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  What it means

  Literally “a dead soul.” Refers to a person who exists only on paper — a ghost employee, a fictitious person on a list, or someone who is spiritually empty and going through the motions of life.

  Vocabulary

  • martwy — dead / lifeless
  • dusza — soul

  Grammar note

  'Martwa' is a feminine adjective agreeing with 'dusza'.

  Cultural context

  A reference to Gogol's novel 'Dead Souls' (Martwe dusze), well known in Polish literary culture. Used for bureaucratic ghost entries and spiritually hollow people alike.

  Intermediate

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