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About the Polish vocative case - expressing affection?


Lillibell 1 | 2
2 Apr 2013 #1
Hello,

I'm trying to find out about the vocative case. I've read that the vocative case is often used to express affection; what I want to know is, in these circumstances where the vocative case is being used to express affection, if you were addressing someone, would you use the nickname form of their name? For example, I read that the vocative form of Dawid is Dawidzie. If a wife had a husband called Dawid, is this how she would address him -- Dawidzie? Or, is there a vocative form of Dawidek, and if so, what is it?

Thank you!
jon357 74 | 22,042
2 Apr 2013 #2
Or, is there a vocative form of Dawidek, and if so, what is it?

Dawidku.

As in "Ty jesteś moim skarbem Dawidku"
cinek 2 | 345
2 Apr 2013 #3
I've read that the vocative case is often used to express affection;

When you call your beloved with an affectionate nickname you use Vocative e.g.:
kotku (little cat, *****), dziecinko (baby), myszko (little mouse), żabciu (little frog - yes it may sound strange but little frog IS an affectionate nickname in Polish :-) etc.

Cinek
OP Lillibell 1 | 2
2 Apr 2013 #4
Thanks so much, that's really helpful.

What about family members with each other? Would a parents or siblings use Dawidku or Dawidzie when adressing their son/brother?

Thank you!
jon357 74 | 22,042
2 Apr 2013 #5
What about family members with each other? Would a parents or siblings use Dawidku or Dawidzie when adressing their son/brother?

Yes they would.

Whether or not they would use a diminutive form or not depends a lot on them as people and on the age of the person they're addressing. I often hear adult siblings and close friends use those forms.
OP Lillibell 1 | 2
3 Apr 2013 #6
Thank you very much!!

Sorry to bring this up again -- I had an extra question at the time that I meant to ask but forgot!

Would someone kindly tell me how "Dawidzie" is pronounced? I'd be so grateful if someone would write it down phonetically for me, because I've only ever seen in written down. I don't usually have much trouble with Polish pronunciation, but I'm just not sure about this.

Thank you very much! :)


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