• Listen

  What it means

  “He who doesn’t listen to his mother will end up behind bars.” Disobeying parental guidance leads to a life of crime and imprisonment.

  English equivalent

  Mother knows best.

  Vocabulary

  • słuchać — to listen to, to obey
  • matka — mother
  • pójść — to go
  • kratki — bars (of a prison cell)

  Grammar note

  'Matki' is the genitive of 'matka', governed by 'słuchać'. 'Za kratki' uses the accusative after 'za' to indicate movement towards a destination.

  Cultural context

  The rhyme 'matki / kratki' makes this a memorable warning to children.

  Beginner

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