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  What it means

  Literally “Mother of God!” A common Polish exclamation expressing shock, surprise, fear, or exasperation — one of the most frequently used emotional interjections in Polish.

  Vocabulary

  • matka — mother
  • Boska — of God / divine (feminine adjective from 'Bóg')

  Grammar note

  'Matko' is the vocative of 'matka' — used when addressing someone directly. 'Boska' is the vocative feminine of 'Boski'.

  Cultural context

  Rooted in Polish Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary. Used freely even by non-religious speakers as a general exclamation — one of the most Polish sounds there is.

  Beginner

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