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  What it means

  Literally, “a miser loses twice.” Being too cheap can cost more later, through poor quality, repeated failures, or repairs. People use it to support paying a little more for something that will last, or to criticise cost-cutting that caused a problem.

  English equivalent

  Buy cheap, buy twice / Penny wise, pound foolish

  Vocabulary

  • skąpy — miser, stingy person (noun/adjective used as noun here)
  • dwa razy — twice, two times
  • traci — loses (third person singular present of 'tracić')

  Grammar note

  'Skąpy' functions here as a noun (a stingy person) rather than an adjective, which is common in Polish proverbs where adjectives describe a type of person. 'Tracić' is an imperfective verb suggesting habitual or recurring loss. The adverbial phrase 'dwa razy' (twice) emphasizes the repeating consequence of miserliness.

  Cultural context

  This common saying comes up when people compare a cheap item with a better one, or look back on a decision that failed because corners were cut. It works in everyday and more formal speech.

  Beginner

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