The most important Polish words. Polish words with pronunciation and translation

Then, in the panel control panel, select "Keyboard".
In the window that appears, select the "Language" tab. You must have 2 languages ​​installed: Russian and English. If Russian is selected as the primary language, then select the “English” language, click on the “Set as primary” button, “OK”, and then restart the computer.

In the Keyboard window, on the Language tab, click the Add button.
In the "Add a language" window that appears, select Language "Polish".
Click "OK" and the "Keyboard" window will remain.
Select the language "English", click "Delete".

The program will ask you to insert the distribution disk.
Usually a reboot is required after this.
After rebooting, select Start | Setting | Control Panel.
In the Control Panel, select "Keyboard".
In the window that appears, select the "Language" tab.
Highlight Language "Polish" and click the "Properties" button.
In the "Language Properties" window that appears, select the "Polish (programming)" layout.
Select the language "English", click "Delete".

Click OK.
Windows NT with Service Packs installed already has support for Eastern European languages.

All you have to do is add the “Polish (programmer)” keyboard layout, and then delete the “English” layout that has become unnecessary.

Windows ME (Millennium)
In the window that appears, select "Add or Remove Programs" In the window that appears, select the " tab Windows installation
". Click on the "Multilingual Support" component. Click the "Composition" button and in the "Multilingual Support" window that appears, check the "Languages ​​of Central Europe" box.
Select the language "English", click "Delete".

Click "OK", "OK".
In the Control Panel window, select Keyboard.
In the Keyboard window, select the Language tab. You must have 2 languages ​​installed: Russian and English. If Russian is selected as the main language, then select the “English” language, click on the “Set as default” button, and then “Apply”.
Click on the "Add" button, in the "Add a language" window, select Language "Polish".
Click OK. In the remaining "Keyboard" window, select the "English" language, click "Delete".
Highlight the language "Polish" and click the "Set as default" button, and then "OK".
The program will ask you to insert the distribution disk. Then a message will appear stating that changing the language is not possible - ignore it.

Open the "Keyboards" window from the "Control Panel", click on the "Language" tab, select the "Polish" language, click the "Properties" button and in the "Language Properties" window that appears, select the "Polish Programmer" layout, click "OK" OK".
Select the language "English", click "Delete".
The program will ask you to insert the distribution disk. Then a message will appear stating that changing the language is not possible - ignore it.

Start Menu | Setting | Control Panel.
In the window that appears, click on the “Language and standards” icon
On the General tab, in the "System language settings" list, select "Central Europe".
In the "Language Properties" window that appears, select the "Polish (programming)" layout.
The program will ask you to insert the distribution disk (remember that the installation files are located in the "i386" subdirectory).
The program will ask you to insert the distribution disk. Then a message will appear stating that changing the language is not possible - ignore it.

Then, in Control Panel, select Keyboard.
In the window that appears, select the "Language and Layouts" tab. You must have 2 languages ​​installed: Russian and English.

Make English the default (there should be a checkmark to the left of the name): select it and click on the “Set as default” button, then click the “Apply” button. Next add Polish language
: click the "Add" button, in the window that appears, select Input language - "Polish", and Keyboard layout - "Polish (programmer)";
click "OK".
In the remaining "Properties: Keyboard" window, select the "English" language in the "Installed languages..." list and click "Delete".
The program will ask you to insert the distribution disk. Then a message will appear stating that changing the language is not possible - ignore it.

Then highlight the language "Polish" and click the "Set as default" button.

Then click "OK".

Please note that in Windows 2000 you can use Polish characters in the Russian version in system fields (like names of files or parameters).
Possible problems
Symptom: After installing the Polish layout, it became impossible to switch to the Latin alphabet when entering file names, passwords, in the browser address window...

Reason: You have set the Polish layout incorrectly.
Remedy: Remove the Polish keyboard layout, install the English one instead, and make it the main one (used by default). Then reboot and do everything exactly as it is written in our instructions, not forgetting to reboot where we write about it.
Symptom: when trying to make the Polish layout the main one, a message is displayed stating that such a replacement is impossible.

Remedy: 1. Do everything as written in our instructions, ignoring such messages, but be sure to reboot after that.
Reason: You may have changed the code tables for 1250 coloring (this is done, for example, so that PhotoShop starts writing in Russian).
Remedy: The old values ​​need to be returned.
Click "Start", select the "Run..." menu and enter "regedit" in the "Open" window.
The registry editing window will appear. In it, find the branch "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\CodePage". For parameter "1250" there should be "c_1250.nls" (often replaced with c_1251.nls).
Do the same for the branch "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ ControlSet002\ Control\Nls\CodePage" and for "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Control\Nls\CodePage".
Reboot your computer.

Now PhotoShop will not write in Russian, but you will be able to enter Polish characters normally.

P.S. Why "Polish Programmer"?

There are 2 main Polish layouts: "Polish standard" (like on a typewriter), and "Polish programmer". The Polish standard layout, unlike the English one, has a changed location of the “Z” and “Y” keys, as well as “:”, “;”. Using this layout is not very convenient.

You've done everything. How to type special Polish characters?
Change the current language to Polish (using the combination Ctrl+Shift, Alt+Shift, etc., depending on your settings; or on the keyboard indicator).
In order to write "A," "C," "E," etc. press right "Alt", and the corresponding main letter on the keyboard ("Alt+A", "Alt+C", etc.)

The only letter you won't be able to write this way is "Z" with a line.

It is entered by the key combination "Alt+X" ("X" is the next key after "Z"). These keyboard shortcuts work in all Windows programs. Finally, when all your "torment" is over, we will note that in

emails

It is allowed to do without using special Polish characters altogether. ;-)

Many lovers of foreign road trips willy-nilly pass through Poland. Some people really don’t like Poland because of the narrow roads and heavy traffic. Someone is trying in every possible way to get around it, using the Stockholm-Rodby and Klaipeda-Sassnitz ferries. God damn it, try to act in Poland as well. But, I’m afraid, you won’t get by with “Clear Cholera” alone :) English, French and German languages will not always help. We will try to compile a short glossary of the necessary terms and expressions. Let's start with greetings. One has only to take into account that in Polish there is no our polite “you”. Therefore, addressing “you” is not at all familiar. There is also an official version of addressing in the 3rd person singular using the words “pan” or “pani”.

Good afternoon – Dzien dobry (good day)

Good evening – Dobry wieczor (good evening)

Tomorrow - Jutro (yutro)

Morning – Ranek (early) Morning – Rano (early)

Thank you – Dziekuje(zenkuje)

Please – Prosze (prosher)

Sorry – Przepraszam (psheprasham)

The Polish language has a lot of sibilant sounds. The combination “sz” is pronounced like “sh”, “cz” - like “ch”, “rz” - like “zh” or “sh”.
Now let's turn to road service facilities and other inscriptions found along the road.

Let's start with gas stations. In Polish they are called “Stacija paliw” (paliw station). There are almost no old gas stations left in Poland. Modern ones belong to both local chains “Orlen”, “Huzar”, “Bliska”,

and transnational “Statoil”, “BP”, “Shell”. Fuel on the former is slightly cheaper than on the latter.

At the price stands everything is quite simple. ON means diesel fuel, and LPG means gas.

The next most important thing after the gas station is the car wash. Moreover, at least 700 km to Brest usually leave very noticeable dirty marks on the body of the car. In Brest, as always, “by appointment only,” so we will wash in Poland. And a Polish car wash is much cheaper than ours. The author usually washed a dirty car for 12-18 pln. (150-220 rubles) On the outskirts of cities along the main roads, the following inscriptions are easily found:

They mean the following: at the end there is a car wash. Above - hand wash, interior cleaning, waxing. A stationary sink might look like this. The inscription “bezdotykowa” means “contactless”.

There are a lot of self-service car washes in Poland. They are noticeably cheaper than regular ones.

Self-service car washes must have detailed instructions manual.

What else could a road traveler need? Tire fitting, of course. In Polish it looks like this. The inscriptions above the entrances to the pits mean the well-known “tires and rims”.

Here the sign above the tire shop is completely different. Literal translation – tire center. Nearby there is an inscription “wheel geometry”, meaning “in our opinion” - “wheel alignment”.

Let's sum up the intermediate results. Opony or ogumienie are tires, felgi are wheels, and tire fitting can be hidden under the signs wulkanizacja or serwis opon.

In case of other breakdowns, look for the “Auto serwis” sign.

or “Mechanika pojazdowa”. On the left side of the sign it says “Oil Change”. “Oleje” means butter in Polish.

And this branded oil service from Castrol is no match for the previous private box.

I really wouldn’t want anyone to need a workshop under the sign “Auto szyby”, which means “auto glass”.

Silencers in Polish are “tlumiki”.

You should look for small auto items (I hope you won’t need anything large) in Auto czesci stores.

Don't be alarmed when you see a sign like this. It's just a car shop. In Polish, any store is called sklep (crypt).

It’s time to remember your beloved self :) First, let’s go shopping. Let's start with food. Here is a fairly inexpensive network, common in small towns. In the “trading hierarchy” it corresponds to our “Pyaterochka”. Only the prices are much lower, and the quality is much higher.

This is also a fairly simple chain store, but with a very good choice quality and inexpensive products.

No one bothers you to shop in ordinary small stores. But in this store the selection (and prices) will probably be better...

than in this :)

The topic of shopping is absolutely immense. I will only say that Polish products are usually inexpensive and of high quality, although Chinese junk can also be found there. This is an inexpensive clothing store.

And here on the department store you can see the inscription: “Trading house Podvale.”

Somehow we got distracted. Our goal is to go through Poland as quickly as possible, so we don’t have much time for crypt shops. But we definitely need to eat, especially since the food in Poland is tasty and inexpensive. In order to have lunch or just a snack, it is absolutely not necessary to visit the cities. On any road (except for very “3-digit” ones), you will definitely come across Zajazd or Karczma. The literal translation of the word “zayazd” is an inn. Usually you can eat and spend the night there.

But karczma (tavern) has a purely food purpose. Most often, it is built of wood and stylized as Khlop (peasant) or Gural (mountain) architecture.

Well, we’ve eaten, now we can sleep :) Accommodations (noclegy) in Poland are inexpensive and comfortable. For 200-250 pln you can find a wonderful 3-4* hotel. The word “Hotel” will appear on its sign.

A more modest establishment can be called “Hotelik” :) Its price is somewhere around 120-150 pln.

“Gifts” (gosciniec) are at approximately the same level, but under the sign of Zakwaterowanie there will most likely be something quite modest.

We just have to deal with the Polish road signs and pointers that have their own characteristics. Most Polish roads go through settlements, and photo radars have been installed in villages and villages. Signs must indicate their presence. Such…

or like that.

On dangerous sections of the road, signs with the word “wypadki” are installed. Alas, this is not precipitation, this is an accident.

“Attacks” can be like this.

In small towns we often encounter signs that are unfamiliar to us. At the exit from the fire station there is a sign that says “departure. guard."

A similar sign warns about the departure of ambulances (pogotowie ratunkowe in Polish).

But this sign is installed under the sign “ crosswalk” and means “attention children.”

On Polish roads you can often see such a sign under the “Winding Road” sign, it indicates the number of windings :)

If their number cannot be described, then they simply write...

But this is not an ordinary sign. It takes place in northern Poland, where many roads have been lined with trees since Prussian times. The warning reads: “trees on the edge of the road.”

And in Bialystok, under the sign “Other dangers”, a sign with the word “piesi” was found. It means pedestrians, not dogs at all, although in Polish dog is pies.

Finally a concept that I won't be able to illustrate. If in response to the question “How to get there?”, they tell you “Cialy czas prosto” (Cialy hour is simple), this means “Straight all the time” :)

Of course, this writing does not pretend to be deep and comprehensive, but if it helps someone overcome Poland more comfortably, then the task will be completed.

Thanks to everyone who posted the photos used here for free access.

Polish is one of the Slavic languages, therefore, speakers of Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian languages it will be quite easy to master it. Some words are very similar, the syntax and other grammatical structures are similar.

So, the very first thing you need to know is how many letters are in the Polish alphabet? 32 letters.

At the same time, the Poles have a Latin alphabet, but with the addition of special letters denoting sounds characteristic of Polish speech that are absent in other languages ​​that use the Latin alphabet.

Note, the letters Q, V and X are missing from the alphabet, but they can occur in words of foreign (non-Polish) origin, especially in proper names.

Letter	Pronunciation of letters (audio)	Example	Pronunciation of the word (audio)
A a		pr a c a
		Job
Ą ą		m ą ż
[ɔ/оу]		husband
Bb		nie b o
		sky
C c		With O
[ʦ/ts]		What
Ć ć		by ć
[ʨ/whose]		be
D d		d aleko
		far
E e		t eż
[ɛ/e]		too, also
Ę ę		imi ę
[ε/eu]		Name
F f		f ilm
		movie
G g		g ość
		guest
H h		h erbata
		tea
I i		iść
		go
Jj		j echać
		drive
K k		k awa
		coffee
L l		l ubić
		be in love
Ł ł		mi ł y
		Cute
Mm		m ost
		bridge
Nn		ra n o
		morning
Ń ń		ta ń czyć
[ɲ/н]		dance
O o		o kn o
[ɔ/o]		window
Ó ó		m ó c
		be able
P p		p rzerwa
		break
R r		r obić
		do
Ss		s yn
		son
Ś ś		ś roda
[ɕ/ш]		Wednesday
T t		t eraz
		Now
U u		sz u kać
		search
W w		w olny
		free
Y y		cz y
[ɨ/s]		whether
Z z		z amek
		lock
Ź ź		je ź dzić
[ʒ/w]		ride
Ż ż		ż ona
[ʑ/zh]		wife

How to learn?

To learn the Polish alphabet you need to know how its letters and combinations are read. We'll talk about this further.

Pronunciation of letter combinations

In addition to those mentioned above, in the Polish language there are combinations of letters pronounced as one sound:

Pronunciation of vowels

Polish vowels are in many ways similar to Russian vowels in pronunciation, but there are some differences.

Letters a, e, y, u, j

The sound of the letter " A"is fully consistent with Russian. For example, Polish k a w a(Russian coffee) is pronounced [ kava].

« E“sounds like the Russian “E”: zamek (Russian castle) – [ zamek].

« U"corresponds to the Russian "Y": rybny (Russian fish) - [ fishy], stary (Russian old) - [ old].

Polish " U" is completely similar to the Russian "U": kurtka (Russian jacket) - [ jacket].

In combination with the preceding “i”, the pronunciation may change slightly - see below for more on this.

« J" is often called a semivowel. It fully corresponds to the Russian “Y”: jasny (Russian clear) - [ clear].

How to read the letter "i"?

Letter " i"in most cases coincides with the Russian "and": minister (Russian minister) - [ minister], malina (Russian raspberry) - [ raspberries].

However, in a number of combinations the sound " i" is not pronounced at all, but is an indication that the previous consonant is being softened. These combinations include "ia", "ie", "iu" and "io".

Examples:

• miasto (city) - [ meaty];
• piosenka (song) - [ little dog];
• tiul (tulle) - [ tulle];
• bieg (running) - [ beck];
• wiek (century) - [ century].

In words foreign origin these combinations can form the sounds “yo”, “ye”, “ya”, “yu”. Examples: historia (Russian history) - [ histor'ya], armya (Russian army) - [ arm'ya].

Vowels o, ó

« ABOUT- corresponds to the Russian “O”, but is always pronounced in this form, without turning into “A”.

One of the most common mistakes Native speakers of the Russian language, especially from its central and southern areas of distribution, out of habit, “accus” Polish words - this is a mistake! For example, the word pogoda (Russian weather) Always pronounced like [ weather] And never How [ pagoda], and robotnik (Russian worker) always sounds like [ botnik], and the form [ worker] is incorrect.

Somewhat more difficult with the vowel " Ó " It is pronounced like the Russian “U”, but is often used in words similar to their Russian counterparts, but with the letter “O”. For example, góra (Russian mountain) - [ gura], wódka (Russian vodka) - [ branch].

Besides, " Ó " often turns into a regular "O" when the form of the word changes (declension, changes in numbers, etc.): ogród (Russian garden) - [ ógrut], but ogrody (Russian gardens) - [ fences], mój (Russian my) - [ muy], but mojego (Russian: mine) - [ my].

"Nasal" ę, ą

These vowels, due to the specifics of their pronunciation, are called nasal. They sound like ę – [en], ą – [He]. The “N” sound at the end is pronounced with a slight nasal sound. For ease of transcription, we agree to write these letters/sounds in the following pronunciation: ę – [en], ą – [He]: język (Russian language) - [ language], zakąska (Russian snack) - [ legal].

There are a number of exceptions:

• Letter ę at the end of the word it is pronounced like the letter “e”: imię (Russian name) - [ um'ye].
• Before the letters c, d, t and combinations dz, dź, cz ę sounds like a full-fledged [ en], A ą How [ He] without any nasal sounds: mętny (Russian muddy) - [ mentny], mądry (Russian wise) - [ mondra].
• Before ć and the combination dż – “n” in both sounds is softened: ę — [en], ą [ he].
• Before the letters b and p, the nasal sound is retained, but turns into “M”, i.e. ę – [Em], ą – [ohm]: zęby (Russian teeth) - [ zemba], dąb (Russian oak) - [ domp].
• Before l and ł, both letters lose their nasal sound, retaining only sounds ę – [uh], ą – [O]: zginął (Russian he died) - [ zginova], zginęła (Russian she died) - [ zgineva].

Pronunciation of consonants

Pronouncing Polish consonants is not difficult. They are very similar to Russians:

• Voiced consonants at the end of a word are also deafened: Bug (Russian Bug River) – [ beech].
• Voiced consonants that come before deaf ones also sound dull: budka (Russian booth) – [ bottle].

It should be remembered, What " G" is always pronounced as a hard Russian "G" - it never softens and does not transform into other sounds: dobrego (Russian gender case - good) - [ good]. Forms [ good] or [ good] are unacceptable!

Letters H And CH- these are different spellings of the same sound, equal to the Russian “X”.

Accent

The easiest way to deal with accents is - in the vast majority of cases the penultimate syllable is stressed.

Exceptions to this rule are so rare that they are not found in all dictionaries.

Words ending in –ski, -cki and –dzki

Words with endings –ski, -cki and –dzki deserve special attention. Most often they are found in the names of geographical objects. They are pronounced (in Polish) in accordance with the rules described above, but in Russian they have analogues:

• Adjectives in – ski, —cki are transmitted in the corresponding number and gender of the Russian form: Puszcza Notecka [ Notecka Forest] – Note Tskaya Pushcha
• In case of suffix – sk- the consonant sound present in the noun from which the adjective is derived is restored: Kaliski [ calisques] comes from Kalisz [ Kalish] - Russian form of Kali w skiy.
• In words to - dzki endings are conveyed as " -dsky", if the stem noun had a final letter "d", and " -dzskiy" - if the word ended in "dz": Grudziądzki (stem noun Grudzią dz), meaning the Russian form of Grudzen dzsky, but Starogradzki (base word Starogra d) - Starogra dskiy.

Having learned the basic rules of pronunciation, all that remains is to replenish lexicon and you can feel more comfortable on the streets of Poland, and Required documents fill out or check yourself, which will help avoid mistakes or fraud.

In contact with

Common phrases
	Dziekuje, dzieki	Jenkue, Jenki
Please
Sorry		Przeprasjam
Hello		Dzien’ are kind
Goodbye		Before vision
I don't understand		We don't understand
What is your name?	Jak masz na imie?	What's the big deal?
		Kind, ok
where is the toilet?	Gdzie są toalety	Where are the sleep toilets?
How much does it cost?	Ile to kosztuje?	Ile to koshtue?
One ticket to...		There is a ticket to…
What time is it now?		Who's godzina?
No smoking		Order a panel
Do you speak English?	Czy mowi pan po angielsku	Ji movie pan in angelic style?
Where is…?		Where is he eating...?
I'm from Russia		Gesture from Russia
Hotel
I need to order a room	Potrzebuję do rezerwy	Potshebuen to reserves
I want to pay the bill	Chcę zapłacić rachunek	Htsen zaplatits rahunek
Room, number
Shop (shopping)
Cash		Gotowkon
Credit card	Dla bezgotówkowych	For unprepared
To wrap up		Packed
No change
		Closed, te
Very expensive		Bardzo droge
Transport
Trolleybus		Trolleybuses
Stop		Zatshimats
Please make a stop	Proszę przestać	Asked for pshestast
Arrival	Przyjazd	Przyzyazd
Departure
Airport		Letnisko
Emergency cases
help me		Help me
Fire Department		Fire guard
Ambulance		Having prepared
Hospital
	Boleśnie
Restaurant
I want to book a table	Chcę zarezerwować stolik	Hprice reserve a table
Check please (bill)	Prosze o rachunek	Ask about rahunek

Language of Poland

The official language in Poland is Polish. In some parts of Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, Polish is also used as a second language. This phenomenon is caused by border changes, migrations and relocations. Total number There are about 50 million people speaking Polish around the world.

Polish belongs to the West Slavic group of Indo-European languages, along with Czech and Slovak. The Polish language has developed so much that texts written in the Middle Ages are not understandable to Poles and require a dictionary to read them. Like other Indo-European languages, Polish has Latin grammar and vocabulary.

Poland has a number of dialects that differ from standard Polish, but the differences between them are not significant and mostly relate to regional pronunciations and word variations. The most distinct dialects are Silesia and Podhale (highlander dialect).

The Polish alphabet is based on the Latin one, using numerous di-, tri- and tetragraphs. Part state language Poland includes 32 letters.

Many words have been borrowed from German, French and English, and there are many words that may be spelled and pronounced the same but have a completely different meaning.

Do you have a Polish friend or an exchange student from Poland, Lithuania, Belarus or Ukraine? Are you planning a trip to Eastern Europe? Despite the fact that many Poles (especially the younger generation) have sufficient knowledge English language(which is international) to understand “Hi” or “Hello”, greeting people in their native language is in a great way to start a conversation and make new friends. In Polish, just like in Russian, there are many ways to say hello. Knowing these various phrases (as well as traditions in Polish greetings) can be very useful if you are eager to use them when meeting someone.

Steps

Part 1

Using Common Greetings

To say "hello" in Polish, say "cześć". This very common, although somewhat informal, greeting is pronounced "chechch". Non-native speakers may have difficulty pronouncing this word correctly. In Russian, the sound “ch” almost never comes after the sound “sh”.

To say "good afternoon", use "dzień dobry". This greeting, which literally translates to "good afternoon", is pronounced "jen DO-bree". The first syllable is consonant with English name Jane ("Jane"). The letter "y" at the end sounds like the "i" in English words"fin", "dinner" and "sick".

• This is a more formal way of saying hello, and would be appropriate for greeting strangers or people you deal with in a professional setting (such as customers, bosses, teachers, etc.).
• "Dzień dobry" also means "good morning".

1. To say "good evening", use "dobry wieczór". Pronounced "DOB-ree VI-chor." "Dobry" is pronounced the same as in the phrase "dzień dobry". The letter W at the beginning of the word "wieczór" is pronounced like B, and Not ka English UE.

   • Just like in Russian, this greeting can be used to greet people at sunset and before dark. "Dobry wieczór" has the same level of formality as "dzień dobry".

2. To say "hello/great", use "hej". Pronounced the same way as the English word "hey". This is a very familiar and informal greeting. It should not be used in a formal situation or with people with whom you intend to maintain a professional relationship. It is better to use this greeting among close friends.

   • "Hey" in Polish is the same as "hello" in Russian.

3. Say "witam" if you are greeting guests and playing the role of host. The word is pronounced “wee-tam.” The letter W in the first syllable is pronounced V. In the second syllable, the "a" sound is soft, as in the English word "apartment".

   Part 2

   We use greetings in accordance with traditions

   1. When in doubt, opt for semi-formal/formal greetings. In Poland, as in Russia, people usually don’t greet strangers just like with friends. These greetings are more reserved and formal. Therefore, it is often better to use more formal expressions such as "dzień dobry" rather than the rather risky "hej" or "cześć".

      • Of course, after getting to know a person, you can usually move on to informal greetings in everyday conversation. However, if you are still not confident in speaking Polish, it may be worth playing it safe and adapting to the tone of your interlocutor.

   2. Use "Pan" or "Pani" when addressing a man or woman by their last name. Showing respect is a significant element when it comes to greetings in the Polish community, especially in business/formal settings. Based on this, you may want to address people by their title until you are prompted to call them by their first name. If you don't know the honorific to this person, use "Pan" for men and "Pani" for women.

      • In the word "pan" the "ah" sound is soft, like in the English word "apartment".
      • "Pani" begins the same as "Pan", but ends with an "i" sound, like the English words "bee" or "see".
      • Polish surnames end in "ski", varying depending on gender. So the man will have the surname Polanski (Polanski), and the woman will have Polanska (Polanska).
      • Don't be offended if the person doesn't tell you to call them by their first name. Letting someone into your “inner circle” is a huge social step for Poles. Many business and professional relationships last for years before they "move to the next level."

   3. Greetings everyone on social event, but first women. When you go “out”, for example, to a party or corporate event, according to etiquette, it is important to say hello to everyone present in the room. If you miss someone or don't pay attention, it may be perceived as rude or disrespectful. Traditionally, in Polish society, women are greeted first. But usually the host does the opening remarks, so you probably don't have to worry about that.

      Shake hands in greeting and maintain eye contact. You can also shake hands when saying goodbye (again, making eye contact). If you are a man and a woman greets you by holding out her hand (palm down), take it, lean in and kiss it respectfully; never pick up woman's hand

      to your lips. It's a little old-fashioned, but is still considered good manners. Close friends and family members usually greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.

      • Grown men and teenage boys who don't know each other well shake hands, and acquaintances often kiss each other on the cheek. And this is not at all a sign of romantic affection. This can be done without any hints by two people close to each other, for example, people of different or the same sex, brothers and sisters, parents and children, and so on.
      • Hugs are common among almost all Poles. Don't worry if an overly friendly host hugs you like you're old friends.

   4. Get into the spirit of giving and receiving. When visiting, it is quite common for a guest to bring a small gift, such as a bouquet of flowers, candy or alcohol. However, flowers are the most popular and expected. If you bring flowers, their number should be odd.

      • Do not give chrysanthemums; they are often brought to funerals.
      • Refrain from very expensive gifts, as this may confuse the owner.
      • Don't be offended if you are hosting but don't receive a gift. If you receive it, do not forget to thank the person and see what it is.

   5. Don't be "prymitywny"! In Polish, a rude person who ignores social rules of etiquette is called "prymitywny" (literally, "primitive"). Luckily, avoiding this label is simple: you just need to make a sincere effort to greet people with respect and treat them with the dignity and kindness that you would want to be treated. If you are not fluent in Polish, you may make a few minor etiquette mistakes while in the Polish-speaking community. But as long as you try your best to be polite and admit mistakes, you'll be fine. Anyone who criticizes you for minor flaws in a language you are unfamiliar with is prymitywny.