Better in Polish

Lepiej w Polskim: words and phrases that are better or easier in Polish than in English

[betterinpolish]

pokrzywa (noun): stinging nettle

Perfectly mnemonic, as the word contains not just one but two pointy sounds, "poke" (pok) and "shiv" (rzyw). It sounds a bit evil when you say it, and I always appreciate one word instead of two.

[betterinpolish]

pływać

I love that the verb pływać in Polish means both "to swim" and "to sail". "Today we swim north, said the captain" is an entirely reasonable sentence.

[betterinpolish]

kształt

Even though it's hard at first for English speakers to pronounce Polish words, one great thing about the language is that once you get the hang of it, it's remarkably phonetic. This can be particularly true for loanwords, such as the word for shape, borrowed from the German Gestalt.

[betterinpolish]

Glad to see the Doctor make an appearance in Poland. Lekarz Kto? #duolingo #doctorwho

[betterinpolish]

Good advice in any language. #duolingo

[bruliony]

Dziewczyny do Wzięcia, 1972

[betterinpolish]

Kiedy mi kaktus na ręku wyrośnie

Literally, “when a cactus will grow on my hand.” Idiomatically, “when pigs fly.” Article by Rose Eveleth.

[betterinpolish]

arbuz

Watermelon! Appropriately for summer. Perhaps not as descriptive as the English word, but saves you a couple of syllables, and it’s fun to say: AR-booz. I like to imagine that Diane Arbus’ name means Diane Watermelon, but I have no idea if that’s true.

[bruliony]

Devana or Dziewanna is the Slavic equivalent of the Roman goddess Diana, mentioned by 15th century Polish historian Jan Długosz in Annales seu cronici incliti regni Poloniae(History of Poland). Her name, though similar to Diana’s, is apparently derived from Slavic word that means ‘virgin’ or 'maiden’ (dziewa, dziewica) or else from the Praindoeuropean *dewas (“god, wonder”) root (see Deus). (source: wikipedia)

[bruliony]

Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji Świąt Wielkiejnocy! Smacznego jajka, mokrego dynqusa, dużo króliczków (nawet jeśli tylko z czekolady), pięknej, słonecznej pogody, radości i spokoju oraz pogodnego czasu spędzonego z bliskimi!  Happy Easter! Have tasty eggs, wet Śmigus-Dyngus (even if it’s a polish tradition and you’re not), a lot of chocolate rabbits, lovely weather, a lot of laught and nice time with your family!

[frogfaceengage-deactivated20170]

Polish is the hardest language I’ve ever attempted to learn, but it’s so pretty. Here is why Polish is hard…

mężczyźna = man

dziewczynka = girl

przepraszam = sorry

If spelling weren’t enough, all the nouns’ endings change depending on their role in a sentence!!!

jestem mężczyźną = I’m a man

nie jestem mężczyźny = I’m not a man

jesteśmy mężczyźnami = we are men, but “men” on its own is just “mężczyźni”.

I love this language, and I am only 2 days into it so far, but learning Polish is like being on a constant, very irregular rollercoaster.

[nieznanewspomnienie]

Hahaha believe me it’s the most beautiful language, I know, because I’m from Poland. Good luck! ❤️

[frogfaceengage-deactivated20170]

Despite how difficult it is, it is such a beautiful language and well worth the effort. Thanks! ^_^

[ewanotsoyoungadult-deactivated2]

Good luck from another Polish person ;) I’d like only to say that you made some mistakes in your examples: in the word “mężczyzna”, the letter after “y” is simply “z”. It’s “ź” in only in some grammatical cases (the dative case and the locative case - they’re both mężczyźnie - in Singular, and the nomative case and the vocative case - they’re both mężczyźni - in Plural). Besides, “I am not a man” is “Nie jestem mężczyzną”. 

Anyway, keep on learning - if you’re so enthusiastic about your new language, you’re on a very good way :)

[betterinpolish]

People often talk about how hard Polish is, and while it's not easy overall, there are some aspects of it that are easier than other languages. Like:

- no articles! at all - nearly phonetic spelling, once you figure out the sounds - it's pretty regular - since everything is so declined, you can often omit pronouns, and word order isn't so important

[bruliony]

Tak własnie się czuję. Też tak macie? 

[betterinpolish]

"The Spring Solstice"

[godzilla-en-mexico]

There is one thing I like about the Poles – their language. Polish, when spoken by intelligent people, puts me in ecstasy. The sound of the language evokes strange images in which there is always a greensward of fine spiked grass in which hornets and snakes play a great part. (…) When [the Poles] spoke to one another, sometimes in French, sometimes in Polish, I sat back and watched them fascinatedly. They made strange Polish grimaces, altogether unlike our relatives, who were stupid barbarians at bottom. The Poles were standing snakes fitted up with collars of hornets. I never knew what they were talking about but it always seemed to me as if they were politely assassinating someone. They were all fitted up with sabers and broadswords which they held in their teeth or brandished fiercely in a thundering charge. (…) The women were always ravishingly beautiful, the blonde houri type garnered centuries ago during the Crusades. They hissed their long polychromatic words through tiny, sensual mouths whose lips were soft as geraniums. These furious sorties with adders and rose petals made an intoxicating sort of music, a steel-gibber which could also register anomalous sounds like sobs and falling jets of water.

Henry Miller, Sexus (via anhelos)

[dvdvsvhs-deactivated20170731]

[betterinpolish]

A far better word than “jelly donut,” don’t you think? Pronounced roughly “paunch-kee,” which is easy to remember, because if you eat too many, you’ll get a paunch.

[bruliony]

Sesja tuż tuż! Studenci, trzymajcie się i zdawajcie wszystko w pierwszych terminach!

[polish-vintage]

POWODZENIA! 

[bruliony]

A Wy ile pączków dziś zjedliście? 

[polish-vintage]

By Nat S. | nat-es.tumblr.com | www.facebook.com/NS-illustration

[betterinpolish]

Przysiadać

To cozy up to, or to sit close by. According to my wife, anyway. Pronounced roughly "pshih-shah-dahtch"