Polish

Polish Language

Language Barrier

Because Polish is a Slavonic language, it is usually possible to communicate with Poles quite easily in other Slavonic languages. English is widely understood with many language schools apparent in Toruń. However, the older sector of the population is less likely to speak English. Therefore it is useful - as well as polite - to master a few basic words and phrases (see below):

Summary of pronunciation in Polish

ą a nasal "awn" as in "sawn" or "an" as in the French "Anjou" but barely sounded

c "ts" as in "bats"

ć, cz "ch" as in "challenge"

ch "ch" as in Scottish "loch"

dz "j" as in "jeans" when followed by i or e but otherwise "dz" as in "adze"

dź "j" as in "jeans"

dż "d" as in "dog" followed by "s" as in "leisure"

ę similar to "en" in "end" only nasal and barely sounded, but if at the end of the word pronounced "e" as in "bed"

h "ch" as in Scottish "loch"

i "ee" as in "teeth"

j "y" as in "yes"

ł "w" as in "window"

ń similar to the "ni" in "companion"

ό "oo" as in "soot"

rz similar to the "s" in "leisure" or, when it follows p, t or k, "sh" as in "shut"

ś, sz "sh" as in "shut"

w "v" as in "vine"

y similar to the "i" in "bit"

ź, ż similar to the "s" in "leisure"

Useful words and phrases

Good morning | Dzień dobry | jen-yuh dobri

Good afternoon | Dzień dobry | jen-yuh dobri

Good evening | Dobry wieczór | dobri-v-yechoor

Good night | Dobranoc | dobranots

Goodbye | Do widzenia | do veedzen-ya

Yes | Tak | tak

No | Nie | n-yeh

Thank you | Dziękuję | jenkoo-yeh

Please | Proszę | prosheh

Cheers! | Na zdrowie! | na zdrov-yeh

My name is... | Nazywam się... | nazivam sheh...