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  What it means

  Literally: “To have kołacze, one must use work.” Kołacze are traditional sweet Polish pastries and stand here for good things in life. The proverb says that worthwhile rewards need effort. It is used to encourage hard work and remind people that pleasures must be earned.

  English equivalent

  No pain, no gain.

  Vocabulary

  • żeby — in order to, so that
  • kołacze — kolache (pl.) ; traditional sweet filled buns; plural of kołacz
  • użyć — to use, to apply (perfective)
  • pracy — of work (genitive of praca)

  Grammar note

  'Żeby + infinitive' expresses purpose, meaning 'in order to have'. 'Pracy' is genitive, required after 'użyć'. 'Mieć' is an imperfective infinitive and names the desired state.

  Cultural context

  Kołacze were festive breads or pastries, often made for weddings and celebrations, so they suggest a reward worth working for. Parents, teachers, and coaches use this neutral saying.

  Beginner

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