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  What it means

  Literally, “through the stomach to the heart.” The saying means that good food and cooking can win someone’s affection or love. It traditionally referred to men, but now it is used more broadly, both as advice about hospitality and to tease someone delighted by a meal.

  English equivalent

  The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

  Vocabulary

  • przez — through (preposition governing accusative)
  • żołądek — stomach (accusative singular, same form as nominative for masculine inanimate nouns)
  • do — to / into (preposition governing genitive)
  • serca — heart (genitive singular of serce)

  Grammar note

  The saying uses two prepositions with fixed cases: przez (through) with accusative żołądek, and do (to) with genitive serca. Serce is neuter; its genitive singular drops the final -e: serce → serca.

  Cultural context

  Polish hospitality values feeding guests as a sign of warmth and respect. The proverb once focused on wives or mothers cooking for husbands, but today it is used broadly and often with humour.

  Beginner

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