• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “what the shell soaks in when young, it reeks of in old age.” Habits and values absorbed in childhood stay with a person for life — “as the twig is bent, so grows the tree.”

  Vocabulary

  • skorupka — little shell / eggshell
  • nasiąknąć — to soak up / to absorb
  • starość — old age
  • trącić — to smell of / to reek of

  Grammar note

  Uses the 'czym… tym…' correlative structure. 'Za młodu' is an archaic genitive adverbial meaning 'in youth.'

  Cultural context

  One of the most quoted Polish proverbs — traditionally cited to emphasize the importance of early upbringing and education.

  Advanced

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!