Polish Proverbs Explained — W (51)
All Polish proverbs (przysłowia) starting with the letter W — explanations, vocabulary, and cultural context for learners.
- "On the day of Adam and Eve, forgive your neighbours their wrongs." The feast of Adam and Eve (24 December) is a time for reconciliation and letting go of …
- "On Saint Agatha's day it is only half of the horned winter." Saint Agatha's feast (5 February) marks the midpoint of winter — the worst is still ahead, as …
- "On Saint Andrew's day, maidens have hope from fortune-telling." Saint Andrew's Eve (29–30 November) is the traditional night for young women to perform love …
- "On Saint Agatha's day, if the little sun peeks through the little window into the cottage, then spring is peeking at the world from behind winter's bars." …
- "On Saint Margaret's day, the first pears come into the house." The feast of Saint Margaret (20 July) traditionally marks the time when the first pears of the …
- "On the day of the Three Kings, everyone cuddles up to the stove." Epiphany (6 January) falls in the depths of winter, so it is still bitterly cold and people …
- "In the mountains there is the beginning of water, but the end of bread." Mountain springs are the source of rivers, but the rocky terrain makes farming …
- "On Saint Catherine's day nothing will fall from the sky — next February will probably be even nicer." A dry, clear Saint Catherine's day (25 November) predicts …
- "In July the little ear of grain already bows, carrying God's gift, and it is Saint Margaret who first sets the sickle to the grain." By July the grain is heavy …
- "In February, if thunder comes from the eastern side, there will be great storms and winds that year." Thunder from the east in February is an omen of a stormy …
- "Much water in February, in summer even the calf is hungry." A variant of the same proverb: a rainy February means a lean summer, with even young cattle going …
- "Much water in February — in summer even the calf goes hungry." A wet, rainy February predicts a poor summer harvest, leaving even livestock without enough to …
- "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.
- "In March it's like in a pot." March weather is unpredictable and changeable — like the bubbling, shifting contents of a cooking pot. Sun, rain, snow, and wind …
- "If it is fine on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, it will stay that way for four weeks." Clear weather on 8 September (the feast of the Nativity of Mary) …
- "At night all cats are black." In the dark, differences disappear — people, things, and situations that seem distinct by day become indistinguishable. Often …
- Literally "At night all cats are grey." In darkness, it is impossible to tell cats apart by colour — they all look the same. Figuratively, the proverb means …
- "It's dawning in Pińczów." Said when dawn breaks or when something is becoming clear. Pińczów is a small town in the Świętokrzyskie region; the phrase is used …
- "In Poland, apparently only fish don't take bribes." A sardonic comment on widespread corruption or bribery in public life. The fish can't be bribed because …
- "In Poland only fish don't take bribes." A shorter, punchier variant of the same sardonic saying about corruption. The omission of "podobno" (apparently) makes …
- "The devil stokes the fire in an old stove." Old people can still have strong passions, desires, or vices. Age doesn't necessarily extinguish inner fire — for …
- "Thunder in January, frequent rains (to come)." A weather proverb: if there is thunder in January, expect a rainy season ahead. Part of a long tradition of …
- "On Saint Margaret's Day, the direction the wind blows shows the way to the grain harvest." A folk calendar proverb: the wind direction on St. Margaret's feast …
- "On the Feast of the Three Kings, a person wraps themselves in a sheepskin coat." Epiphany (January 6) is deep winter — it's so cold that you need to bundle up …
- "On St. Lawrence's Day, they hurry to the mill." St. Lawrence's feast (August 10) marks the time when the grain harvest is in and farmers rush to the mill to …
- "On St. Urban's Day, dear fellow, sow flax and hemp." St. Urban's feast (May 25) was the traditional date for sowing flax and hemp in Polish folk agriculture.
- "In Warsaw, in Kraków, and in Lwów, whoever has no penny will know hunger." In the great cities, money is essential — without it you will go hungry. A warning …
- "Watch out, cat — it's about you." A warning to someone who is the subject of a conversation or situation without realising it. Used to alert someone that they …
- "St. Lawrence shows what autumn will follow." The weather on St. Lawrence's Day (August 10) is said to predict the character of the coming autumn — a folk …
- "A widower with a widow rarely get on well together." Two people who have each been married before and are set in their ways rarely make a harmonious couple. …
- "Faith moves mountains." Strong belief or conviction can accomplish seemingly impossible things. A direct Polish equivalent of the biblical saying.
- Literally: "Two will see more than one." This proverb says that two people looking at a problem or a situation will notice more than one person alone — …
- "More familiarity than acquaintance." Said of someone who acts overly familiar or intimate with people they barely know — taking liberties that their actual …
- "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving." Generosity brings greater joy than acquisition. A moral proverb encouraging selflessness.
- Literally: "Much water, but few fish." The proverb describes situations where there is an abundance of something that seems promising or productive, but the …
- "A great family, but everyone fends for themselves." Despite noble lineage or a large clan, each person must look after their own interests. Family name doesn't …
- Literally "The wolf kills for food, man kills for fun." This sobering proverb contrasts animal instinct with human cruelty — wolves kill only out of necessity, …
- Literally "The wolf is full and the sheep is whole." The proverb describes an ideal outcome where two parties with opposing interests both get what they want — …
- Literally "The wolf's legs feed it." A wolf survives by running — it must keep moving to hunt. Figuratively, people who want to succeed must stay active, keep …
- "Having gotten among crows, one must caw like them." When you join a group, you must adapt to their customs and behaviour. Conform to your surroundings.
- "Having gotten among crows, one must caw just like them." A variant of the same proverb with 'pomiędzy' and the emphatic 'jak i'. Same meaning: adapt to the …
- Literally "Everywhere is good, but at home is best." No matter how pleasant a journey or stay elsewhere may be, home remains the most comforting place. Poles …
- "All roads lead to Rome." Many different methods or paths can lead to the same result. There is more than one way to achieve a goal.
- Literally "The exception proves the rule." This is a direct Polish equivalent of the Latin 'exceptio probat regulam'. It means that when you identify an …
- "Uncle was trading an axe for a stick." Said of a bad deal or a foolish exchange where someone gives up something valuable for something worthless.
- Literally "Tall to the heavens, but stupid as needed." This witty proverb mocks someone who is physically impressive or outwardly striking but lacks …
- "Tall as a birch tree, but stupid as a goat." A rhyming put-down of someone who is tall but foolish. The rhyme (brzoza/koza) makes it memorable and humorous.
- "Tall as a poplar, but stupid as a bean." Another rhyming variant mocking tall but dim people. 'Fasola' (bean) is used purely for the rhyme with 'topola'.
- Literally "The awl came out of the sack." An awl is a sharp, pointed tool — no matter how tightly you pack it, its point will eventually pierce through the bag. …
- "The devils took the cow, let them take the calf too." Once a major loss has occurred, the smaller related losses no longer matter. In for a penny, in for a …
- "The devils took the cow, let them take the calf too." Variant using the perfective 'wezmą' instead of imperfective 'biorą'. Same meaning: once the big loss is …