Let me introduce myself. My name is Daria and I'm writing this blog to show you how to present other people in Polish. As usually, certain situations call for a certain level of formality. When it comes to introducing others in a relaxed situation with your friends you just say the following:  To (jest) moja dziewczyna, Anka. (This is my girlfriend, Anka)  To (jest) mój chłopak, Maciek. (This is my boyfriend, Maciek) You can simply leave out the word jest in the above sentences and use a shorter version as in these examples: To moja żona. (This is my wife) To mój mąż. (T ..read more

Let's now learn phrases you can use to disagree in Polish. There are certain situation when you can no longer hold back but have to express your disagreement with what someone is saying. Here are expressions you can use to end the discussion: Nie ma mowy! (No way) Literally it means something like no speaking/no saying W żadnym wypadku! (In no case) Absolutnie nie! (Absolutely not) Nie zgadzam się! (I do not agree/I disagree) Nie pozwalam ci tak myśleć. (I do not allow you to think so) Zabraniam ci tak mówić. (I forbid you to say so) Us the following phrase for a more offici ..read more

Let's learn 10 Polish phrases to say you’re not well. No matter how healthy your lifestyle is, you sometimes can’t help it but catch a cold. Here is how you talk about it in Polish: Źle się czuję. (I’m not feeling well) literally: I’m feeling badly. Jestem przeziębiony/Jestem przeziębiona. (I have a cold) Wszystko mnie boli. (Everything hurts) Mam katar. (I have a runny nose) Mam kaszel. (I have a cough) Mam dreszcze. (I’m shivering) Mam temperaturę/gorączkę. (I have a temperature/fever). Mam grypę. (I have flu) Boli mnie głowa. (I have a head ache ..read more

Let's learn how to say "I like" in Polish.   I bet you won't be surprised to learn that there is no single way of saying I like in Polish. In fact, there are two verbs which translate to I like - one being Lubię followed by a noun in the accusative case and the other Podoba mi się followed by the nominative case (oh, dear - those cases again!). Use podoba mi się when you talk about your first positive impression on something as in these examples: Bardzo mi się tu podoba. (I like it in here.) [You’ve never been here before.]   Podoba mi się ten pomysł. (I like this idea.) [This ..read more

Here are a couple of interesting idioms eyes and ears related: Mieć oczy i uszy otwarte Nie wiadomo, co on planuje. Miej oczy i uszy otwarte! (No one knows his plans. Keep your eyes and ears open) Mieć oczy dookoła głowy Rodzice muszą mieć oczy dokoła głowy. (Parents have to have eyes in the back of their head) Ściany mają uszy Mów ciszej! Ściany mają uszy! (Keep your voice down! Walls have ears!) Mieć powyżej uszu Mam powyżej uszu twoich wymówek! (I’m sick and tired of your excuses!) Mieć kogoś na oku On jest niebezpieczny. Trzeba mieć go na oku. (He’s dangerous. We’ve got to keep an eye ..read more

  Talking on the phone, especially in a foreign language can prove challenging. Let's learn how Poles answer the phone in Polish: Halo? (There is no direct equivalent in English for halo) Słucham? (literally: I'm listening) You may also hear less common but definitely not infrequent:  Proszę? (which you may already know as please, you're welcome or there you go) Tak? (this one is very confusing as it translates to yes in English) All of the above are pronounced with rising intonation, as in a question.   Now it's your turn to greet a person you're speaking to and introduce y ..read more

  Do you find Poles to be speaking fast and unclear?  You're among a typical complaint made by all people learning a foreign language! :) Speaking on a busy road or over the phone does not make it any easier for you to understand what is being said. Don't get too stressed, though. Simply master a couple of can you repeat, please phrases in Polish and you'll be all sorted. And don't panic when you are asked to repeat your own message again - Poles may have similar difficulties to work out what you are saying.   The following expressions should help you to make out the words: Prz ..read more

  There is no better way to learn, practice and develop your language skills than via phone conversations with native speakers. This is far more challenging than a normal, face-to-face conversation so take it step by step. Get started with learning how to ask for someone's telephone number in an informal way. Możesz mi podać swój numer telefonu? (Can I have your telephone number, please? literally: Can you give me your telephone number?) Podaj mi swój telefon komórkowy! (Literally: Give me your mobile number!) Jaki masz numer komórki? (What's your mobile number?) or it's longer but e ..read more

  The two nasal vowels -ą and -ę (please excuse the need of using some serious grammatical terms here!) may put you off a bit when you come across them for the first time. No need to worry! Simply follow these rules as to how to pronounce them at the end of a word: -ą Think of the way you pronounce the an in fiance. Or if you happen to know some French as the on in bon voyage. They are both pretty similar to how Poles say their -ą at the end of a word. Check out these words and phrases: z moją dziewczyną (with my girlfriend) pozdrów ją! (say hello to her!) ciesz się chwilą! (enjoy the ..read more

Everyone wants to sound friendly, especially when they start using a foreign language with native speakers. Undoubtedly, among the first expressions you want to master are hello and how are you. Watch out for the trap of the How are you? question in Polish, though.  No matter how tempted you are to say How are you? in Polish, don't. It doesn't belong to the greeting ritual as it does in English and sounds unnecessary, unnatural and in some cases even nosy. In fact, saying Dzień dobry (formal hello used during the day) or Dobry wieczór (formal good evening) will just do. I bet that ..read more