Nie wywołuj wilka z lasu
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What it means
“Don’t call the wolf out of the forest.” Don’t invite trouble by talking about it or drawing attention to it. Mentioning danger can make it appear.
English equivalent
Speak of the devil.
Vocabulary
- wywoływać — to call out, to summon, to invoke
- wilk — wolf
- las — forest
Grammar note
'Nie wywołuj' is the negative imperative of 'wywoływać'. 'Wilka' is the accusative of 'wilk'. 'Z lasu' uses the genitive after 'z' (from/out of).
Cultural context
The wolf is a powerful symbol in Polish folklore — feared, respected, and associated with the wild and the dangerous.
Beginner
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