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  What it means

  Literally, “work pays itself.” Working well brings more than money: satisfaction, skill, and a good reputation. The saying encourages someone who doubts whether the effort is worthwhile by pointing to rewards beyond an immediate paycheck.

  English equivalent

  Hard work is its own reward.

  Vocabulary

  • praca — work, labor
  • sama — itself, alone (feminine form)
  • sobie — to itself (dative reflexive pronoun)
  • płacić — to pay

  Grammar note

  'Sobie' is the dative form of the reflexive pronoun 'siebie', meaning 'to itself' here. 'Sama' agrees with the feminine 'praca' and stresses that it does this alone. 'Płaci' is the third-person singular present of 'płacić'. The short structure gives it a typical proverbial rhythm.

  Cultural context

  The saying reflects a Polish folk and Catholic work ethic, where work is seen as dignifying. It is generally used seriously or encouragingly, not ironically.

  Intermediate

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