Polish Language Pronunciation - Example Words and Phrases

the number 3 in polish.

Nightmare!
No matter how many times i hear my girlfriend say it to me, i still can't get it.
When she says it, it sounds like "trzy" but when i say it, it comes out like "czy."
It must be so easy, but for the life of me, i can't get it.

Thanks a lot. :)

i've got something harded for you

"sześć" - 6 and "cześć" - hello. if you manage to pronounce these two in a way that they sound different then you're on your way.

And about "trzy"
you have to remembrer that there are three sounds
"t" - this is easy, you pronounce it without any difference from English like in "top" for instance
"rz" - this is the hard one, this you have to pronounce like "g" in the word "genre"
"y" - you probably know.

of course the problem is the combination of "t" and "rz" one after another.
try to pronounce it as if it was written "terzy", only pronounce the "e" as shortly as you can, with around 10000 tries of saying it quickly you'll arrive at the right point.

something to make you feel better. the fact that you pronounce it like "czy" is nothing abnormal. a lot of children in poland when they learn to speak prononuce it exactly the same way.

simillar example is the word "tree" - drzewo

Wow dziekuje bardzo Glowa, can't tell you how helpful that is!!
The "g in genre" bit has really clicked with my brain. You know, i might just be able to crack it now, though i'm getting some strange looks from my friends, sitting here chanting terzy to myself! :)

As for the number 6, oh boy! I've still got to get through 4 and 5 first! :) :)

Thanks again!:)

is saying g as in genre for trzy a particular accent? i thought that rz would sound like sz when there's a consonant in front as in napRZeciwko or tRZech or even na wegRZech.

and plus i thought rz is a hard consonant unlike z(with the acute accent)) isnt there a difference in sound between ZIemia and RZeka?...

or nie mam racji?

Merged: pronounciation literal translation of srodmiescie?

pronounciation of srodmiescie? and literal translation? Thank you

downtown

thanks Miranda; how you you pronounce it phonetically?

No problem

If you are a native English speaker it would go like that:
[b]shroodmieshchie - this is a close as I can get
Also: "mie" is like in cat's miaou
If you are learning Polish you picked up a very difficult word to start with:)

The stress is on mie - so it's schrood-MYE-shche

thanks boosie -are you a teacher

Merged: "Raciborski" and more - HELP WITH PRONOUNCING

Please help in pronouncing my last name properly "Raciborski" Also the words"odrodzenie (rebirth" And "uzdrowienie (healing)"?

uzdrowienie- "ooz-dro-vie-nieh"
odrodzenie- "odd-rod-ze-nieh"

Raciborski- "ruh-chee-bor-skee"

it doesn't sound exact 'cause it is difficault to find a word or a letter in english that sounds similar to "ci" which sounds like "ć"

Merged: Pronunciation of Wojciech

Hi,

What is the correct way to pronounce the name of Wojciech? Voy-cheh seems right to me, but other places say Voj-chek. What is the correct way? Thanks!

Voj - cheh

That's the correct one

The other one I heard in the Kaszuba region of Poland, by that is a whole different dialect.

Voycheh :)

Merged: WPADLA GRUSZKA DO FARTUSZKA - Phonetic translation

Hi...

I made awager with polish friend ofmineand lost....as the forfeit i have to learn the text below. I dont want a translation....but if poss some guide to how to SAY it, i.e a phonetic translation....i would be grateful for any help

Thanks

WPADLA GRUSZKA DO FARTUSZKA A ZA GRUSKA DWA JABLUSZKA, A SLIWECZKA WPASC NIE CHCIALA BO BYLA JESZCZE NIEDOJRZALA

Hi theironduke! LOL, serves you right for betting with a Pole :)

Anyway, I'll try to give you a rough phonetic translation of the text since I do feel kind of sorry for you...

fpudwu grooshku do furtooshku u zu grooshkong dvu yubooshku, u shlivechku fpushch nye hchuwu bo biwu yeshche nyedoyzuwu

A few tips:
-always pronounce the 'u' like the 'u' in cup, but, hut etc.
-always pronounce the 'o' like the 'o' in hot, cot, mop etc., even at the end of words (keep it short, don't extend it or drawl it), except obviously the 'oo' which you would pronounce like the 'oo' in book, took, look etc.

-always pronounce the 'e' like the 'e' in pet, let, set etc.
-the last word 'nyedoyzuwu' contains a 'z' which in this case you should pronounce softly, like the French 'j' in j'aime, jour etc.

Good luck and don't lose too much sleep over it!! If you need any more help just ask :)

kinga

Thanks a lot...

No matter how many times i read it its still sooo hard... ;-) The only language i can sort of do is french, which doesnt help at all...

Guess youre right, shouldnt have bet a Pole. Anyway ive only got until a week saturday to learn it...hope she appreciates it!!!

Merged:Number One: Jeden vs. Raz

Can someone tell me which is the most correct number to use for 1 when counting in Poilish;
as in 1, 2, 3.

My friend who is Polish and lives in Poland insists "Ras" (spelling?) is used when counting in Polish--as in response to "Can you count to 3?"

She says "Jeden" (spelling?) (Yeden) is used for numbers in general, but for counting out-loud that "Raz" is correct.

Help?
Thoughts?

Thanks!!

Raz

In common Polish both can be used, I don't even know what's the official version.

Raz and jeden. Ahhh, the confusion.
In math you use jeden. But when you count you sometimes say jeden, sometimes raz depending on what you're counting. If couting items you would say jeden as in one banana, one finger. But if you're just counting you can say raz or jeden, whichever sounds better.

Mar 8, 07 [10:48] - Attached on merging:
"Raz" pronunciation

Would a reasonable pronunciation of "Raz" be:

Rahs

or

Rahz

(or something else?)

Thank you very much!!

I'm fairly certain it's rahs.

you may need to roll your tongue a bit when saying the R :)

"Raz" literaly means "once"

and how is jaden pronounced then is the J hard or soft -

like this: Yeden

Thank you very much for the help all!!!

I was very happy to help.