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  What it means

  “In marriage there is both heaven and hell.” Marriage contains the full range of human experience — great joy and great suffering — often at the same time.

  English equivalent

  Marriage is a lottery.

  Vocabulary

  • małżeństwo — marriage
  • raj — paradise, heaven
  • piekło — hell

  Grammar note

  'W małżeństwie' uses the locative of 'małżeństwo' after 'w'. The proverb omits a verb, giving it a blunt, aphoristic feel.

  Cultural context

  A wry observation on married life common in Polish folk wisdom.

  Beginner

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