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How to say Merry Christmas in Polish?


Guest  
7 Dec 2005 /  #1
Hello! I was wondering how to say Merry Christmas in Polish. I've been looking on the internet, but I have no idea how to pronounce the phrase. Please explain it phonetically! Thanks!
OP Guest  
7 Dec 2005 /  #2
Merry Christmas -- Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
OP Guest  
7 Dec 2005 /  #3
Happy New Year - Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
OP Guest  
7 Dec 2005 /  #4
Merry Christmas -- Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia

it sounds more or less like that: /vesowih sviont bozego narocenja/; the "i" in /vesowih/ is like the English short /i/ in <i>still, fill, till</i>. The pronouncation of "swiat" is more difficult - the initial /s/ is not the usual /s/, it's sort of palatalised one if you know what I mean :) In "bozego" /z/ is pronounced like the letter <g> in the English words <i>gin </i> or like <j> in Jane, June etc. I hope it seems easier now?

Cheers, Goska

Happy New Year - Szczesliwego Nowego Roku

Now... that's a tough one! In "szczesliwego" the first two sounds (that is the sounds that correspond to <szcz>) are really difficult to describe and transcribe without the help of the phonetic alphabet :( If you know how to say "hi" in Polish = "czesc" then you know the second sound from "szczesliwego". The first sound can be also found in words such as Szymon, szalik[i] (scarf)[/i]. I know! <sz> is pronounced like <sh> in English --> bush, shake etc. and <cz> is an affricate a bit similar to <j> in jazz or June. The rest goes: /...eslivego novego roku/ but /s/ is again the sort-of palatalised one. Hmmm, did it help???

Goska

In "bozego" /z/ is pronounced like the letter <g> in the English words gin or like <j> in Jane, June etc.

Well, it's not exactly similar :/ Its more like the French sound which you can probably find in the English gigolo or the French words like Jean or jollie. Ehhh, I'm not sure anymore if I'm making it easier :)
Pat  
7 Dec 2005 /  #5
Wow, you're good girl! :) Are you an English student or something?
OP Guest  
7 Dec 2005 /  #6
Bingo! :) At your service! Gośka

Now... I've realised I made one mistake. It's about "Szczesliwego Nowego Roku". There is actually a very similar sound in English that corresponds to the second sound in "szczesliwego" and that is the initial sound in church or cherry. Sorry for that :) If you ever need help with the pronouncation of Polish words, I'll be around!

Goska
shelby  
19 Dec 2005 /  #7
how do you say merry chrismas and can you help me say it
OP Guest  
19 Dec 2005 /  #8
merry chrismas

Wesolych Swiat
teaver  
21 Dec 2006 /  #9
Wesolych Swiat
veso'wih 'shfiont - the final sound in the first word, the "h", must be well audible; you can read the "ont" in "shfiont" nasally, like in French or you can say as it is- "ont"

Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
'shtchenshli'vegho no'vegho 'rhokoo

Remeber to pronounce all final "t" flat, do not make it sound "d" in any case.

Good luck!
Zgubiony  15 | 1274  
21 Dec 2006 /  #10
or like this..... I'll try my best :)

Wesółych Świąt
vĕsoo-yik shvi-ount - ount like count...frenchy nasal like

Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
sh-chow-shlee-vago novego (like it looks) Roku (roakoo .....try to roll that r a tad bit)

Good luck to ya
geogascio  
24 Dec 2006 /  #11
how is ''and'' used in polish
krysia  23 | 3058  
24 Dec 2006 /  #12
"and" is "i"
AlinBuffalo  
11 Dec 2006 /  #13
Merry Christmas in Polish?

help! how do you say "Merry Christmas" in Polish? phonetically too, please!
JMW  
11 Dec 2006 /  #14
Wesolych swiat [ wesowih shviout]
FISZ  24 | 2116  
11 Dec 2006 /  #15
Wesołych Świąt ...... vees-oy-ih shvi-ou-t
ROZ  2 | 93  
30 Dec 2006 /  #16
Well, it's not exactly similar :/ Its more like the French sound which you can probably find in the English gigolo or the French words like Jean or jollie. Ehhh, I'm not sure anymore if I'm making it easier smile

Much easier for me, thanks!

<--- Gigolo :)
shadow  
30 Dec 2006 /  #17
gwiazdora w komine,prezentow po szyje,dwa metry choinki,cukierkow trzy skrzynki,przed oknem balwana,sylwestra do rana zyczy krzysiek
krysia  23 | 3058  
30 Dec 2006 /  #18
"A big star in your chimney, presents up to your neck, a christmas tree two meters tall, three crates of candy, snowman in front of your window, and New Year's Eve till dawn, wishes you Krzysiek"

Doesn't make much sense in english, but in Polish it rhymes making it sound really cool.
Generation2  
2 Jan 2007 /  #19
What it the literal meaning of szczesliwego in the New Year greeting: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku? Dzienkuje (sp?).
krysia  23 | 3058  
3 Jan 2007 /  #20
"szczęśliwego" means "succesfull", "lucky", "happy" or "fortunate"
Generation2  
7 Jan 2007 /  #21
Krysia kohane,
Thank you for your prompt response to my question about szczesliwego (I do not have the Polish diacritical marks on my keyboard). I just remembered tonight (7 January) to check back to see if anyone answered my question.

Obviously I do not speak Polish--as you can see from my attempts--but I try a little anyway. Dzienkuje bardzow (sp? again) Feel free to correct my spellings, case endings, whatever. Oh. I do know a little Spanish. In Spanish they say, Prospero Ano Nuevo = Prosperous New Year. Would szczesliwego have that meaning as well?
krysia  23 | 3058  
8 Jan 2007 /  #22
Dzienkuje bardzow

Dziękuję bardzo

"Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku" is what they say in Poland. It all means the same.:)
dissidence  
27 Nov 2007 /  #23
I'm Scottish but I've been using a good software thing to learn some Polish phrases. It doesn't have anything about Christmas but I've looked at this site with some audio bits for help with the pronunciation (as I can't post the link, just search for "Polish pronunciation" on Google, and click the result Polish Alphabet - ATPC).

I pronounce szczęśliwego like this: Shch-eng-shlee-vego. It sounds a lot like szczęśliwy which means happy, hence when put together with Nowego Roku it means Happy New Year. Being able to notice that makes me happy!

I'm currently trying to fgure out the difference between Wesołych Śhviąt and Wesołych Śhviąt Bozego Narodzenia - and which one is better to say, or do they even mean the same thing?!
tombata  - | 5  
13 Dec 2007 /  #24
here you can find Polish phrases about Christmas, greetings in Polish with video and pronunciation. polishphrases.vox.com

Enjoy
Davey  13 | 388  
13 Dec 2007 /  #25
Wesołych Śhviąt and Wesołych Śhviąt

Wesołych Świąt
Grondzio  
18 Dec 2007 /  #26
"Wesołych Śhviąt" and "Wesołych Śhviąt Bozego Narodzenia"

The the difference is easy, and the latter is better.

Happy Christmas (or more correctly - happy holidays) is meant when you say the former.

Literally, Happy Holiday of God's birth, when you say the latter. But both are okay when you mean Merry Christmas.
afmfb  
23 Dec 2007 /  #27
thank you. my daughter is named after her grandmother from Poland Sophia what is it exactly in polish
Shawn_H  
23 Dec 2007 /  #28
Sophia what is it exactly in polish

Zofia
starchild  2 | 120  
24 Dec 2007 /  #29
"A big star in your chimney, presents up to your neck, a christmas tree two meters tall, three crates of candy, snowman in front of your window, and New Year's Eve till dawn, wishes you Krzysiek"

I'm having a blonde moment I'm sure but.... the 'wishes you Krzysiek'.... is that wishes for someone called Krzysiek or wishes from someone called Krzysiek?
user  
24 Dec 2007 /  #30
from someone called Krzysiek :)

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