• Listen

  What it means

  Children should be seen and not heard — they have no say in adult matters. Often used humorously to silence children.

  Vocabulary

  • dzieci — children
  • ryby — fish
  • głos — voice, say

  Grammar note

  'Głosu nie mają' — genitive of negation: 'głosu' (genitive) rather than 'głos' (accusative) because of the negated verb 'mają'.

  Cultural context

  A traditional proverb reflecting older attitudes toward children's roles in the family. Today often used ironically.

  Beginner

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