Language / Interesting inconsistency between Polish and Russian [71]



I know that, but it is pronounced as "b-u-z-i". But it's not a PC term, so it does not mean "gay", but more like poofter. :D

Actually, the Polish kiss, buzi (b-u-ź-i) sounds quite similar to the Hungarian kiss, puszi (p-u-s-i), which then takes us to the Hungarian-English false friends as it is pronounced the same as the Engish pussy. :)) Looks like our ancestors were even more messed up round the lips..... :D

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


It's called inferiority complex...

But has anyone noticed that "nigger" is not only a racial term all the time, but a denomination of social status? In that sense, it can be applied to non-black people as well.

Language / Interesting inconsistency between Polish and Russian [71]


Even in England we have a laugh at the natives... To speak "correct" English, you should not ever let your tongue touch your teeth, and should not ever let your lips close. That's why they have no pure vowel or consonants. :o)

They still understand the Hungarian 'kiss', though. :)

News / RHD cars in Poland - my campaign to change the rules in Poland [128]

Now you regret it... Should've got rid of the old alcoholic Churchill back in those days, I say. Rechts fahren über alles. :P

Language / Polish slang phrases - most popular. [606]


And what about kumpel? It means “mate”, if I’m not mistaken. (Of course, not in the British English “vocative” way at the end of every single sentence, but as a reference between males who know each other.) Is it closer to przyjaciel, friend?

News / Poland's Organized Crime [58]


Sad but you're actually right here. In former(?) communist countries you can't really hear about the mafia for the very reason that the governments work as "legalized mafias"...

Language / Polish words difficult to translate into English [66]


Do you use kilkadziesiąt for everything over 20 (between 20 & 100), or use specifically “kilkatrzydzieści”, “kilkaczterdzieści” etc. as well? In English, they use twenty-some, thirty-some... hundred-some etc. (Several is no good. I.e. several hundred = 200 and more, while hundred-some = from 101 to up to a very maximum of 199.)

I can’t really think of anything specific for kilkanaście, apart from "ten or so".

Language / Can you recognise the nationality of foreign Polish speakers by their accent? [43]


S*d off. I can even say Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz, Chrząszczyrzewoszyce powiat £ękołody with no problem at all.
:)

Language / Too many English words in the Polish language! [709]


Not just Polish, Hungarian still have a couple of terms from German, following our close co-existence with the Austrians. :) Most of them would sound archaic in contemporary language, though, as we don't use or understand them now (i.e. "kravatt" for neck-tie, "anzix" for postcard). But when it comes to technical languages of different professions, it is still amazing to hear their German-sounding terms. My uncle used to be a mason, and it was like a riddle to solve when he started to explain how to build or fix something in a house...


Actually, szabla comes from the Hungarian. "Szabni" = to cut, to tailor something. "Szablya" [pronounced in Polish: "sabja"] = szabla.
A similar military term is szereg, from the Hungarian "sereg" (pron. "szereg" in Polish) = army or lots of people/things.
:)

Life / Racism in Poland - the future [441]

LoL, hopefully.

Language / Is the term 'Polak' derogatory?? [254]

IMHE (in my humble experience), as long as terms are not racial, they depend on the context heavily. Racial terms tend to be derogatory by definition.

Language / Polish and Hungarian, how similar? [53]


“A mixture of Slavic and Finno-Ugric”, you mean.
No, it’s not.

Language / Do Poles prefer US American or UK English language? [147]


Not bad, but when it comes to British accents, this Scottish bloke is the classic :)

youtube.com/watch?v=KH_kOjsXakM

Language / The Future of Polish Language [179]


What many English-speakers never realise is just how off they sound to non-native speakers! :D

Study / Opinions about '2 weeks intensive Polish course' [26]

If you can afford it, I do recommend taking the challenge of such a course. :)
I spent a fortnight at the summer school of the Catholic Uni of Lublin two years ago.

Their homepage: kul.pl/school,art_8284.html
The School of Polish Language and Culture, see "Programs for 2010/2011" for prices. They have semi-intensive / intensive / highly-intensive courses for up to 8 weeks.

And you can read my 'impression' here: greenvault.tvn.hu/lublin/

(Sorry for any non-working links, if any.)

Language / Polish nationality insults in Polish? [67]


In the "Eastern Bloc" of the communista era, anything "Russkie" indicated something not working appropriately. :) If someone with a runny nose is not using a tissue, we say he's using a Russkie handkerchief (HU. ruszki zsebkendő, PL. ruska chusteczka). Or a "Russkie bulldozer" = a lone worker with a shovel, "Russkie electricity" = you light a candle, "Russkie toilet" = a bucket etc.

Study / Which university (erazmusem)? Poznań, Lublin, Krosno and Białsko-Biała. [17]


I've spent two weeks at the Lublin Catholic University Summer School. That's been three years ago, but Lublin now is also a candidate for the European City of Culture, so there are lots of events focused around that -- might be an easy way to socialise. :)

Language / Dzwoniono / Czytano [22]

szveronika,
As far as I understand, czytano is the same as "széles körben olvasott könyv" (a book read by a wide public), but it sounds too cheesy, so in common speech we just say without referring to a person/persons: "sokan olvassák" (lots of them read it). That's why you might mistake it for "czytali" (they have read it). :)

Being a beginner in Polish, I don't know if these "-no" forms have the same "cheesy" (too sophisticated) taste in Polish or they can be used everyday without sounding like a snob. :)

Language / Foreigners speaking Polish - examples. [61]

Hungarians speaking Polish (thick accent as far as I can tell, ignoring differences between ś and sz, i and y etc., LoL):

youtu.be/HMIR1PiQeho

You can also see 1956.pl for the former Hungarian ambassador speaking Polish.