Bedeutung
Being independent financially or socially.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Słoiki' (Jars) phenomenon: Young people move to Warsaw to 'żyć na własny rachunek', but often bring jars of home-cooked food from their parents to save money. In the 90s, 'żyć na własny rachunek' was a symbol of the new capitalist freedom, contrasting with the state-guaranteed jobs of the previous era. There is a growing trend of 'gniazdownictwo' (staying in the nest), where economic pressures prevent young Poles from 'życia na własny rachunek' until their 30s. Poland has one of the highest rates of self-employment in the EU, making 'pracować na własny rachunek' a very common life path.
Use it for Career Changes
If you're talking about becoming a freelancer, 'pracować na własny rachunek' sounds much more professional than just saying you don't have a boss.
Case Sensitivity
Remember: it's always 'na własny rachunek' (Accusative). Don't use the Locative 'na własnym rachunku' unless you are literally talking about money sitting on a bank account.
Bedeutung
Being independent financially or socially.
Use it for Career Changes
If you're talking about becoming a freelancer, 'pracować na własny rachunek' sounds much more professional than just saying you don't have a boss.
Case Sensitivity
Remember: it's always 'na własny rachunek' (Accusative). Don't use the Locative 'na własnym rachunku' unless you are literally talking about money sitting on a bank account.
Pride Factor
Poles take great pride in this phrase. It's often used to shut down criticism from parents or to show off success at a high school reunion.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Marek nie chce już brać pieniędzy od rodziców, chce zacząć żyć na własny _______.
'Rachunek' is the only word that fits this specific idiom.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly in a professional context?
Wybierz poprawne zdanie:
Sentence (b) correctly uses 'pracować na własny rachunek' for self-employment.
Match the person to the description.
Kto 'żyje na własny rachunek'?
Only the freelancer is financially independent and responsible for their own bills.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form.
A: Czy twój syn nadal potrzebuje pomocy finansowej? B: Nie, od kiedy dostał pracę w Londynie, w końcu _______.
This is the most natural idiomatic way to say he is independent.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenMarek nie chce już brać pieniędzy od rodziców, chce zacząć żyć na własny _______.
'Rachunek' is the only word that fits this specific idiom.
Wybierz poprawne zdanie:
Sentence (b) correctly uses 'pracować na własny rachunek' for self-employment.
Kto 'żyje na własny rachunek'?
Only the freelancer is financially independent and responsible for their own bills.
A: Czy twój syn nadal potrzebuje pomocy finansowej? B: Nie, od kiedy dostał pracę w Londynie, w końcu _______.
This is the most natural idiomatic way to say he is independent.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenPrimarily yes, but it also implies social and emotional independence—making your own choices without asking for permission.
No, companies don't 'żyć na własny rachunek'. People do. For a company, you would say it is 'niezależna' or 'samodzielna'.
'Własny' is more emphatic (my OWN account), while 'swój' is more neutral. Both are correct.
Yes, especially in the form 'Działalność na własny rachunek' to describe self-employment.
Not at all. It is a very modern and frequently used expression in both media and daily life.
Yes! That means living at someone else's expense, often used as a criticism (being a parasite).
Only linguistically. 'Rachunek sumienia' is an examination of conscience (religious), while our phrase is about independence.
You can say 'Jestem swoim własnym szefem' or 'Pracuję na własny rachunek'. The latter is more idiomatic.
Usually no, unless they have a job and pay for their own things. It's an adult-oriented phrase.
Translating 'on my own' literally as 'na moim własnym' instead of using the fixed idiom.
Verwandte Redewendungen
być na swoim
similarTo be independent, often referring to owning a home or business.
na własną rękę
similarTo do something alone or without authorization.
być na utrzymaniu
contrastTo be financially dependent on someone else.
stać na własnych nogach
synonymTo be independent and stable.
