• Listen

  What it means

  “A nobleman on his farmstead is equal to a voivode.” Even the humblest nobleman, on his own land, is the equal of the highest regional lord. Expresses the fierce pride in personal independence and equality among the Polish nobility.

  English equivalent

  An Englishman's home is his castle.

  Vocabulary

  • szlachcic — nobleman
  • zagroda — farmstead, smallholding
  • równy — equal
  • wojewoda — voivode (regional governor)

  Grammar note

  'Na zagrodzie' uses the locative of 'zagroda'. 'Równy wojewodzie' uses the dative of 'wojewoda' after 'równy'.

  Cultural context

  Reflects the unique Polish szlachta (nobility) culture where even the poorest nobleman jealously guarded his equal legal status with the most powerful magnates.

  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!