• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “either a fish, or a pipka (a small, worthless thing).” Means it’s all or nothing — you either commit fully or you get nothing. Used to push someone to make a decision or stop half-measures.

  Vocabulary

  • albo… albo… — either… or…
  • rybka — little fish (diminutive of ryba)
  • pipka — a trifle / nothing (colloquial, mildly vulgar)

  Grammar note

  The 'albo… albo…' structure presents two mutually exclusive options. Both nouns are in the nominative.

  Cultural context

  A blunt, colloquial expression. 'Pipka' is mildly vulgar in register, so the phrase is informal and direct — not for formal settings.

  Beginner

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!