How You Say?

Leje jak z cebra!

English Phonemes: “LEH-yeh yahk z TSEH-brah”

Literal Translation: It pours like from bucket.

Elegant Translation: It’s pouring like from a bucket.

English Equivalent: It’s raining cats …

Miód Na Duszy 

English Phonemes: “myood nah DOO-[sz]ih”

Literal Translation: Honey on soul.

Elegant Translation: Honey on the soul.

English Equivalent: Heartwarming.

This is a lovely way of saying somethi…

To fraszka!

English Phonemes: “toh FRA[SZ]-kah”

Literal Translation: This poem.

Elegant Translation: This is a poem.

English Equivalent: It’s a snap. 

A “fraszka” is a very specific type of poem. It’s a t…

Chcesz mnie nabrać? 

English Phonemes: “htseh[sz] myneh NAH-brahch”

Literal Translation: You want me to take on?

Elegant Translation: You want to take me on?

English Equivalent: Are you pulling my leg?

Bo…

Ty mnie nie nabierzesz! 

English Phonemes: “tih myneh nyeh nah-BYEH-[rz]e[sz]”

Literal Translation: You me not you will take on!

Elegant Translation: You’re not gonna take me on!

English Equivalent: To p…

Psi żywot!

English Phonemes: “pshee [Ż]IH-voht”

Literal Translation: Dogs’ life.

Elegant Translation: Dog life.

English Equivalent: Not fit for a dog. Going to the dogs. For the Birds. 

This phrase descri…

Ale mu nawalił w czapkę!

English Phonemes: “AH-leh moo nah-WAH-leew v [CZ]AHP-keh”

Literal Translation: How to him he did dump into hat.

Elegant Translation: How he dumped into his hat!

English Equivalen…

Pierwsza liga!

English Phonemes: “PYEHR-v[sz]ah LEE-gah”

Literal Translation: First league.

English Equivalent: Top notch. First place.

This week, let’s learn a cute, positive phrase! Something you can u…

Podłożyć świnię.

English Phonemes: “pohd-WOH-[ż]ihch SHFEEN-y[ę]”

Literal Translation: To put under pig.

Elegant Translation: To plant a pig.

English Equivalent: To trip someone up. 

This is another fun p…

Powiesić na kimś psy.

English Phonemes: “poh-VYEH-sheech nah keemsh psih”

Literal Translation: To hang on someone dogs.

Elegant Translation: To hang dogs on someone.

English Equivalent: To sling mud.

Boun…

Zmieszać kogoś z błotem.

English Phonemes: “ZMYEH-[sz]ahch KOH-gohsh z BWOH-tehm”

Literal Translation: To mix someone with mud.

Elegant Translation: To coat/cover someone in mud.

English Equivalent: To s…

Jeśli nie potrafisz nie pchaj się na afisz.

English Phonemes: “YEHSH-lee nyeh poh-TRAH-fee[sz] nyeh phahj shyeh nah AH-fee[sz]”

Literal Translation: If not you are able, not shove self onto poster.

Eleg…

Gruszki na wierzbie!

English Phonemes: “GROO[SZ]-kee nah VYE[Ż]-byeh”

Literal Translation: Pears on willow.

Elegant Translation: Pears on a willow tree.

English Equivalent: To promise the moon.

In Polish,…

Chcesz pozjadać wszystkie rozumy?

English Phonemes: “htseh[sz] poh-ZYAH-dahch F[SZ]IHS-tkyeh roh-ZOO-mih”

Literal Translation: You want to eat all brains?

Elegant Translation: You want to eat up all the…

Pada deszczyk pada
Pada sobie równo
Raz wpadnie na kwiatek
Raz wpadnie na... bratek!

Literal Translation:

It falls, little rain, it falls
It falls itself evenly
Once it will fall onto flower
Once it will fal…

Jeść nie woła.

English Phonemes: “yehshch nyeh VOH-wah”

Literal Translation: To eat not calls.

Elegant Translation: This doesn’t call out for food.

English Equivalent: This can wait.

This is an old idiom,…

Nie nabijaj mnie w butelkę.

English Phonemes: “nyeh nah-BEE-yahy mnyeh v boo-TEHL-k[ę]”

Literal Translation: Not you stuff me into bottle!

Elegant Translation: Don’t stuff me into a bottle!

English Equiv…

Mucha nie siada!

English Phonemes: “MOO-hah nyeh SHYAH-dah”

Literal Translation: Fly not sits!

Elegant Translation: A fly doesn’t sit!

English Equivalent: Flawless. Perfection.

This is a really fun phrase…

Trzeba brać nogi za pas!

English Phonemes: “T[SZ]EH-bah brahch NOH-gee zah pahs”

Literal Translation: It’s necessary to take legs behind belt!

Elegant Translation: It’s time to take your legs behind you…

Trzeba dać nogę!

English Phonemes: “T[SZ]EH-bah dahch NOH-g[ę]”

Literal Translation: It’s necessary to give leg!

Elegant Translation: It’s time to give a leg!

English Equivalent: Make a run for it!

This i…