B1 Expression Neutral

nie mieć sobie równych

to be the best

Significado

To have no equal competitor.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Poles often use this phrase to describe 'Ptasie Mleczko' (a popular marshmallow treat) or 'Pierogi', claiming they have no equal in other countries. In the 1970s, the Polish national football team was often described this way during their 'Golden Era'. In Polish universities, a 'mistrz' (master/professor) is someone who 'nie ma sobie równych' in their specific niche of research. There is a saying 'Gość w dom, Bóg w dom', and Poles believe their hospitality 'nie ma sobie równych'.

🎯

Use with 'pod względem'

To sound more advanced, specify the category using 'pod względem' (in terms of). Example: 'Nie ma sobie równych pod względem szybkości'.

⚠️

Don't change 'sobie'

Even if you are talking about 'them' (oni), don't change 'sobie' to 'sobiem' or 'sobią'. It is a fixed part of the idiom.

Significado

To have no equal competitor.

🎯

Use with 'pod względem'

To sound more advanced, specify the category using 'pod względem' (in terms of). Example: 'Nie ma sobie równych pod względem szybkości'.

⚠️

Don't change 'sobie'

Even if you are talking about 'them' (oni), don't change 'sobie' to 'sobiem' or 'sobią'. It is a fixed part of the idiom.

💬

Sarcasm Alert

Poles love irony. If someone makes a huge mistake, a friend might say 'W robieniu błędów nie masz sobie równych'. Pay attention to the tone!

💡

Plural is safer

While 'nie ma sobie równego' exists, always use 'równych' (plural) to sound natural and modern.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.

W pieczeniu ciast moja mama nie ______ ______ równych.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ma sobie

The idiom is 'nie mieć sobie równych'. Since 'mama' is the subject, we use 'ma'.

Which sentence uses the correct case for 'równy'?

Wybierz poprawne zdanie:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: On nie ma sobie równych.

Negation requires the Genitive case. 'Równych' is the Genitive plural form.

Match the person to the field where they 'nie mają sobie równych'.

Połącz osoby z ich dziedzinami:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Robert Lewandowski - Piłka nożna

All are correct examples of people who 'nie mają sobie równych' in their respective fields.

Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb 'mieć'.

A: Czy ten nowy smartfon jest dobry? B: Tak, pod względem aparatu nie ______ sobie równych.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ma

The subject is 'smartfon' (it), so we use the 3rd person singular 'ma'.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Intensity of Praise

Good
dobry good
Great
świetny great
Unmatched
nie ma sobie równych has no equal

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom. Fill Blank B1

W pieczeniu ciast moja mama nie ______ ______ równych.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ma sobie

The idiom is 'nie mieć sobie równych'. Since 'mama' is the subject, we use 'ma'.

Which sentence uses the correct case for 'równy'? Choose B1

Wybierz poprawne zdanie:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: On nie ma sobie równych.

Negation requires the Genitive case. 'Równych' is the Genitive plural form.

Match the person to the field where they 'nie mają sobie równych'. situation_matching A2

Połącz osoby z ich dziedzinami:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Robert Lewandowski - Piłka nożna

All are correct examples of people who 'nie mają sobie równych' in their respective fields.

Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb 'mieć'. dialogue_completion B1

A: Czy ten nowy smartfon jest dobry? B: Tak, pod względem aparatu nie ______ sobie równych.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ma

The subject is 'smartfon' (it), so we use the 3rd person singular 'ma'.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

12 preguntas

Usually no, it's a positive phrase. However, you can use it sarcastically to highlight someone's unique incompetence.

Yes, it's very effective for highlighting a product's competitive advantage.

Because the verb is negated ('nie mieć'), which forces the object into the Genitive case.

In this specific idiom, 'sobie' is a reflexive particle that doesn't have a direct translation, but it adds emphasis to the subject.

You can, but it sounds like you're in a 19th-century novel. Stick to 'równych'.

Yes, often used with emojis like 🏆 or 🔥.

On nie ma sobie równych w matematyce.

You could say 'być jednym z wielu' (to be one of many) or 'być przeciętnym' (to be average).

Absolutely! It's very common for cars, food, cities, and technology.

It's equally common in both. You'll see it in news headlines and hear it in bars.

Yes, a little bit. Use it sparingly when talking about your own skills unless it's a job interview.

Younger people might say 'rozwala system' (breaks the system) to mean something is unmatched.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

bić na głowę

similar

To be much better than someone else.

🔗

klasa sama w sobie

similar

A class of its own.

🔄

bezkonkurencyjny

synonym

Unbeatable/Unrivaled.

🔗

pierwsza liga

builds on

Top tier / First league.

🔗

być w czymś mistrzem

similar

To be a master at something.

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