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Questions & Answers about Co za fart!
How does the grammar of "co za" work in this exclamation?
The phrase co za translates to "what a" and is followed by a noun in the nominative case (the basic dictionary form). Even though the preposition za usually requires the accusative or instrumental case in normal sentences, in this fixed exclamatory structure, the noun fart stays in the nominative.
Is the Polish word "fart" related to its English lookalike?
Not at all! This is a classic false friend for English speakers. In Polish colloquial speech, fart means a stroke of luck, a fluke, or a lucky break. It likely originates from German slang. To express the English meaning of the word, you would use a completely different word like bąk.
Is this an expression I can use in formal situations?
No, fart is highly colloquial and strictly for casual use among friends. If you want to express "What a stroke of luck!" in a formal setting or with people you don't know well, you should use the standard Polish word for luck and say Co za szczęście!.
Could I use "jaki" instead of "co za" to build this exclamation?
Yes, you can absolutely say Jaki fart! to mean exactly the same thing. Both co za and jaki (which must agree with the noun's gender) are very common ways to build exclamatory sentences, though co za often sounds just a little bit more emphatic or dramatic.