• Listen

  What it means

  A father’s flaw is inherited by his children: the apple falls close to its own apple tree. Children tend to repeat the faults of their parents — nature and upbringing pass traits from one generation to the next.

  English equivalent

  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

  Vocabulary

  • ojczysty — paternal, of the father
  • dziedziczyć — to inherit
  • wada — flaw, fault, defect
  • jabłoń — apple tree
  • jabłko — apple
  • padać — to fall

  Grammar note

  'Ojczysta wada' is the subject (nominative). 'W dzieciach' is locative. 'Blisko swej jabłoni' uses the genitive after 'blisko'.

  Cultural context

  This is the Polish equivalent of the well-known English saying. The second clause makes the metaphor explicit.

  Intermediate

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!