Language / Your Funniest / Strangest / Sadest Moments with the Polish Language [63]

I too had the foul-up with the word preservatives when talking about foods. I came back to Poland after many years, sitting with my Mom, her old neighbors... a table full of ladies teas and cakes... and i explained how i didn't like preservatives in my food. Lots of red faces :)

As already noted, preservatives said Polish-like "Prezerwatywy" means condoms.

Correctly:
Preservatives = konserwanty (conservants) in Polish, when referring to food preservatives you say konserwanty.

Cipa (Cipka), pizda = vulgar of vagina

that same trip after many years of not being in Poland, I had some people ask me "how the climate was" over there (usa) "Jaki tam klimat?" - i was surprised about their curiosity of the weather as i was happy to explain the horrible humidity on the east coast and how its impossible to live without an air conditioner. Compared to Poland, the humidity in the summer time is truly remarkable...

So after many people asked me this question, i began wondering - then caught on when the same people asked me the same question again...

Klimat = climate is used as a slang for "social atmosphere" or simply "what's it like"...