• Listen

  What it means

  “Whoever in youth doesn’t listen to their father and mother will in old age listen to ox-hide.” Those who ignore parental guidance when young will suffer the consequences later — ‘ox-hide’ refers to a whip or harsh punishment.

  English equivalent

  If you won't hear reason, she'll surely make you feel her.

  Vocabulary

  • za młodu — in youth, when young
  • słuchać — to listen to, to obey
  • starość — old age
  • byczy — ox, bull (adjective)
  • skóra — skin, hide, leather

  Grammar note

  'Na starość' uses the accusative after 'na' to express a future time. 'Byczej skóry' is the genitive of 'byczy skóra'.

  Cultural context

  The 'byczy skóra' (ox-hide) alludes to a leather strap or whip used as punishment, a common disciplinary image in older Polish rural life.

  Intermediate

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