Warsaw travel guide to restaurants pubs bars apartments shops and hotels in Warsaw Poland

Language

Fun with words


There are a whole range of Polish words which look pretty similar to their English equivalents, so signs such as POLICJA, RESTAURACJA, HOTEL and TAXI are hardly going to tax most travellers, but here are a handful of others that may be useful:

Kawiarnia - Cafe
Herbaciarnia - Tea House
Ksiegarnia - Book Shop
Mieso - Butchery
Nabial - Dairy products
Sklep - Shop
Prasa - Newsagent
Dworzec - Station
Lotnisko - Airport

Click & Listen!

Yes

No

Hello

Goodbye

How are you?

Please

Thank you

How much does this cost?

Do you speak English?

Cheers!

I lost my passport - can you help me?

How much does beer cost?

Two beers please!

Do you have a sister?

Drop by tonight and I'll show you my stamp collection

There's no getting away from it - Polish is a tough language, any early attempts at which will have you sounding like you're whispering, gargling and choking simultaneously. Many Poles, particularly the younger ones, speak a little English, but that's no excuse not to learn at least a few of those tortuous tongue-twisters, so we've included. at the bottom of this page, a brief guide to get you started. For those who wish to get more involved, there are a host of excellent language schools, many of them providing translation services, which may be necessary if you plan to stay any length of time in the city.

The Polish language uses the Latin alphabet as in English, however you will find a few extra letters, (formed from Latin letters but with an additional slash or hook), bringing the total to 32. A few letters you won't find are: q, v, and x. The only exception to this rule are direct translations from other languages (e.g. "fax') and, of course, slang and marketing-language.

We've recently added our new audio pronunciation guide (right) to help with those tricky Polish pronunciations! If you've got some good ideas on how to make our language section better, let us know!

a few words...



Language Schools
Polish Chat Up Lines
Pronunciation made easier

 


Warsaw Hosts Euro2102 Draw
Representatives from across UEFA's member associations as well as UEFA president Michel Platini gathered in Warsaw's Palace of Culture and S...


New Orleans Gentleman's Night Club

reviewed on Feb.09.2010
"What a fantastic place. Girls are of very higt standard and very very professionel. Entrance fee is about 50zl and labdances starts at 100zl..."
write your own review now!


Getting to Warsaw
Getting around Warsaw
Tips for travellers
Money Matters
Localization Services
The Big Search Page


Warsaw Legends


Theatres in Warsaw


Stag Weekends


Tallinn Travel Guide

Polish language tips

"Whats with the stamp thing? Is it common to collect stamps in poland?"

goober
United States
Jan.22.2010
rates this page
3/5

"My boyfriend is from poland. I learned alot so far but since im english its extreamly hard for me to pronounce polish words..Practice does make perfect. Ive been learning for about 5 months and ive learned so much. Polish is a beautiful language."

tessa
United States
Jan.13.2010
rates this page
3/5

"I suck at polish (for a school project)!!!!! "

L0v3rJ081eS
Canada
Jan.12.2010
rates this page
3/5

"Hi there Donald - 'welcome to the family' would be 'witamy w rodzinie' (said like: vee-TAH-mih vroh-GEE-njeh)"

K
Poland
Nov.16.2009
rates this page
3/5

"I need help!!How do you say"Welcome to do family" in polish? My future sun in law is from poland and i would like to tell him that when i will meet him first time!!!"

Donald Bajzat
United States
Nov.16.2009
rates this page
4/5

"I need halp!!"

Donald Bajzat
United States
Nov.16.2009
rates this page
4/5

"lots of people whant to no polish yak sea mush means how are you doing dozze a te means are you good and jendroby means helo"

briustia
Poland
Oct.12.2009
rates this page
3/5

""You look great" = "¦wietnie wygl±dasz""

Shoreline
Poland
Oct.09.2009
rates this page
4/5

"How do you say. You look great in Polish?"

Iain
Canada
Oct.08.2009
rates this page
3/5

"i love you = kocham cie :) also... i didnt mean to put my below comment lol... i thought it was the sign up bit :S.. :)"

Ears
United Kingdom
Sep.22.2009
rates this page
4/5

"Tak, Dobrze... thus far"

Ears
United Kingdom
Sep.22.2009
rates this page
4/5

"My first visit Poland is ticking now.I tried learning Polish by listening to a CD in my car. Polish seems to be friendly. Thanks for your advice. "

LIKA
Japan
Sep.11.2009
rates this page
3/5

"could someone please tell me how to say I love you in polish with how to pronounce it, thanks"

Janusz
United States
Sep.02.2009
rates this page
5/5

"I went to Lublin City for a couple of days, beautiful, unexplored City, but they don't have a motorway between WARSAW and LUBLIN yet, so trip took about 1.5 hour. They have got cheap regional lager called "Perla", alcohol, food, weed... are much cheaper than in Warsaw. I recommend this site: http://kultura.lublin.eu/0.html?locale=en_GB it's available in English, Polish, Ukrainian and Spanish:) ps. ppl in Lublin, in general speak British-English:):):):)"

ManchesterChav
United Kingdom
Aug.29.2009
rates this page
5/5

"polish is very difficult i think. i hope i'll find people who can speak english :)"

antidote
Turkey
Jul.24.2009
rates this page
3/5

"Polish is a very difficult language! But it's also very beautiful. It's worth the effort to learn the basics even."

Jean
France
Jun.28.2009
rates this page
3/5

"I think polish is really good language.I'll be in warsaw in a few months and I really wonder there.I wonder people,language,culture...almost everything"

elias
Turkey
Jun.26.2009
rates this page
4/5

"I will visit warsaw and krakow this fall for my first time with my old friend. Please let me know the words which I need at least. "

LIKA
Japan
May.20.2009
rates this page
3/5

"The more languages u know - the more u a Human. Our languages are very similar, so, think, in 2-3 months, I'll manage with Polish. One thing is if u DO wish to know or only seem to be. Best regards from Ukraine and welcome to Chernivtsi !"

Nadin
Ukraine
May.15.2009
rates this page
4/5

"It's encouraging to know that even you have difficulty pronouncing some Polish words. As for me, I tried my best when I went to Poland, and I can say proudly that I managed to pronounce correctly (that's what I think at least) such complicated street names as Plac Trzech Krzy¿y (Three Crosses Square).I have been learning Polish for about 8 months and I do my best to understand it and speak Polish fluently. I think we will have a great time learning Polish here :)"

Ewa
Canada
May.13.2009
rates this page
5/5

"Tout d'abord, la langue polonaise n'a jamais de difficulté à la compréhension mutuelle, et des locuteurs non-natifs ne peuvent généralement pas distinguer facilement les variations régionales./First, the Polish language has never difficulty in mutual understanding, and non-native speakers often can not easily distinguish regional variations. "

Sylwia
France
May.13.2009
rates this page
5/5

"reply to Jim Goldman That's why most of the nations think that Americans are total ignorant. Poland was wiped out from map of Europe for nearly 300 years and Poles did not loose their language and culture because of that. Remember mister USA - our culture is much older than yours. And no one can be called Native American other than Indians (so called by Christopher Columbus fatal mistake). Read some books mr Jim before You write idiocy like that."

KUBA
United Kingdom
May.06.2009
rates this page
4/5

"I'd say 60 million people (of those only 40 million actually in Poland) is not a limited number of people, especially since 20 million are spread all over the globe. I'd be more worried about smaller countries' languages dying out, like Latvia's or Lithuania's, as Polish will be around for some time - until we're all speaking Chinese anyway."

Anka
United Kingdom
Mar.23.2009
rates this page
5/5

"Polish is not here for ever - This language is not user friendly and is spoen by a limited number of people in a defined geographical area. The spoken language in Poland will soon be Russian / German / English . Jim"

Jim Goldman
United States
Mar.22.2009
rates this page
3/5

"honestly give me a good phrase to use to pick up a girl in bar - not too tacky but not too serious. something relatively easy (ie sans stamps collections...)"

ida
United States
Feb.26.2009
rates this page
3/5

"Polish is super hard to learn. I've been living in Poland for almost 4 months, and the only english I hear is at english schools.Yes the women do look like natural super models. "

K
United States
Feb.19.2009
rates this page
3/5

"dude i need help in my project with polish words plz help .........thank you"

Jonathan
United States
Feb.11.2009
rates this page
3/5

"I think the language of Poland is beautiful and women very very beautiful."

PR.
Algeria
Jan.21.2009
rates this page
5/5

"If U want to learn polish just write to me :))) My e-mail : wege4animals@op.pl Msn: fufek_lj@hotmail.com"

Kyuno Tsukiyama
United Kingdom
Dec.20.2008
rates this page
5/5

"Hey you! Yes… you!!! On Tuesday and Wednesday, 16th and 17th of December AEGEE-Warszawa is once again organizing a European Day of Languages. This time we also remembered about all those who still have some Polish-language problems or … just visit Warsaw and have some free time:) We invite you for both: Polish your Polish workshop and Language Café. (more information about the program and directions: http://www.edl.aegee.waw.pl) POLISH YOUR POLISH!!! Wednesday, 17th of December, 10 a.m. – Riviera Dormitory building You have a great opportunity to take part in a unique workshop on Polish language!!! It will be a short course for both: those who have already started a journey with the language and also for those who still cannot overcome their fears and have not been brave enough before. Workshop led by two young professionals - girls from the Warsaw University, will be composed mostly on interactive elements. It will take about 90 min. You will find out how easy the Polish language is, sometimes funny and so useful in this country:) It will also be a good possibility to meet other people from different countries! Places are limited – sign in now! http://edl.aegee.waw.pl LANGUAGE CAFÉ!!! Tuesday, 16th of December, 8 p.m. – Equilibrium Pub Language Café means just free conversations for everybody!!! You will meet people from other countries and get to know about languages you are interested in! You can also speak in your language and share the experience of the Polish language. There will be also people interested in your language and country willing to find out some interesting things about it. Come and enjoy the cold beer/hot coffee meeting:) Don’t miss the chance! http://edl.aegee.waw.pl"

kasia
Poland
Dec.14.2008
rates this page
5/5

"accented syllables would be PRO-sheh BAR-tso, okay hope that helps"

kriminal
United States
Dec.10.2008
rates this page
3/5

"hi Judy - " you're welcome " is " prosze bardzo " or pronounced something like 'pro-sheh bar-tso'"

kriminal
United States
Dec.10.2008
rates this page
3/5

"How do you say 'You're Welcome'? Judy"

Judy
United States
Dec.10.2008
rates this page
3/5

"easiest way is to invite her to a specific place - ie, 'czy pojdziesz ze mna na kawe?' (chy puj-dzesh zeh mnow na ka-ve) which literaly translates to 'will you go for a cup of coffe with me?' sorry but not an expert on phonetic spelling... -- or see above "click & listen" options and use last one :)"

kriminal
United States
Dec.09.2008
rates this page
3/5

"how do you say will you go out with me "

nick bewen
United States
Dec.05.2008
rates this page
3/5

"Could someone please help me and tell me how to say "In family there is strength and love" ? i'm getting it as a tattoo and want the translation to be correct! many thanks!"

Lauren
United States
Nov.12.2008
rates this page
4/5

"Polish is a very beautiful language to learn.. Is kind of hard for latin speakers but.. who really wants.. I`m sure that they can do it. Kocham Cię is so nice to hear.."

Florin
Romania
Oct.26.2008
rates this page
4/5

"Thanks, Ania."

Lynn
United States
Oct.14.2008
rates this page
3/5

"Lynn, it's "Witamy w naszym domu" - pronounced vit-ami v nash-im domoo"

Ania
Poland
Oct.13.2008
rates this page
4/5

"How do you say "Welcome to our home" ?"

Lynn
United States
Oct.10.2008
rates this page
3/5

"My mom is from poland"

crystal
Canada
Oct.01.2008
rates this page
3/5

"Nice page =) Kocham Polske!"

Zosia
Sweden
Sep.19.2008
rates this page
4/5

"yo have a great teacher but you should say them slower."

Jenny
United States
Sep.16.2008
rates this page
3/5

"You have a great teacher but you should say the words slower then say them faster."

MEG
United States
Aug.25.2008
rates this page
4/5

"Suzy, http://www.am.lublin.pl/news_and_announcements_id_3925.html"

Sylwia
United Kingdom
Aug.23.2008
rates this page
3/5

"Cathy, pretty girl is "ladna dziewczyna" - pronounced wad-na dziev-chy-na"

Anka
Poland
Jul.25.2008
rates this page
3/5

"How do you say pretty girl in polish. The correct spelling and translation, how to say it Thank you!"

Cathy Kitkoski
United States
Jul.24.2008
rates this page
3/5

"dla ciebie-for you dla mnie -for me:)"

agna
Poland
Jul.15.2008
rates this page
3/5

"Sorry.. out of topic.. just wanna ask, in Poland, which university offers medical study? Thanks in advance.."

Suzy
Malaysia
Jul.14.2008
rates this page
3/5

"Elizabeth, he is saying "you're very beautiful, I like your picture""

Warsaw Life
Poland
Jul.10.2008
rates this page
3/5