Language / The meaning of some Polish Diminutives [23]

"Kasia" is usual way to refer to Katarzyna when she is young or a friend, it's short nice form used by anybody who is on first name basic.

"Kaśka" is augmentative not diminutive. It is often used by teenagers to show they are not young and sweet, can used be when referred to someone you don't like. Some people treat this form as usual form to refer to them, some people hate it.

Kasiulka is rarely used , either for a young child or in very close relationship,
Katarzynka is more-less like above

And kotku is not diminutive of Katarzyna, it's kitten. ( could be used like sweetheart, honey)

Love / Polish Pet Names For Girls. [156]

kosmita? kosmitek?

Love / Polish Pet Names For Girls. [156]

literal translation of alien is "obcy" , but no diminutive comes to mind.

Life / some poles play the Race games best! [38]

did that landlady intend to rent 100% legal, signing forms, paying taxes and so? maybe she didn't. You may call it racist but you will draw attention to that apartment, more than if you were white foreigner.

Genealogy / Trying to find old friend from Lubin, Poland [7]

Try nasza klasa(our class), n-k.pl it used to be "polish facebook" few years ago, and was created as a tool to find classmates. It still existsand you can seatch schools, and sign to classes, but it is not as widely used. It is possible your friend has an account there, and still gets notifications.

And you could write an old-fashioned letter , maybe his parents still live there.

History / Restoration of Poland's Monarchy? [40]

Titles were just "szlachcic" which means either nobleman or member of gentry ( there are some heated discussions on this forum , about which is correct).

About monarchy, it may work where it already exists or where there is lineage and tradition. In Poland partitions and earlier elections of kings means we have in last 440 years we had more than 200 years of elective kings, more than 40 of presidents and 200 of not existing and having forced government.

Travel / Abandoned / Derelict places in Poland to visit [22]

Don't forget to see "szkieletor". This building site has been waiting for somebody to finish it for more than 20 years. It's not abandoned though.

USA, Canada / Why do Americans (and Canadians) hate Polish people? [226]

What you keep forgetting is that dollar is 3 zł, euro 4 and pound 5. And you can hitchhike home from EU. On the other hand people think why would I humiliate myself in ISA embassy if I can go somewhere else and spend my money there.

Study / Information about Zespol Szkol - in northwest Warsaw school - I'm Chinese [4]

While I know nothing about Warsow and it's schools I can tell you gave too little information as Zespół Szkół means sth like a group of schools, and there is one in every bigger village so I can guess in Warsaw there are many.

Law / Proving to English family court that it's legal in Poland to put a false name on Birth Certificate [38]

I don't know any "legal words" in English", but


basically means: if nobody claimed paternity and or the paternity was not ruled by court


It is written in Birth Certificate as fathers name


a name chosen by Child's Legal Guardian


if none is chosen - one of the names commonly used in country


and as father's surname and his family surname - mother's surname


with proper annotation in "Uwagi" secttion

Life / What's the climate and food like in Warsaw? (I am a student from India) [10]

Do you come for a year or just few days, weeks.
September, October are Autumn, and could be rainy, any day in Poland could be rainy. So pack an umbrella or buy one here.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw#Climate.

History / Why is the Battle of Grunwald celebrated more than the Battle of Lubiszewo? [29]

I would say battle was popular by then, Matejko's painting and Kraszewski's book already existed. And all that was written, painted while - Poland didn't exist on the map and was partially under German and Austrian Occupation and also 500 years anniversary was approaching.

Back to the point I think battle was very symbolic but also very real turning point at our history.

Life / What's the climate and food like in Warsaw? (I am a student from India) [10]

For whole year round you will need clothes for almost every weather that is on Earth. You come in September so most important would be Autumn outfits, sweaters, long sleeve shirts, waterproof jacket, waterproof shoes, some t-shirts. For winter just take some things you own and like, if you have good hiking shoes, you could take them. But heavier and bulkier stuff you can buy here.

Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]

Well, as we are discussing Poland, Polish citizens need to have been employed for at least 365 days in the last 18 months to be able to get benefit in Poland. I guess this applies to EU citizes as well. Guy had almost half a year to register and he forgot?

Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]

Also, he would have gotten 5340 for half a year ( if he really worked over 20 years) (831,10*3+652,6*3)*120%, before Tax and ZUS.

Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]

If they have very low/ no income , yes. But I don't know the rules. I've been unemployed few times so I know the rules, but income based benefits are social care, and I never applied there.

I just checked and you have to be in bad situation, social worker comes and verifies.

Law / How to register a new business in Poland [129]

A bit of advice : 1 ) whenever you go to an office applying for anything take a polish speaker with you, just in case.
2) you are going to receive letters from various companies saying that you need to pay for being registered, that is not true, and those companies are trying to fool people.

Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]


that is true, you can also be beneficent of scholarships, courses and other programs for registered unemployed, if you fit other criteria like age, gender, place of living length of unemployment, disability etc.

Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]

a quick serach shows that you need residency, permission to stay in Poland, be in Poland, and of course all conditions for Polish citizens also apply.

infolink.wroclaw.pl/node/339?language=en

Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]

I translated from polish , and didn't know formal terms, it's residence permit. You know what it is better than I do.

Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]

Let's be clear. With open boarders and all govenments have no interest in strictly enforcing 3 months rule , but it you want government help they can say, you should have registered, you didn't so we don't need to help you.

Can ALL posters stick to the thread topic please.

Genealogy / Jerzy Jasion - please help me find my best friend [11]

Or maybe you can tell us what you want to text them? or text in English? and try to listen to that recorded message again. Is it in Polish only? That means its a voicemail so leave a message in English. If the phone was disconnected the message would be in both English and Polish.

It's easy to search nk. you just type name in top left box with a looking glass and then see who was found. There are two people with that name but from central and West Poland.

Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]

Well accually just paying Taxes wouldn't be enough , but he probably also paid "Fundusz Pracy", which would have meant he would have been given 120% of "standard" benefits if he didn't miss the deadline. ( If he paid for more than 20 years).

Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]

it is, but there could be another article saying claiming the same as above, saying they paid taxes , but were refused unemployed benefits on base of not paying enough Fundusz Pracy, as so called garbage jobs and starting self-employed don't pay it.

Right now if you have "Umowa o Dzieło" Umowa zlecenie" or "Kontrakt menedżerski" or pay reduced ZUS in first years of self employment you wont receive benefits. Just in case somebody needed that knowledge.

Life / Anyone recognize this lullaby? 'Ah-ah-ah Ju ju spach...' [21]

Second part sounds like "mama nie wie co ci dać" which means mama doesn't know what to give you

Life / Poland's Environment, recycling [79]


Or old one is for non-recyclable and two new ones are for recyclable ( glass / paper nad plastic) or one for recyclable one for organic?

Life / Anyone recognize this lullaby? 'Ah-ah-ah Ju ju spach...' [21]

But isn't it kind of lullaby where you make up your words after you ran out of them. idż już spać mama nie wie co ci dac seems like that.

Travel / Buying Train Tickets online - I'm going to Poland soon [18]

Maybe you should buy your tickets on the intercity website?

Language / Polish Grammar - ile - ilu ? [9]

ilu is for human males, ile for females, children, animals and unanimated (there may be exceptions)

It goes with Polish Plural dividing nouns between masculine personal , and other.

And I never was learning Polish as it's my first language , but from this website and number of questions people ask while learning from Roseta Stone , please don't use it as your only resource, Polish is so grammar driven, you will be more confused if it's not explained.

Travel / Buying Train Tickets online - I'm going to Poland soon [18]

use this one? it seems to work: rozklad-pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en?

and the price is exactly like I always pay.
(I checked before registering, so I don't know what happens next)