red flag
red flag, warning sign (in dating/relationships)
Pronunciation
/rɛd flaɡ/
Cultural Note
'Red flag' entered Polish directly from English dating culture and TikTok. Polish people use it in its English form rather than translating to 'czerwona flaga' — the English sounds more natural in this context. It became a massive meme in Poland around 2021-2022 with the red flag emoji trend. Polish internet culture adopted it enthusiastically, creating Polish-specific red flags: 'Mówi, że lubi disco polo — red flag,' 'Nie je pierogi — red flag.' The concept resonated because Poles love analyzing relationship dynamics, even if the terminology is borrowed. Often used humorously and with exaggeration.
📝 Example Sentences
Jak ktoś nie ma żadnych zdjęć na profilu, to red flag.
If someone has no photos on their profile, that's a red flag.
Moja koleżanka ma listę red flagów, która jest dłuższa niż jej lista zakupów.
My friend has a list of red flags that's longer than her shopping list.