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  What it means

  Literally “if the little goat hadn’t jumped, she wouldn’t have broken her little legs.” Means that if you hadn’t taken a reckless risk, you wouldn’t be suffering the consequences now. Said to someone who brought trouble on themselves.

  Vocabulary

  • kózka — little goat (diminutive of 'koza')
  • skakać — to jump
  • nóżki — little legs (diminutive of 'nogi')
  • złamać — to break (perfective)

  Grammar note

  A counterfactual conditional with 'gdyby...toby'. The diminutives ('kózka', 'nóżki') give the phrase a gentle, almost nursery-rhyme tone despite its cautionary message.

  Cultural context

  Often said with a mix of sympathy and 'I told you so'. The diminutives soften the reproach slightly.

  Beginner

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