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Pożyczyć vs. wypożyczyć, etc.


Leopejo  4 | 120  
28 Mar 2011 /  #1
From Słownik języka polskiego, etc., my understanding is that nowadays both verbs mean both to lend and to borrow, though maybe historically pożyczyć was to borrow and wypożyczyć to lend or viceversa. So it would be:

to lend: (wy)pożyczyć/ać komuś coś
to borrow: (wy)pożyczyć/ać od kogoś coś

Is this correct, and in the case, what is the difference between wypożyczyć and pożyczyć? Maybe the former is more 'official'?

And finally, my otherwise very good textbook of Polish insists that you can use dopełniacz (czego?) instead of biernik (co?), with such examples as:

pożyczyć od kogoś książki/pieniędzy
Możesz mi pożyczyć parasola?
Możesz mi pożyczyć nart?


Is this acceptable, or an error, or maybe a relic from the past (first edition of the textbook: 1985)?
mafketis  38 | 10990  
28 Mar 2011 /  #2
In modern usage AFAICT

pożyczyć = general borrow/lend (perfective)

pożyczać = same thing (imperfective)

wypożycyć = borrow/lend/rent/hire commercially when the same item is to be returned as in library books, videos etc

wypożyczać = same thing but imperfecive)
OP Leopejo  4 | 120  
28 Mar 2011 /  #3
Thank you! I had no idea of that difference.
cinek  2 | 347  
28 Mar 2011 /  #4
or maybe a relic from the past

Yes. We don't use dopełniacz any more, use biernik instead. Unless in negative sentences, where dopełniacz must be used.

wypożycyć = borrow/lend/rent/hire commercially when the same item is to be returned as in library books, videos etc

Usually, the place you 'wypożyczasz' things from is called 'wypożyczalnia' (which is also a part of library - usually a 'biblioteka' consists of 'wypożyczalnia' and 'czytelnia').

e.g.
Wypożyczalnia sprzętu sportowego - you can often find ones next to ski tracks, ice rinks etc.
Wypożyczalnia kaset wideo - very popular in late 80th and 90th :-)
Wypożyczalnia rowerów - more and more popular, especially in bigger cities and all places good for biking.
etc.

Cinek
OP Leopejo  4 | 120  
28 Mar 2011 /  #5
And thank you, cinek, everything is clear now.

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