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  What it means

  Literally “women’s summer” or “old wives’ summer.” Refers to a warm, sunny spell in early autumn — the Polish equivalent of Indian summer. Also the name for the gossamer threads of spider silk that float through the air in autumn.

  Vocabulary

  • baba — old woman / woman (colloquial)
  • lato — summer

  Grammar note

  'Babie' is the genitive singular of 'baba' used as a possessive modifier. The phrase functions as a noun: 'jest babie lato' (it's Indian summer).

  Cultural context

  A beloved seasonal expression. The floating spider threads visible on warm autumn days are also called 'babie lato' — both meanings are in common use.

  Beginner

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