonifacy — Boniface (saint's name)
- każdy — each, every
- zimno — cold
- raczyć — to treat, to deign to offer
Grammar note
'Swoim zimnem' is the instrumental of means after 'raczyć'. 'Każdy' is the nominative singular subject.
Cultural context
The verb 'raczyć' (to treat/deign) gives the proverb a wry, ironic tone — as if the saints are generously offering their cold as a gift.
Intermediate
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