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  What it means

  “A stepmother is not the same as a mother.” A stepparent, however kind, is not a substitute for a biological parent. The bond of a natural mother is unique.

  Vocabulary

  • toż — the same as (archaic/emphatic particle)
  • macocha — stepmother
  • matka — mother

  Grammar note

  'Toż' is an archaic emphatic particle combining 'to' and 'że'. The sentence is a simple nominal predicate with no verb.

  Cultural context

  Stepmothers appear frequently in Polish folk tales and proverbs, often in a negative light — a reflection of historical family structures.

  Intermediate

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