Travel tips
Getting to Zakopane
Getting around Zakopane
Money Matters
Language
Info about Zakopane
Info about Poland
Language
There's no getting away from it - Polish is a tough language, and any early attempts at it will have you sounding like you're whispering, gargling and choking simultaneously. Many Poles, particularly the younger ones, speak 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 in Zakopane, many of them providing translation services, which may be necessary if you plan to stay any length of time in the area.
What do all those
signs mean?
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
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 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!
Click to listen | ||
Yes | No | Hello |
Zakopane language tips |
| You are such a idiot Frankenstain. If you requaire to put some coments in polish make sure they are corect.nob. |
reviewed by Kirsty from United Kingdom on Jun.25.2010 |
| wy jebane smiecie jestescie grubi pedaly |
reviewed by frankenstine from United States on Jun.25.2010 |
| I'd like to know some local jokes. Anyone got any good ones?! |
reviewed by Stan from United States on Feb.26.2010 |
| That's good to know Monika! |
reviewed by Jake from United Kingdom on Jan.27.2010 |
| "Drop by tonight and I'll show you my stamp collection" |
reviewed by Monika from Poland on Oct.06.2009 |
| It's a friendly site! I felt comfortable reading it. Although I have been learning some polish I need to know how much English I can expect from the local Polish people in this tourist location. I don't want to have higher/lower expectations than is realistic! Dzieki |
reviewed by Maree from United Kingdom on Oct.05.2009 |
| What is this "I'll show you my stamp collection? Is that some kind of kinky Polish metaphor?!!! Please inform... |
reviewed by Eric from United States on Sep.28.2009 |
| You should be making a proper recording "po goralsku" using highlander man dialogue! Good effort though! |
reviewed by Mariusz from Poland on Jul.31.2009 |
| Does this woman forgott about and sound? she says dzikuje and not dziekuj. Awfull for my polish ears |
reviewed by Gbor from Hungary on Jul.16.2009 |
| I'll be fluent in no time. Na zdrowie!!! |
reviewed by Ben from United Kingdom on Jun.25.2009 |
| It's pretty easy language, as I see! It's almost like Ukrainian, or sort of...I can't speak polish...but I can easily understand what they'r meanin' there) |
reviewed by Shade from Ukraine on Jun.18.2009 |
| Enjoyed listening to those. Not easy though! |
reviewed by Stan from United States on May.27.2009 |
| Actually you can find q, v and x in polish alphabet. |
reviewed by Margaret from United Kingdom on Jan.13.2009 |
| Do you know, how to ski? Does your family? No? |
reviewed by rricki from Slovak Republic on Dec.25.2008 |
| When asking, "Do you speak English?" it's better to say, "Czy pan/pani mowi po angielsku?" than to say "Czy mowisz po angielsku?" unless, of course, you are asking someone you're familiar with. |
reviewed by Marysia from Poland on Aug.04.2008 |
| Cool stuff but you should mention about how to translate Polish language to local(Highlanders)slang. |
reviewed by Andrew from Canada on Jul.04.2008 |
| |
reviewed by ch'timi from France on Mar.04.2008 |
| great help to get started.. |
reviewed by sasali from Ireland on Jan.09.2008 |
| for my summer holidays im going to Poland...yeah^^... bedzie fajnie-jak zawsze^^ |
reviewed by Adusia from Poland on May.12.2007 |
| Do you speak English? |
reviewed by from Poland on Feb.23.2007 |
| Nice site for Poland info, but a little too "YO DUDE"-y for me, but maybe that's your audience. One big thing missing tho |
reviewed by amoeba from France on Feb.20.2007 |
| great |
reviewed by lisa from United States on Jan.24.2007 |
Polish-English terms
Anthon's Dictionary
Wooden House - Apartment Kuznia
reviewed on Feb.19.2012
"In the Kuznia apartament we were one week. We are very pleased with the cho..."
write your own review now!
Cost-cuts for tourists
The news should lighten your heart while leaving a little extra ballast in your wallet - Zakopane authorities have the changed the way that ...
Planning our days
Transport
Sylvester event 2011/2012
The Godfather
Skiing in Zakopane
Snow Conditions
The Tatras
Zakopane Museums
Hasior Gallery
Nightlife
Lviv Life