the actual Polish pronunciation.
roughly (vowels like Spanish)
yah-goh-DOHFF-skee
if you go to google translate and put the name, then there's a recording you can play
translate.google.pl/?hl=pl&sl=pl&tl=en&text=Jagodowski&op=translate
Poles in America: How do you pronounce your Polish surname?
roughly (vowels like Spanish)
yah-goh-DOHFF-skee
if you go to google translate and put the name, then there's a recording you can play
translate.google.pl/?hl=pl&sl=pl&tl=en&text=Jagodowski&op=translate
Givemebeer
10 Dec 2020 #122
Nope, I have no idea. What does it mean?
@mafketis
Thanks, I was wondering if it was being pronounced correctly. I'm always cautious of Google's pronunciation though. I've heard that sound can be off or the translation isn't accurate.
@mafketis
Thanks, I was wondering if it was being pronounced correctly. I'm always cautious of Google's pronunciation though. I've heard that sound can be off or the translation isn't accurate.
I've heard that sound
The sound there was close enough...
Jagodowski is most likely derived from jagoda (blueberry) though the cognate in most other slavic languages means strawberry
Givemebeer
10 Dec 2020 #124
1 hr ago #123
Awesome thank you mafketis! I'm thinking about changing my name back to Jagodowski. I wish they didn't change it in the first place.
changing my name back to Jagodowski
to expand a bit, jagoda technically usually refers to bilberries (aka European blueberries) or even just 'berry'... but that's a minor quibble I thought I'd get in before anyone else can... (American blueberry is borówka)
Still I'm just assuming that's the origin...
Givemebeer
11 Dec 2020 #126
I appreciate the info. I just realized my entire name roughly translates "to behold bitter blueberries". I am mildly entertained.
MrsPriz
12 Dec 2020 #127
Thank you both. I shared this with my husband and he reminded me that he understood the name to mean newcomer in Polish which Google (so hard to know when to trust) tells me is przybyły with the same basic pronunciation. Now I know I can trust Google on this one and teach our children how to say it properly in the intended language.
Think of the chaos this would create for Genealogists!
...and should be dropped at naturalization
Think of the chaos this would create for Genealogists!
ForumUser
13 Dec 2020 #128
In English, we pronounce it as prizz-blow. How would you say it in Polish?
"Przybyło" = "(Neuter-gendered noun, or Polish neuter pronoun "Ono") + arrived" (Example in sentence form: "Awokado przybyło")
Emphasis on 2nd-last syllable of individual Polish word, unless word is derived from non-Polish origin (Some Polish verb tense forms are also exceptions). In this particular word "Przybyło" the emphasized syllable of word is the 2nd vowel Y.
Polish letter Y always pronounced like English letter I and English Y in the words "With" and "Myth" (There is no double Polish YY, which would hypothetically be pronounced as a double-length vowel, and would therefore a 2-syllable sound). There's no "Silent Y" except words of non-Polish origin.
Polish letters B & P pronounced identical to English B & P (except unlike double English consonants BB & PP, double Polish consonants BB & PP are pronounced twice in quick succession, as letters B & P are individually pronounced as "non-continuous" consonants. Also, when spelled within certain Polish consonant clusters, Polish B pronounced as Polish P, and Polish P pronounced as Polish B...although original spellings remain unchanged). There's no "Silent B" nor "Silent P" except words of non-Polish origin.
Polish RZ (and also Polish letter Ż) pronounced like French letter J in "Bonjour"...but Polish RZ pronounced like Polish SZ a.k.a. English SH when spelled immediately before or immediately after individual or clustered Polish consonants C, CZ, Ć, F, H, K, P, S, SZ, Ś, and T...hence Polish PRZ pronounced like Polish PSZ a.k.a. English PSH...and Polish RZP / ŻP pronounced like Polish SZP a.k.a. English SHP (Original spellings remain unchanged).
(Polish Ż, when spelled within certain Polish consonant clusters, is pronounced like Polish SZ when ONLY immediately before individual or clustered Polish consonants C, CZ, Ć, F, H, K, P, S, SZ, Ś, and T...Polish B also pronounced like Polish P when spelled immediately before those same individual or clustered...Original spellings remain unchanged).
(Polish PŻ pronounced like Polish BŻ / BRZ, and Polish SZŻ pronounced like double Polish RZRZ / ŻŻ...Double RZRZ / ŻŻ is pronounced as slightly lengthened version of singular RZ / Ż, as RZ / Ż are individually pronounced as "continuous" consonants...Polish SZB pronounced like Polish RZB / ŻB...Original spellings remain unchanged).
(Both RZ and Ż pronounced like SZ when spelled in last-letter position. Also, Polish B pronounced like Polish P when spelled in last-letter position...That rule applies, if the word is spoken all by itself, or is last spoken word in sequence, or if the next spoken word in sequence begins with Polish individual consonants C, CZ, Ć, F, H, K, P, S, SZ, Ś, or T before 1st vowel...or if next spoken word begins with certain Polish consonant clusters before 1st vowel. Original spellings remain unchanged).
Polish letter Ł always pronounced like English W in the word "With" (except "Silent Ł" is when Ł is spelled between consonants, and "Silent Ł" when "Consonant + Ł" spelled in last-letter position. Double ŁŁ is pronounced as slightly lengthened version of singular Ł, as letter Ł is individually pronounced as a "continuous" consonant).
Polish O always pronounced somewhat halfway point between English pronunciations (if American/Canadian-Anglophone accent) of the vowels in the words "Toll" and "Tall". Double Polish OO pronounced as a double-length vowel, and therefore a 2-syllable sound. There's no "Silent O" except words of non-Polish origin.
Cheryl Sheffield
30 Sep 2025 #129
I am trying to pronounce the following surname correctly: Przedwojewski
P - S - H - E- T- V - O- Y - E - F - S - K- E- E
pronounce the following surname correctly: Przedwojewski
pshehd voh YEFF skee
pronounce the vowels e o i as in Spanish or Italian.
The hardest part is the 'prz' at the beginning, pronounced 'psh'
Amen, Maf!
Open vowels in Polish are a breeze for Latin language speakers
such as in Spanish or Italian, it's those myriad consonant clusters
over which they break their tongue:-)
Open vowels in Polish are a breeze for Latin language speakers
such as in Spanish or Italian, it's those myriad consonant clusters
over which they break their tongue:-)
TanyaB81272 - | 4
27 Nov 2025 #133
My surname is Broniszewski. Polish people here obviously would know how to pronounce it correctly, but I just go by the American way - I say "Bron-a-zoo-ski. But even when I do say it, when people try to repeat it, they cannot. So I just say, "just call me Tanya"
My surname is Broniszewski.
Change it to Bro and you will be everybody's best friend.
just call me Tanya"
Tanya B would be good too.
Willoweverchild
2 Jun 2026 #136
@mafketis
My last name before marriage was also Jagodowski. I was brought up in a very Polish household where it was pronounced Yago-doff-ska (meaning berry picker)
My last name before marriage was also Jagodowski. I was brought up in a very Polish household where it was pronounced Yago-doff-ska (meaning berry picker)
pronounced Yago-doff-ska
That would be the feminine form, names ending in -cki or -ski are marked for gender
-ski masc
-ska fem
-scy plural (inc men)
-skie (if referring to women and/or children)
Ron2
5 Jun 2026 #138
I'm often surprised when I meet someone with a clearly Polish last name and point it out and they have no idea it's Polish. They don't know how to say it or what it means.
People spend so much time online, but something like their own name doesn't seem to matter. Yet they can really talk about a game score or the best ketchup for ribs.
People spend so much time online, but something like their own name doesn't seem to matter. Yet they can really talk about a game score or the best ketchup for ribs.
@Ron2
If they are talking about putting ketchup on their ribs, not knowing anything about their last name is but trivial matter. Ketchup on ribs is a far more urgent infliction that demands an expeditious remedy. Such a ghastly gastronomical practice must be stopped...therapy, drugs, hypnosis...do whatever it takes to heal these poor bastards.
If they are talking about putting ketchup on their ribs, not knowing anything about their last name is but trivial matter. Ketchup on ribs is a far more urgent infliction that demands an expeditious remedy. Such a ghastly gastronomical practice must be stopped...therapy, drugs, hypnosis...do whatever it takes to heal these poor bastards.