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  What it means

  “Even a king will be eaten by worms.” Death is the great equaliser — no rank, wealth, or power can save anyone from mortality. A memento mori.

  English equivalent

  Death is the great leveller.

  Vocabulary

  • król — king
  • robak — worm, bug
  • zjeść — to eat up

  Grammar note

  'Króla' is the accusative of 'król' (direct object). 'Robaki' is the nominative plural subject. 'Zjedzą' is the third-person plural future perfective.

  Cultural context

  A common theme in medieval Polish literature and folk wisdom, reflecting Catholic meditation on mortality.

  Beginner

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