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Appropriate word selection to positively describe someone in Polish


zkatze  
16 Sep 2016 /  #1
Which of the following words (if any) would a person use to positively describe someone:

zadziwiający
wspaniały
znakomity
uzdolniony

Is there another word that might more commonly be used to describe some (to say they are great, fantastic, etc)?
majkel  - | 60  
16 Sep 2016 /  #2
The question is what do you want to say, becuase you are using words like exquisite and amazing, while you want to say someone is great and fantastic :) Those words are on different level "vocabularily".
mafketis  38 | 10879  
16 Sep 2016 /  #3
not a native speaker, but... (my translations are general and not exhaustive)

zadziwiający - amazing, not used so much about people but more about accomplishments I think zadziwiające wyniki - amazing results

wspaniały - wonderful, is used to describe people, jesteś wspaniały - you're wonderful (said to a man), wspaniała kobieta - a wonderful woman

znakomity - outstanding, used to describe a person's performance of a job than the person themself, znakomity piłkarz - outstanding footballer

uzdolniony - gifted, used more to describe a person's ability in a particular field, as in uzdolniony matematyk - gifted mathematician
OP zkatze  
16 Sep 2016 /  #4
Yes, I am looking for the word that would mean "great" or "fantastic" that might be used to convey a parent's pride in their adult child (proud of their virtues, accomplishments, character, etc)

Appreciate your input. Thank you!
Dreamergirl  4 | 273  
16 Sep 2016 /  #5
Is it for a child or adult? Male or female
mafketis  38 | 10879  
16 Sep 2016 /  #6
Yes, I am looking for the word that would mean "great" or "fantastic" that might be used to convey a parent's pride in their adult child (proud of their virtues, accomplishments, character, etc)

That complicates things as Polish parents tend to not do that that much about their adult children.

Do you mean talking to the children themselves or to other people?

But the idea of a Polish person calling their adult child "wspaniały" seems kind of odd to me. Native speakers will have to say what parents say then because I don't have much clue.

In talking to other people, if they're proud of their children they're more likely to list their accomplishments and/or add wspaniały or somesuch to particular accomplishments and not make blanket character statements.
gumishu  16 | 6181  
16 Sep 2016 /  #7
But the idea of a Polish person calling their adult child "wspaniały" seems kind of odd to me.

I can imagine people calling their children 'wspaniały' or 'wspaniała'. Some children (also adult children) deserve such adjectives. And well it is the best translation for 'great' as applied to children
OP zkatze  
16 Sep 2016 /  #8
It would be for the parent to say to someone else (not directly to the child).
Lyzko  41 | 9550  
16 Sep 2016 /  #9
I agree with much of what's been said, particularly by Mafketis! This whole thing about complimenting someone, particularly a child, is very American, perhaps also British, not really continental European.

My experience is that such words above are used, but used sparingly, except perhaps when addressing foreigners who've learned Polish:-)
OP zkatze  
18 Sep 2016 /  #10
Thank you. That is an interesting insight. Appreciate all the feedback. Thank you very much.

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