A list of steps/rules on how to translate English into Polish?

Would someone be able to give me a list of steps/rules on how to translate English into Polish or a link to some rules?

It is a question about the structure or arrangement of the words in the sentances really I suppose. When I translate something often I am told it would be better if I write it like this or that.

Thanks in advance.

You need to translate the meaning, not the words as such. That's the most important part.

This is very obvious in the case of idioms, e.g. "it's raining cats and dogs" - "leje jak z cebra".

If you don't understand the source text, you can't ever translate it. No way.

Hi Magda,

What about the arrangement of the words into sentances? In English we use a certain word order while in Polish it is different sometimes. Direct translation isn't possible. I suppose I am talking about the syntax of the Polish language. Any advise or links?

Thanks.

I belive it is quite complicated to explain. Perhaps you can find some useful websites that will help you understand the rules. You can try to google szyk wyrazów w zdaniu w języku polskim.

Here is a nice summary of the rules : pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szyk_wyraz%C3%B3w

Dzięki Zazulka.

have only been speaking polish for about 18 months. you wont be able to translste it because it just doesnt work. that was my pitfall for ages. am lucky as have polish neighbours who i see quite often. books do help to a point, but if its possible try and mix with as many polish speaking people as possible. dont give up if you really want to learn. my polish is not great but all my polish friends understand me. the only way i learned was by working out how the letters and letter combinations sounded. i spent ages with my head in a dictionary,asking polish friends to say the word i would point at. it took ages but now i know most of the time how to pronouce something.for me it was easier to learn by reading it first. might not work for you, but best of luck, its a difficult language.

Thanks for your words of support and advise Pam.


I find the same, if I read a word or phrase first I have a better chance of understanding it when someone says it. It doesn't work the other way around for me, if they say something it just sounds jumbled to me and I don't even know how many words are in the sentance.

i dont find sentences sound jumbled,but if people speak too fast, i cant follow it. plus you have to bear in mind where the polish people you are talking to come from. i am not joking when i tell you that some polish friends i have find it difficult to understand each other. there are .a lot of regional dialects. in the long run if you learn how the letters sound by reading them, it will make your prounounciation much easier. DONT GIVE UP lol!

Don't worry, I won't give up, I don't take it so seriously and that way it doesn't stress me too much. I don't burn myself out but I read and listen to Polish every day.

Best of luck to you also.

I know what you mean. Sometimes I'll get an sms in Polish from my teacher, and when I ask her why she wrote it it that way, she says it sounded good. Another friend who reads her text would say it in a different order. It can make me crazy, but that's Polish for you! :) Keep trying.

I have had this experience also.

I have a funny feeling that there are no rules for some things although the advise above, see links/google the search words did help and they will help more when I study it. If there are no rules it is ok also because then you are free to do as you like.

I suppose the most important thing is to be able to talk to people so that everyone understands each other.

you sound like you are very dedicated,and that is a good thing. if you have the determination, you will learn the language...eventually lol

Different things should be translated in different ways. Jokes, for example, rely on specific words and only that word will convey the required meaning. I've sometimes had to use Polish as I couldn't find a word in English to express what I had in mind.

Translating general sentiment is much easier but a lot comes through feel. Sometimes you just feel that it's wrong. Trial and error first, catsoldier.

I can see it now! I will start speaking Polish properly just as I become senile and forget all about English :-) What will they do with me then?


There is plenty of that by me.

expect i will be the same....but if you want a good laugh go to uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/polish_language

Thanks Pam.

That looks like a dodgy/shady site, pam. I don't think I'll be going there.

one of the best sites on the web. u should give it a try.

Well, there's always sth to learn, I guess. More resources are always welcome.

catsoldier - actually - save for the questions it is pretty safe to retain English word order translating into Polish - the thing is there are no mechanical ways to translate - if there were everybody would be using google translate and they are not - the thing is there shades of meaning to one word or phrase in English that

should be translated differently in Polish (the same English phrase ends up translated differently in a sometimes slightly different context) - this is just a general insight of mine ;) - and there is also a question of dictionary words versus colloquialisms - colloquial Polish is almost another language for someone who only knows dictionary words

also one of the more difficult things to translate are complex English verbs (like to turn somebody in - while to turn has some semantic field and there are words in Polish that share this field with to turn the preposition completely alters the meaning and can some time have very vague connection with the original root - then there is no surprise there is a completely different counterpart in Polish which has nothing at all to do with English (there may actually be a couple of different ways to convey the meaning of to turn sb in Polish depending on context, register etc, one such is colloquial wsypać - wsypać(=to turn in) is actually vary vaguelly connected with the meaning of its root verb of 'sypać' - 'sypać' on the other hand has no one good translation into English - it needs to be translated differently in many different contexts)

nothing dodgy about site, its really funny and it is actually factual as well. wroclaw obviously likes it. stop being paranoid lol!

Thanks Gumishu, that was an epic reply, I read it and I understand what you are saying, many thanks.