Life / Doughnut [Pączki] Day... in Poland [70]


Be careful about paczki in the shops over the next week or so - they will all be yesterdays!

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]


That would be something the German newsreel would want to show. After all, it would be hard to explain having sustained losses fighting a weak opponent.

Life / Doughnut [Pączki] Day... in Poland [70]


I looked at one. Then thought about those trousers I saw in Emporio Armani but can't fit into.


You're confusing them with beer.


Maybe.....

Life / Doughnut [Pączki] Day... in Poland [70]


Wow, impressive. I didn't touch even one despite being told (by someone who had a tray of them to get rid of) that being in Warsaw I should conform to Polish traditions!!

Language / The shame! I can't pronounce my Polish wife's name (Ola) [69]

They're good ideas Tanya and Croggers. The OP is from America so I'd suggest he looks in the mirror, makes the 'o' sound from holiday and octopus, but make his mouth more round.

Language / The shame! I can't pronounce my Polish wife's name (Ola) [69]

And that's why he's asking. And why your comment that the OP's question doesn't matter rather missed the point.

Language / The shame! I can't pronounce my Polish wife's name (Ola) [69]

The thread is about pronouncing his wife's name. Something that is well worth getting absolutely right.

Language / The shame! I can't pronounce my Polish wife's name (Ola) [69]


Yes. It is wrong.


They either a) are trying to be nice or b) like your exotic accent.

Language / The shame! I can't pronounce my Polish wife's name (Ola) [69]

Because that would be a different sound, different word, different language.

Language / The shame! I can't pronounce my Polish wife's name (Ola) [69]

What am I talking about? Something I know about, though it seems you don't.

There isn't an 'r' sound in the name 'Orla'. The written 'r' isn't vocalised except in certain accents. The IPA phonetic sign for the sound in 'Orla', 'ball', 'law' and 'door' is /ɔː/. The sign is diacritised with a colon because it is a long vowel. That sound doesn't occur in Polish. The sound of the 'O' on 'Ola is /ɒ/. It is a short vowel, not geminated.

Language / The shame! I can't pronounce my Polish wife's name (Ola) [69]

No it doesn't! Ball isn't pronounced 'bol'. It is the same sound as 'law' which doesn't exist in Polish. If the OP use that sound for the 'O' in 'Ola', it would sound like the English way of pronouncing 'Orla' as in Orla Guerin.

Language / The shame! I can't pronounce my Polish wife's name (Ola) [69]


The vowel sound in football, door, whore and law is one that I've never really heard a Polish person get right. That sound doesn't exist in Polish. The OP needs to get someone to model the pronunciation and repeat until the sounds comes out right. Only practise will do it..

Language / Nice Polish phrases to say to men [76]

'Misiu' is a great one to use. If you want to up the ante a bit, try 'Kocurku' (pronounced 'kotsoorkoo'). It means tomcat, but in a nice way.

News / The quality of Polish media coverage [54]


Why?

Life / 200zl mandat and 3 points for not wearing seatbelts? [75]

+1


None of those places are in Poland.

News / Police and priests save homeless in Poland [29]

That is a silly and rather tawdry comment. Why do you think they would 'slip something' into the food and what is an 'oriental hallucinogen'?

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]


It's a living language. If people overseas use a vestige of that language with archaic and slightly amusing forms like 'busia', then that is their choice and right, however mainstream Polish is the language that is spoken in Poland regardless of how it may change over the years, absorb influences from other languages, respond to technological and commercial advances in mass communication or otherwise develop.

News / Police and priests save homeless in Poland [29]

The local Hare Krishna used to run a soup round in Warsaw, giving food to rough sleepers every evening until the Church got together with the police to stop it. That was several years ago. I wonder how many rough sleepers have died since then...

Love / Valentines Day & Polish men [130]


You should see some of the decorations festooning bars in Warsaw!

Love / Valentines Day & Polish men [130]


Love of life, and the anticipation of spring frolics.


English, originally. Celebrated for centuries by country people. It was always an occasion for young men to declare their intentions.

Love / Valentines Day & Polish men [130]


Actually it goes back centuries. Even though there's a commercial side nowadays, it's good to celebrate love!

Love / Valentines Day & Polish men [130]

Yep, just unromantic. You should have a little word about how important it is to a woman...

Language / Spelling "aunt" in Polish [142]

In Poland?

Love / Valentines Day & Polish men [130]


Yes


No

News / Does Poland support the idea of Slavic unity? [142]


??


And they turned aboriginal Siberia into a 'slavic' colony. Imperialists par excellence.

History / Do Polish people in general dislike Russia or Germany more? [369]


There's a lot of truth in that.

News / Does Poland support the idea of Slavic unity? [142]


Wow. An expert.


And you are wrong.


Don't hold your breath.


They aren't.

News / Does Poland support the idea of Slavic unity? [142]


Blood means nothing, the cultures differ and not all the Slavonic languages are mutually intelligible.

History / Do Polish people in general dislike Russia or Germany more? [369]


By that one word: 'illuminati' you have shown yourself to be a paranoid fantasist.


The Soviet Union?

News / Does Poland support the idea of Slavic unity? [142]


Irrelevant to statehood and/or political unity.


Yes. One of the many reasons why Pan-slavism has never been popular in Poland.


Pretty well true.

Poland has always been a bridge between East and West. In Central Europe geographically, with eastern cuisine and drinks but looking west culturally and politically.