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  What it means

  Literally, “The wolf is full and the sheep is whole.” It describes an ideal result where two sides with opposing interests both get what they want. It is used to praise a deal, compromise, or plan in which nobody loses.

  English equivalent

  Have your cake and eat it too.

  Vocabulary

  • wilk — wolf (nominative singular)
  • syty — satiated, full (masculine nominative)
  • owca — sheep (nominative singular, feminine)
  • cała — whole, intact (feminine nominative)

  Grammar note

  Both predicate adjectives, 'syty' and 'cała', are nominative and agree with their subjects: masculine ''wilk'' and feminine ''owca''. The verb 'być' (to be) is omitted, as is common in Polish proverbs.

  Cultural context

  This is a very common proverb in formal and informal Polish. It can praise a solution or be used sceptically when someone promises too much.

  Beginner

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