Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

To me it all goes to one- foreigners (not all off them) cannot be a.... to ask Poles or use dictionaries. And cannot be bothered to aclimatize in our culture instead telling us what we can and cannot do.

Look at Pam's post (no insult or personal attack intended, I hope you know that Pam, just an example):
She was talking to a Pole, in POLISH. Yet after the word mulat was said she didn't ask him about the meaning of the word in Polish. She didn't even said: Listen, I'm not sure about the connotations in Polish but here it's considered a rude word. She said she doesn't want to hear the word again.


I try and try but seem unable to stay away :P

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Ok I think the discussion is over. Obviously you both know Polish better than natives. No point in arguing. I think ppl reading this thread have enough info on the subject and can decide for themselfs. I'm out, I know when there's no point in prolonging.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]


I asked all Poles I could (3 now) about that sentence and not even one recognised the meaning when I said it the first time. All ppl said it's absolutely not written by a native speaker. One person added that whoever tries to make it a "Polish" graffiti has something wrong with their heads (I'm just a messanger).

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Thanks P3, I'm not saying the word won't disappear soon but it's something different to claim it's racist.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Harry and Jon you are really trying to push it even though it's evident now I think that you are simply wrong.
As to the graffiti text- as Magdalena said- it's not only grammatically incorect- it's basically incomprehensible. No native Polish speaker would say that. However I'm sure both of you will tell us we are wrong :) After all who are we, mere native speakers, to argue with two language master minds like you :)

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Don't put words into my mouth Jon, it won't work. If someone isn't a native speaker he may perceive a word in the wrong way however it doesn't change the original meaning of the word. And you, instead of asking, are trying to push your own understanding of the word down our throats. It simply won't work cos you are wrong.

It's like I used some word in English, I was told that it's the wrong word to use in that context but I told you you are wrong cos I know better.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

I don't care if the word with get out of use- I said it already. What do irritate me is someone who tries to lecture me on my language. And talking bs along the way.

Murzyn is not racist. Period. If you want to live in your fantasy word then go ahead, it won't change anything.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

No Jon, it only means that we won't buy it when some foreigner tells us the word is offensive when in fact it's not.


That word alone doesn't offend me, it's the way someone would use it. And besides- where the word Polack the original English word for a Polish person? Because the word murzyn was just that- a word to describe dark skinned person.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Jon, it's funny that yet more POLISH ppl told you the word is not racist yet you continue to argue
And as to your graffiti: someone used the word Żydzi - do you think that word is racist or offensive as well? Should we change that word as well?

You get funnier with every post.
BTW- I do live in Poland my whole life so the argument you shot at Magdalena won't work here

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Thank you for that piece of information- I REALLY didn't know that :D

BTW Jon- actually they are both but that's a different topic...

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

One more thing- if I ever heard some scatter brain complain about the blacks it was either "Ci Czarni" or "Te czarnuchy" never ever "Ci murzyni". But I guess foreigners are right- Poland- rewrite your dictionaries!!! :D

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

If that's the case I will take an offence in the word "chair". I don't know the reason yet but I will find it :)

I'm not too attached to the word however I find ridiculous what I read here.
The word is getting out of use. True. It will probably disappear in 2 generations. It's natural. However suggesting it's a racist word is wrong, stupid and has no use.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Sorry Jon, but I still don't buy it. If someone wants to make a big deal out of it cool, but it's really funny (as in looking at something so stupid that it's funny) that ppl will change a word (a good one, very often having better connotations than the word black) cos someone had some paranoia.

I use the word black because of logic, not because I find the word murzyn offensive. The same way I won't use Afro- American (considering black ppl from USA).

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]


Oh yes, it can sound very unpleasant in certain sentences. I stick to it however very often I would use the word murzyn for better sound. Logic is logic though and I stick to black :)


Good point.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]


Then you had to talk to ppl that didn't get the fact that that word simply means a dark skinned person.


As I said I use the word "black" however if I did use it and they made a big deal out of it I would know what to think.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Ok, so now two foreigners are trying to convince me they know the connotations of a word better than me. Splendid!
Listen ppl, from where did you get the idea it's a racist word, huh? Of course it can be used in a racist way but the word "black" or "Afro-American" can be as well.

It wasn't an offensive word and only sick minded ppl made it so.
As I said- I use the word "black" however suggesting that ppl using the word murzyn are racist is just dumb.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Oh give it a rest. It's a perfectly normal word and it's not used in a bad way 99% of the time. I use the word black simply because it's logical- I'm white so black ppl are black.

I have enough of ppl telling Poles that some word is offensive (even if it isn't) just because they percive it this way. It's like me going to UK and saying that the word "to polish" is offensive cos it's the same spelling as Polish. Sick.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]


One of the biggest ******** I ever read here (I mean in the "normal" threads". Yes, young ppl use black more often but that's because of all the bad attention murzyn aquired (due to foreigners imo). Ppl over 40 will use the word murzyn naturally and without any bad connotations. Quite frankly I hear "black" being used in a pejorative way more often.

Language / What computer keyboards are in use in Poland? [34]

Standard English one. Nothing new. At least most of the ppl use that keybord.

Law / Prostitution in Poland, is it legal? [24]

Paying for sex as well as offering sex for money is completely legal. What's illegal is having profit from someone else prostitution. Very simple and very fair.

USA, Canada / Why do you guys think that so much Polonia is fake? [51]


Then you must have been blind. I live in quite safe town and still I saw cops in a pub few times. In what Poland have you been?

Language / Should I learn Polish or she learn English? [83]

At the beggining? I don't think so. For now she needs encouragement not correcting. It's too early for that. If anything it will put her off. Giving an example by speaking clearly and correctly- sure but correcting (too much correcting that is) can slow down the process and make her feel stupid.

Language / Should I learn Polish or she learn English? [83]

Reading but not understanding is ok for now. Let's do it that way- when we are born we do not comprehend any language yet we learn it by listening and so on. Just remember- let her ask for directions, buy stuff and things like that. Even if she's going to have some problems it will bebefit her. Classes are a must

When I started learning Russian after a month of classes I decided I don't improve enough so I watched some stupid soap opera (they are the best for easy language :) ). Even though I understood only singular words I kept doing it- after 3 months I was the best in my class in vocabulary and comprehension. Classes were giving me the basic skills and the series developed it.

Language / Should I learn Polish or she learn English? [83]

Hm, as a Pole that had to learn English- the classes are a must but also TV, music, talking to you and so on. Just let her "bath" in the language at every opportunity (which won't be too hard since you are in UK) and DON't make it easy on her not to communicate in English- don't do stuff for her.

Genealogy / Trying to locate my grandfathers birth certificate [12]

For a start his name in Polish most probably isn't Andzie. He might be Andrzej but not sure about it. Make sure you have the right, official name.

Love / Polish women: what do you think of Polish men? Physically unattractive? [180]

No more and no less than any other nationality. I feel quite happy here and the ammount of times my eyes wonder is just right for me here :)

Life / Bad Polish mothers [35]

Wow, I thank you very much- I did need that laugh.

I do know bad things happen but somehow I managed to live in Poland for 27 years without being trafficed, raped, drugged or anything like that. My friends escaped such fate as well. I repeat- Poland is not some haven without any bad things happening here but it's not hell either.

Life / Bad Polish mothers [35]

Well, I live here for 27 years and although some bad things do happen I wouldn't say it's as bad as you describe. As to google search- type anything and you will get many results- not necessarily accurate or true.

Life / What do Poles really think about cats? [470]

Well, she wants to make you proud. My mother once, after moving to my father's home, walked out barefoot in the morning and stood on dead rat my father's cat brought home. The cat waited to be rewarded for bringing this treassure and instead was suprised by my mother screaming her lungs out :)

Life / What do Poles really think about cats? [470]

My cats sometimes kill 30 times a day :D Like flies and mosquitos :D