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Czy twój brat to Koziorożec czy Baran?

Czy twój brat to Koziorożec czy Baran?
Is your brother a Capricorn or an Aries?
From Lesson 500:Formal causes (jako że)·Polish

Questions & Answers about Czy twój brat to Koziorożec czy Baran?

Why do we use czy for "or" in this sentence instead of albo?
In Polish, czy is specifically used for "or" when asking a question that offers alternatives. Albo is used for "or" in regular statements. (Notice that the first Czy in the sentence is the completely separate yes/no question particle).
Why is it to Koziorożec instead of jest Koziorożcem?
Both are perfectly fine! Using [Noun] to [Noun] (both in the nominative case) is a common, slightly less formal alternative to the standard [Noun] jest [Noun in Instrumental] structure. It works well here because you are equating the brother with a specific zodiac sign.
Are zodiac signs always capitalized in Polish?
Yes, zodiac signs like Koziorożec and Baran are treated as proper nouns and capitalized. If you used lowercase (baran), it would mean a literal ram, or colloquially, an idiot.
What do Koziorożec and Baran literally translate to?
Almost all Polish zodiac signs use the literal name of the animal or object they represent. Koziorożec is an ibex (a type of mountain goat), and Baran is a ram.

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