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  What it means

  Literally: “No work is shameful.” The proverb asserts the dignity of all honest labor — regardless of how menial, physical, or lowly a job may seem, it is nothing to be ashamed of. It is an encouragement to take up available work rather than refuse it out of pride or social embarrassment. Poles use it to motivate someone hesitating to accept a humble job, or to defend the value of manual labor.

  English equivalent

  There is no shame in honest work.

  Vocabulary

  • żadna — no, not any (feminine form of żaden, agreeing with praca)
  • praca — work, labor (feminine nominative)
  • hańbi — shames, dishonors (third-person singular of hańbić)
  • hańba — shame, dishonor
  • hańbić — to shame, to bring disgrace upon

  Grammar note

  'Żadna' is the feminine form of the universal negator 'żaden' (none, no), and it agrees in gender and case with 'praca' (feminine nominative). The verb 'hańbić' (to dishonor/shame) is imperfective, expressing a general, ongoing truth. The sentence is a simple subject–verb declaration with no object, giving it a blunt, authoritative tone.

  Cultural context

  This proverb is closely tied to the Protestant and Catholic work ethics that influenced Polish society, and it gained particular resonance during periods of economic hardship — encouraging people to accept whatever legitimate work was available. It is used by parents, employers, and motivational speakers, and occasionally appears in political speeches about unemployment or labor reform. The register is neutral to formal.

  Beginner

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