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  What it means

  Literally: “This one his own, and that one his own.” The proverb describes a situation where two people (or parties) each insist on their own view, opinion, or way of doing things, and neither side gives way. It describes a fruitless argument or deadlock where both sides talk past each other. Poles use it with a resigned or amused shrug when a debate gets nowhere.

  English equivalent

  To each their own.

  Vocabulary

  • ten — this one, that one (masculine demonstrative pronoun)
  • swoje — his/her/its own (accusative/nominative neuter of swój)
  • a — and, while, but (contrastive conjunction)
  • swój — one's own (reflexive possessive pronoun)

  Grammar note

  'Swoje' is the accusative neuter form of the reflexive possessive pronoun 'swój', referring back to the subject: 'his/her own (thing or view)'. The full sentence may be 'Ten mówi swoje, a ten mówi swoje' (this one says his thing, and that one says his thing). Leaving out the verb is common in Polish idioms and proverbs.

  Cultural context

  This phrase is often used in family or political arguments when two people keep repeating their own position. It has a resigned, humorous tone and is usually said by someone watching the argument, not by either person in it. It is colloquial and known across generations.

  Intermediate

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