Language / Need advice on how to improve Polish language skills [134]


Sorry, I don't mean to offend you. It's an important question for me though. My significant-other (SO) is Polish, which is why I'm learning, and she was saying she wants our kids to learn Polish, so I'm wondering if that would become a detriment of some sort to the child. I'm a little worried about it.

Language / Need advice on how to improve Polish language skills [134]


There is no blunder in the threat title. You would know this if you read the original post. My point was that English is a lot more forgiving of errors in speaking and writing than Polish. The misspelling in the title showed this. Often you're actually considered MORE cool if you speak English wrong.

And you are right, it is hard to believe that ANYONE at any age can speak Polish intuitively; though obviously they do.

Goury, that link was cute - Thanks!

Language / The differences between these words: Oni plywaja / plyna / biegaja /biegna /chodza /ida [18]

I'm also a beginner, so correct me if I'm wrong but:
1) Chodzić is used for something you do routinely (even if it's not walking). Such as, "I go to the gym on tuesday's".

2) Chodzić is not as directional as iść. "iść" Is used if you're going somewhere with purpose, so chodzić is more like, "taking a walk...", than "I'm going to...".

3) I've heard the Rosetta stone issue come up before. It looked like they intended some directionality with "Płyną" vs "Pływają" since in the corresponding images they had people swimming willy nilly on one, and in all in one direction in the other. Same for biegną vs biegają. I don't think that's a valid association though. Anyone?

Language / rules for genetive declension of female nouns ending in 'a' [8]

That is so surprising, Wlodzimierz! A whole book on the genitive masculine alone! Thanks for the reference. I was starting with simpler cases such as female declensions of nouns. I'm going to see if there's any way to programmatically access the dictionary service cinek suggested.

Language / Variations of the verb Chodzić [11]

doesn't on przyszedł mean 'he arrived' by foot, as opposed to car, air, boat, etc?
Since przybyć is more neutral, would I sound weird if I use it for all cases?

What are the transport verb groups in polish:
chodzić/iść/pojść = by foot?
llatać/lecieć/polecieć = by air
pływać/płynąć/popłynąć = by water
jeżdzić/jechać/pojechać = by land vehicle
Can't remember others, but I think 'to slither like a snake' is one of them.

Language / Variations of the verb Chodzić [11]

Thanks for all the replies. Here's an updated list in case anyone is interested:

chodzić, iść = walk

wychodzić, wyjść = to leave

wchodzić, wejść = to climb. wchodzę na górę = I walk up the mountain.

obchodzić, obejść = to walk around, circumvent. celebrate. care about. obchodzę park = I walked around the park. Obchodzę urodziny (I celebrate my birthday)

odchodzić, odejść = to deviate from, depart from. to die: Dziadek odszedł (umarł) = (Our) grandfather has left us (died). Mój mąż odszedł = my husband left me.

przychodzić, przyjść = to come. Przyidziesz do mnie na moment? = Can you come to me for a moment?

przechodzić, przejść = to walk through

podchodzić, podejść = to climb up (mountain, stairs). to come closer: podchodzę blisko sceny = walked up to the stage. podchodzę pod górę = walked up the mountain.

schodzić, zejść = to climb down (mountain, stairs). schodzę na dół = I'm walking down. Schodzę z góry/drabiny - I climb down the mountain/ladder

zachodzić, zajść = to arise, set(sun) (zachodzi słoneczko). To visit (traditional meaning). zachodzę w ciążę = I got pregnant. kiedy zachodzi potrzeba = when the need arises.

pochodzić, N/A = derive from, descend from, come from. to walk a little. pochodzę z Polski = my roots are in Poland (come from). wczoraj pochodziłem trochę po parku = Yesterday I walked a little bit in the park. Pochodzę po sklepach = I walk around the shops (not to a specific one)

nachodzić, najść = to intrude on. nachodzić kogoś = to intrude on someone. nachodzić na siebie = to overlap. Policjant nachodzi mnie = police burst in on me.

nadchodzić, nadejść = to approach. Be on one's way. Nadchodzi burza = storm is on it's way (here). Nadchodzi wiosna = spring is coming.

dochodzić, dojść = to get as far as, to reach, accomplish, really close but not there. Also, the moment right before the orgasm (sorry for the crassness)

rozchodzić, rozejść = disperse, diverge. Ludzie rozchodzi się = the people dispersed. Proszę się rozejść = please disperse. A potem rezeszliśmy się do domów = and then we all split up to our homes.

uchodzić, ujść = walk a bit, walk off, withdraw, avoid, escape. uchodźca z Somali = escaped from Somalia = Somalian refugee. To escape (from represion, physical agression). ujść z życiem = escaped with with my life = I barely made it out alive.

wschodzić, wzejść = arise (sun, moon), sprout (grain). wschodząca gwiazda muzyki pop = a rising pop music star.

Language / Polish regional accents? [141]

Merged: Regional pronunciation in different areas of Poland

Hi all. I tried searching for this but didn't find a match.
What are some of the differences in pronunciation in different areas of Poland? I was listening to a guy from Gdansk and there seemed to be a de-emphasis on the last syllable. For example, saying "żłóty", the 'y' was almost silent. Talking to people from Krakow, they mention that the enunciate more or emphasize proper letters more. For example, saying "samochód", the 'd' would be pronounced loud and clear and very distinctly from a 't'. I also hear that near neighboring countries there might be an influence from that neighboring country on the pronunciation.

What differences could one expect in the different regions? For extra bonus, are there distinct differences with Poles in Chicago or New York?