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  What it means

  Literally: “A son imitates his father.” The proverb expresses the observation that boys tend to model themselves on their fathers, adopting their habits, values, trade, or temperament. More broadly it means that children follow the example set by their parents. It can be said admiringly — when a son inherits his father’s skill or integrity — or critically, when he repeats his father’s vices. The focus on the son-father relationship reflects the traditionally patrilineal character of Polish rural society.

  English equivalent

  Like father, like son.

  Vocabulary

  • syn — son (nominative singular)
  • ojca — father (genitive singular of 'ojciec' — here the object of 'naśladować')
  • naśladuje — imitates / follows the example of (third-person singular present of 'naśladować', imperfective)

  Grammar note

  'Naśladować' (to imitate, to follow the example of) takes a direct object in the accusative case. 'Ojciec' (father) has an irregular genitive 'ojca', which happens to be identical to its accusative form — so 'ojca' here is the accusative direct object, not the genitive. This homonymy of genitive and accusative in masculine animate nouns is a standard feature of Polish grammar.

  Cultural context

  This proverb belongs to a family of Polish sayings about inherited character and the apple-tree image (cf. 'Niedaleko jabłko od jabłoni pada'). Its explicitly gendered framing (son/father) reflects traditional Polish family structure, though in modern usage the message is often extended to daughters imitating mothers or children imitating parents generally. The saying is neutral in register and understood by all generations.

  Beginner

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