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Reading Polish for Dummies

Blogs > Manit0u
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
Manit0u
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
Poland17238 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-03-18 20:46:37
October 08 2009 08:26 GMT
#1
Enough! Whenever I'm watching a movie there's starring someone with polish surname and I just can't stand how godawful changed or badly pronounced it becomes by english speakers. I am going to put an end to it among the people of TL.net! If you have some polish friends in USA/UK or wherever, this might help you. If you don't... Well, you never know who you're going to meet in your life and if you feel like learning how to pronounce polish words then this blog is for you.

What this blog is going to cover:
- basic reading of polish words (not that hard really, it's our grammar that kills)

What this blog is NOT going to cover:
- understanding polish words (you don't have to understand to read correctly)

NOTE: If you can't see the polish letters I write in here, you could try and set your character encoding in the browser to either: Central European ISO-8859-2, Windows-1250 or UTF-8.

Part 1 - General Information

      Most of you probably believe that polish pronounciation is a tongue killer and reading some words written in our language is all but impossible. You can't be further from the truth. It's easier to learn to read in polish than it is in english because we're using WYSIWYG system with basically just 1 exception (more on this later). Basically, all you need to learn is our alphabet and a couple of other things I'm going to cover here to read polish words or even whole sentences (most likely with bad accent but that's not what it's all about).

So, let's get on with it.

Part 2 - The Alphabet

Here is something I managed to scavenge on YouTube:


There are just 3 mistakes there:
- the guy pronounces "ń" wrong as a standalone letter but gets it right in a word
- word "późno" is written wrong (póśno) but pronounced right
- city name "Kraków" is both written and pronounced wrong

Since we have the basics covered it's time for the next step.

Part 3 - Advanced Polish Writing

Like I mentioned before, polish is WYSIWYG language when it comes to writing/reading. There are however some special letter combinations that change the way you're reading them (just like in english).

So in polish we have the bi-letters:
-ci
-cz - read just like english "ch" as in "check"
-dz
-dź
-dż - read just like english "g" as in "George"
-ch (it's an extended form of h, not c) - read justy like "h"
-ni
-rz
-si
-sz - read just like english "sh" as in "shoe"
-zi

And tri-letter:
-dzi

They're used to soften/prolong etc. certain sounds and may cause some trouble.
The most common are "cz", "sz" and "rz" (and they seem to cause the most trouble).
"cz" and "sz" are really easy (as you can see above).

"rz" is more of a problem as it can be read in 2 ways:
- either as "sz" - soft, always when it appears after the consonat
- or as "ż" - hard, when it appears after a vowel or it's on the beginning of a word

Since it's hard (impossible) to write english counterparts for some of the other stuff, I'll just show you a song that uses a lot of them and a transcript from it's text.



+ Show Spoiler [Polish text] +

Bo chodzi o to by od siebie
nie upaść za daleko
Jak te dwa łyse kamienie nad rzeką
Chodzi o to
By pierwsze chciało słuchać
Co mu to drugie
powiedzieć chce do ucha:
Że po mej głowie ?
czasem się ich boję -
Chodzą słowa nie do powiedzenia...
Nie-do-powiedzenia

Dzień dobry
Kocham cię
Już posmarowałem tobą chleb
Dzień dobry
Kocham cię
Nie chcę cię z oczu stracić więc
Jeszcze więcej dzień dobry
Kocham cię
Podzielimy dziś ten ogień na dwoje
Dzień dobry
Kocham cię
To zapyziałe miasto niech o tym wie

Tu chodzi o to by od siebie
nie upaść za daleko
Kiedy długo drugie
nie widzi pierwszego
Bo gdy siedzi człek samemu
z czarnymi myślami
Człowiek rzuca słuchawkami
Rzuca słuchawkami

Bo chodzi o to by od siebie
nie upaść za daleko
Nawet jeśli czasem między nami wykipi mleko
Choćbyś nawet i wieczorem zasypiała zdołowana
Chciałbym ci zaśpiewać z rana
Móc ci zaśpiewać z rana
Kochana...

Dzień dobry
Kocham cię
Już posmarowałem tobą chleb
Dzień dobry
Kocham cię
Nie chcę cię z oczu stracić więc
Jeszcze więcej dzień dobry
Kocham cię
Podzielimy dziś ten ogień na dwoje
Dzień dobry
Kocham cię
To zapyziałe miasto niech o tym wie
Dzień dobry
Kocham cię
Już posmarowałem tobą chleb
Dzień dobry
Kocham cię
Nie chcę cię z oczu stracić więc
Jeszcze więcej Jeszcze więcej Jeszcze więcej
DZIEŃ DOBRY
Kocham cię
Podzielimy dziś ten ogień na dwoje
Para-moje
Para-twoje
Onomatopeiczne
Paranormalne
Paranoje
We Dwoje


+ Show Spoiler [English translation] +

Note: it's very hard to translate this text as it's basically a sung poetry so some words are just...

It's about not falling too far away from each other
Like this two bald stones near the river
It's about
First person wanting to hear
What the other
Wants to say to his/her ear:
That in my head,
sometimes I'm afraid of them -
are words best not spoken...
Innuendos.

Good morning
I love you
I've already smeared you all over the bread
Good morning
I love you
I don't want to lose you from my sight so
Even more good morning
I love you
We're going to split this fire in two today
Good morning
I love you
Let this crappy town know about it

It's about not falling too far from each other
When the second doesn't see the first for long
Because when people sit alone
with dark thoughts
People are throwing headphones
Throwing headphones

It's about not falling too far from each other
Even if sometimes the milk will boil over between us
Even if you would fall asleep feeling down in the evening
I'd like to sing for you in the morning
Could sing for you in the morning
Beloved...

Good morning
I love you
I've already smeared you all over the bread
Good morning
I love you
I don't want to lose you from my sight so
Even more good morning
I love you
We're going to split this fire in two today
Good morning
I love you
Let this crappy town know about it
Good morning
I love you
I've already smeared you all over the bread
Good morning
I love you
I don't want to lose you from my sight so
Even more Even more Even more
GOOD MORNING
I love you
We're going to split this fire in two today
Para-mine
Para-your
Onomatopeic
Paranormal
Paranoias
Two of us



I hope it helps. If you have any questions just post them here.

Edit:

Brief summary for english speakers:
polish -> english pronounciation

a - like the beginning of "halleluyah"
ą - ohm (will be the closest one I can find)
cz - check
e - check
g - Gregory
i - finger (always, even if at the end of the word)
j - halleluyah
ó and u - shorter version of oo (pool)
sz - shop
w - video
y - a bit like very

You can always just speak all of the ą, ć, ś, ń, ź, ż etc. as normal a, c, s... (won't offend anyone) with the exception of ó which is always the same as polish u.

Edit 2:

Part 4 - Exercise

Just got this crazy idea that might make all this knowledge sink in and provide a lot of amusement.
Your task is to write an english sentence in polish (write a phonetic transcription for poles).

Sentence: I am trying to write this sentence in a way every pole can read.

Example: Finders - keepers. Fajnders - kipers.

***
Time is precious. Waste it wisely.
KizZBG
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
u gotta skate8152 Posts
October 08 2009 09:03 GMT
#2
Kurwa - the only Polish word I know.
eSTRO for life | #2 Sea.Really fan! | #1 GosI[Flying] fan! | Clide - best SC2 terran!
alffla
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Hong Kong20321 Posts
October 08 2009 09:11 GMT
#3
KURWA KURWA KURWA.!!!

is polish similar to czech?

i will read this properly later haha, thanks for the guide! :D:D
Graphicssavior[gm] : What is a “yawn” rape ;; Masumune - It was the year of the pig for those fucking defilers. Chill - A clinic you say? okum: SC without Korean yelling is like porn without sex. konamix: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!
kAra
Profile Joined September 2004
Germany1356 Posts
October 08 2009 09:22 GMT
#4
this will be usefull
thanks
mada mada dane
drug_vict1m
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
844 Posts
October 08 2009 09:25 GMT
#5
On October 08 2009 18:03 KizZBG wrote:
Kurwa - the only Polish word I know.


On October 08 2009 18:11 alffla wrote:
KURWA KURWA KURWA.!!!

is polish similar to czech?

i will read this properly later haha, thanks for the guide! :D:D


haha ...it's like that everywhere.well maybe sometimes people also know "spierdalaj" and that would be it
One must feel chaos within, to give birth to a dancing star.
Manit0u
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
Poland17238 Posts
October 08 2009 09:26 GMT
#6
On October 08 2009 18:03 KizZBG wrote:
Kurwa - the only Polish word I know.


And do you know what does it mean?

+ Show Spoiler +

Whore.
Time is precious. Waste it wisely.
kroko
Profile Blog Joined May 2004
Finland2136 Posts
October 08 2009 09:57 GMT
#7
Didnt read single word of this blog, cause when I am going to Poland, only word I need, only word I will use is kurwa.
I have Sick Timing and UnReal Macro
-slo.m1ke-
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
Slovenia352 Posts
October 08 2009 10:10 GMT
#8
daj lizaka
Kaniol
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
Poland5551 Posts
October 08 2009 10:26 GMT
#9
On October 08 2009 18:26 Manit0u wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 08 2009 18:03 KizZBG wrote:
Kurwa - the only Polish word I know.


And do you know what does it mean?

+ Show Spoiler +

Whore.

Or
+ Show Spoiler +
fuck, if used like "kurwa musze isc do szkoly" which means "fuck i have to go to school"

Mienio
Profile Joined July 2009
Poland40 Posts
October 08 2009 10:26 GMT
#10
On October 08 2009 18:26 Manit0u wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 08 2009 18:03 KizZBG wrote:
Kurwa - the only Polish word I know.


And do you know what does it mean?

+ Show Spoiler +

Whore.



True, but mostly is used like english "damn" or "F" word.
Ultimate Ownage
MoltkeWarding
Profile Joined November 2003
5195 Posts
October 08 2009 10:27 GMT
#11
Decydowalem sie aby uczyc polskiego rok temu, aby widziec jesli moge sie uczyc cos bez motywacji. Dzisiaj moge konczyc tylko ze to bylo decyzia genialna.
igotmyown
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States4291 Posts
October 08 2009 10:28 GMT
#12
krzyzewski

nope not enough information to pronounce it correctly

ZBiR
Profile Blog Joined August 2003
Poland1092 Posts
October 08 2009 10:44 GMT
#13
On October 08 2009 19:27 MoltkeWarding wrote:
Decydowalem sie aby uczyc polskiego rok temu, aby widziec jesli moge sie uczyc cos bez motywacji. Dzisiaj moge konczyc tylko ze to bylo decyzia genialna.

Not that bad for a year of learning although there's still long road ahead of you
KizZBG
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
u gotta skate8152 Posts
October 08 2009 10:58 GMT
#14
Kurwa spierdalaj, I have to go to work.
eSTRO for life | #2 Sea.Really fan! | #1 GosI[Flying] fan! | Clide - best SC2 terran!
Itachii
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
Poland12466 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-10-08 11:32:58
October 08 2009 11:26 GMT
#15
Just choose polish lector there and check if you got your word/s right!
http://www.acapela-group.com/text-to-speech-interactive-demo.html

+ Show Spoiler +
Ciekawy pomysł, kwestia ilu ludziom będzię się chciało tego uczyć, biorąc pod uwage niechęć amerykanów do nauki obcych języków, nawet jeżeli tyczy to się tylko czytania nazwisk ^^
La parole nous a été donnée pour déguiser notre pensée
Foucault
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Sweden2826 Posts
October 08 2009 11:27 GMT
#16
Poland rules!

When I was in Krakow, polish people would speak to me in a bar and I didn't understand shit until the word kurwa came up
I know that deep inside of you there's a humongous set of testicles just waiting to pop out. Let 'em pop bro. //////////////////// AKA JensOfSweden // Lee Yoon Yeol forever.
Pika Chu
Profile Blog Joined August 2005
Romania2510 Posts
October 08 2009 11:33 GMT
#17
Siema, Cze, Dobra gra.

LODA!
They first ignore you. After they laugh at you. Next they will fight you. In the end you will win.
Manit0u
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
Poland17238 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-10-08 12:26:25
October 08 2009 12:19 GMT
#18
On October 08 2009 19:28 igotmyown wrote:
krzyzewski

nope not enough information to pronounce it correctly



Try something along: ksheeshevsky Won't be perfect, but close enough.

Edit: Usually the safest bet for english speakers when they encounter "rz" or "ż" is to pronounce it like your "sh".

It reminds me of this scene from an old polish comedy when the germans capture one guy and ask him for a personal data to fill out the form and he gives the fake name:
Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz

Try to fight with that
Time is precious. Waste it wisely.
beetlelisk
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Poland2276 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-10-08 19:10:59
October 08 2009 19:08 GMT
#19
I used my dictionary and internet to add something to OP... Polish letters are actually screenshots, that's why they are little off

ci,
[image loading]
- pronounced 'softer' than [tʃ] (~che) in cheese

dz - leeds, adze

[image loading]
is similar to ci,
[image loading]
but harder link states it is "pronounced like "dz" while touching the
tooth ridge"

mi - mean, meet

ni,
[image loading]
- neat

rz - sh in most cases, sometimes read like
[image loading]


si,
[image loading]
- pronounced 'softer' than [ʃ] in sheet

zi,
[image loading]
- something between above si and 'zee'
wwww
QuanticHawk
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
United States32046 Posts
October 08 2009 19:34 GMT
#20
DOME PIVO or however you spell it.
PROFESSIONAL GAMER - SEND ME OFFERS TO JOIN YOUR TEAM - USA USA USA
1 2 Next All
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