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  What it means

  “Whoever doesn’t want to eat bread with me, I won’t share sweet bread with them either.” Those who refuse simple, everyday companionship shouldn’t expect to share in better times. Loyalty and solidarity go both ways.

  English equivalent

  Don't expect to share the feast if you won't share the famine.

  Vocabulary

  • chleb — bread
  • kołacz — sweet braided bread, a festive loaf
  • jeść — to eat
  • chcieć — to want

  Grammar note

  'Jeść chleba' — the genitive 'chleba' is used after a negated verb ('nie chce jeść'). 'Kołacza' is similarly genitive.

  Cultural context

  Kołacz is a traditional Polish festive bread, richer and sweeter than everyday chleb, making the contrast between ordinary and celebratory sharing vivid.

  Intermediate

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