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  What it means

  “Whoever is lazy about work is not worthy of eating roast meat.” Those who avoid work don’t deserve the rewards. No effort, no reward.

  English equivalent

  He who does not work, neither shall he eat.

  Vocabulary

  • lenić się — to be lazy
  • praca — work
  • wart — worthy, deserving
  • pieczeń — roast (meat)

  Grammar note

  'Niewart' (not worthy) + infinitive: 'niewart jeść' = not worthy of eating. 'Pieczeni' is the genitive of 'pieczeń' after a negated verb of deserving.

  Cultural context

  Roast meat was a luxury in traditional Polish peasant life, making it a fitting symbol of reward.

  Intermediate

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