Significado
Don't mention things that might cause problems.
Contexto cultural
In Poland, it is common to knock on unpainted wood (odpukać w niemalowane drewno) after saying something that might 'wywołać wilka z lasu'. This double-protects you from bad luck. The wolf was often seen as a mediator between the world of the living and the dead. Calling him was not just a physical danger, but a spiritual one. Even non-superstitious young people use this phrase as a way to tell someone to stop being a 'killjoy' or 'buzzkill' by bringing up problems. In mountain regions like Podhale, the wolf is still a real presence. There, the idiom carries a bit more of its original, literal weight.
Use it as a joke
You can use this idiom playfully when a friend is being a 'Debbie Downer'.
Don't over-negate
The phrase is already negative. Don't add extra 'nie's or you'll confuse the meaning.
Significado
Don't mention things that might cause problems.
Use it as a joke
You can use this idiom playfully when a friend is being a 'Debbie Downer'.
Don't over-negate
The phrase is already negative. Don't add extra 'nie's or you'll confuse the meaning.
The Wolf is everywhere
Poles love wolf idioms. Learning this one opens the door to many others.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing word in the correct case.
Nie wywołuj ______ (wilk) z lasu!
After 'nie wywołuj', we use the Genitive case.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
Your friend says: 'I hope the car doesn't break down during our trip.' You say:
This is the perfect response to someone 'jinxing' a trip.
Match the Polish idiom with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are common wolf-related expressions in both languages.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
Ania: 'Ciekawe, czy szef sprawdzi nasze raporty dzisiaj...' Marek: 'Ciii! ____________________, może zapomni!'
Marek wants to avoid the negative outcome of the boss checking the reports.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosNie wywołuj ______ (wilk) z lasu!
After 'nie wywołuj', we use the Genitive case.
Your friend says: 'I hope the car doesn't break down during our trip.' You say:
This is the perfect response to someone 'jinxing' a trip.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
These are common wolf-related expressions in both languages.
Ania: 'Ciekawe, czy szef sprawdzi nasze raporty dzisiaj...' Marek: 'Ciii! ____________________, może zapomni!'
Marek wants to avoid the negative outcome of the boss checking the reports.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIt's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
No, the idiom is fixed. Changing the animal makes it sound like a mistake.
The closest are 'don't tempt fate' or 'let sleeping dogs lie'.
Because of the negation 'nie'. In Polish, negation usually changes the direct object to the Genitive case.
Yes, it's very common in modern Polish, even in tech and gaming communities.
Mostly, but it can also be about avoiding an argument or a difficult conversation.
Yes, to describe that someone *did* cause the trouble. e.g., 'No i wywołałeś wilka z lasu!'
Yes, it represents the place where the trouble is hidden. Without the forest, the idiom is incomplete.
Yes, but 'speak of the devil' is 'o wilku mowa'. This one is the warning *before* the devil arrives.
Only if the atmosphere is casual. Better to use 'nie kusić losu' in very formal settings.
Frases relacionadas
o wilku mowa
similarSpeak of the devil
nie kusić losu
synonymDon't tempt fate
zapeszyć
builds onTo jinx
nie maluj diabła na ścianie
synonymDon't paint the devil on the wall
nosił wilk razy kilka, ponieśli i wilka
specialized formWhat goes around comes around
