Lesson 11
Lessons 11-20 will shift to take on a new focus from that which was covered in Lessons 1-10. However, previously learned material will not be forgotten as it will continue to appear in examples within proceeding lessons as well as any supplemental material such as tests, stories, etc.
We will start this new set of lessons with greetings: a skill which you are most likely to use when first encountering a speaker of the Polish language.
Memorize New Vocabulary
Greetings
English | Polish |
| Hi/Bye (informal) | Cześć |
Good morning/good day (formal) | Dzień dobry! |
Good evening | Dobry wieczór! |
Good bye | Do widzenia |
See you later | Do zobaczenia |
Good night | Dobranoc |
Small Talk
English | Polish |
How are you? | Jak się masz? |
What's new with you? | Co słychać? |
Everything is ok | Wszystko w porządku |
I'm good, thanks, and you? | Dobrze dziękuję, a ty? |
So-so, see you later. | Tak sobie. Do zobaczenia! |
For an expanded list of greetings go to Greetings in Survival Polish
Apply It To Sentence Structure
The above greetings are most likely to be used on your first encounter with a native Polish speaker. By using the above charts of Greetings and Small Talk, we can construct multiple variations of conversations. For now we will start with a simple introductory conversation.
Cześć! Jak się masz?
Hi, how are you? (informal)
Cześć, dobrze dziękuję, a ty?
Hi, good thank you, and you?
Tak sobie. Do zobaczenia!
So-so, see you later.
Dzień dobry, co u pani słychać?
Good morning, what’s new with you Ms.? (formal)
Wszystko w porządku, dziękuję.
Everything is ok, thanks
Do widzenia.
Good bye.
Formal vs Informal
As with most languages, there are more formal or polite ways to speak. The formal addresses would be used when speaking to an older person or individual with whom one is not well acquainted. Informal greetings are more likely to be used when addressing children or between well acquainted friends.
However, it has become more common among younger generations to take up more informal forms of speech over its formal counterpart. This is just as common in Poland as in the United States, young teachers and supervisors today are more apt to be called by their first name instead of Mr. or Ms.
Cultural Greetings
Whereas in the United States asking someone “How are you doing?” rarely receives a sincere answer, a Polish speaker is more likely to respond with a long and honest answer. Asking someone how their day is while passing them on the street would very likely come across as impolite since you are gone before they can give an answer. If you are asked, "How are you?" by a Polish speaker, a proper answer would not likely be the shortest.
Practice it!
Write out a conversation in Polish based on what you have learned thus far. If you know a speaker of the Polish language, now would be a good time to strike up a conversation.
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Lesson 11 Lessons 11-20
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Lesson 10 Lesson 12