This article is devoted to translation of substandard lexis, i.e., words and expressions that do not fit into the standard language. It is stylistically lowered, violating linguistic and cultural taboos. The material for the analysis was the novel “Nighter” by M. Kozak and its translation into Russian and English. In most cases, the Russian translator adopted a strategy of euphemisms, which means that there are not as many expressions as in Polish, and it does not correspond to the author’s intention. The English translation conveys the original author’s intentions much better.