How You Say?

Rozejdzie się po kościach.

English Phonemes: “roh-ZAY-jyeh shyeh poh KOHSH-chyahh”
Literal Translation: It will spread itself on bones.
Elegant Translation: It will spread itself upon the bones.
English …

Z tej mąki chleba nie będzie.

English Phonemes: “z tay M[Ą]-kee HLEH-bah nyeh B[Ę]-jyeh”

Literal Translation: From this flour bread not will be.

Elegant Translation: From this flour, there will be no br…

Chcesz mnie zrobić w konia?

English Phonemes: “htseh[sz] mnyeh ZROH-beech v KOH-nyah”

Literal Translation: You want me to make into horse?

Elegant Translation: Do you want to make me into a horse?

Englis…

Sobota dłuższa od niedzieli.

English Phonemes: “soh-BOH-tah DWOO[Ż]-[sz]ah ohd nyeh-JYEH-lee”

Literal Translation: Saturday longer from Sunday.

Elegant Translation: Saturday is longer than Sunday.

This i…

Bardzo Dobrze! 

English Phonemes: “BAHR-dzoh DOHB-[rz]eh”

Literal Translation: Very good!

Happy 100 episodes! To celebrate, I thought I’d give you this quote for when you’re out and about. You can use t…

Każdy orze jak może.

English Phonemes: “KAH[Ż]-dih OH-[rz]Eh yahk MOH-[ż]eh”

Literal Translation: Everyone plows how is able

Elegant Translation: Everyone plows however they can

English Equivalent: We do…

Happy 2-Year Podcastiversary!

No regular lesson today. I’m gonna sing you a traditional Happy Birthday song in Polish!

“Sto Lat” Lyrics and Translation: 
http://www.polishamericancenter.org/StoLat.htm

Al…

Siadaj i zajadaj!

English Phonemes: “SHAH-dahy ee zah-YAH-dahy”

Literal Translation: Sit down and tuck in!

English Equivalent: Dig in!

This is a fun and informal way to tell someone to ‘dig in’ at a meal…

Do trzech razy sztuka!

English Phonemes: “doh t[sz]ehh RAH-zih [SZ]TOO-kah”

Literal Translation: To three times art!

Elegant Translation: The third time’s the art!

English Equivalent: Third time’s the ch…

Jak się człowiek śpieszy, to się diabeł cieszy.

English Phonemes: “yahk shyeh [CZ]WOH-vyek SHPYEH-[sz]ih toh shyeh DYAH-behw CHYEH-[sz]ih”

Literal Translation: When themself person hurries then himself…

Co, masz węża w kieszeni?

English Phonemes: “tsoh ma[sz] V[Ę]-[ż]ah v kyeh-[SZ]EH-nee”

Literal Translation: What, you have snake in packet?

Elegant Translation: What, you have a snake in your pocket?

Thi…

Już ja swoje wiem!

English Phonemes: “yoo[sz] yah SFOH-yeh wyehm”

Literal Translation: Already I my own I know.

Elegant Translation: I already know my own.

English Equivalent: I know what’s what. I know …

Ale masz muchy w nosie!

English Phonemes: “AH-leh ma[sz] MOO-hih v NOH-shyeh”

Literal Translation: How you have flies in nose!

Elegant Translation: Wow, have you got flies in your nose!

English Equivalen…

Ale narobiłem/narobiłam bigosu!

English Phonemes: “AH-leh nah-roh-BEE-wehm(wahm) bee-GOH-soo”

Literal Translation: Oh how I made cabbage stew!

Elegant Translation: Wow, did I make the cabbage stew!

Engli…

Każdy sobie rzepkę skrobie!

English Phonemes: “KAH[Ż]-dih SOH-byeh [Ż]EHP-keh SKROH-byeh”

Literal Translation: Everyone themselves kneecap is scraping!

Elegant Translation: Everyone is scraping their ow…

Spoko!

English Phonemes: “SPOH-koh”

Literal Translation: Peace!

English Equivalents: Cool. Calm down. Take it easy.

“Spoko” is awesome and full of nuance and history. It’s one of my favorite words. Here’…

Rzucać grochem o ścianę!

English Phonemes: “[RZ]OO-tsahch GROH-hem oh SHCHYAH-n[ę]”

Literal Translation: To throw peas against wall!

Elegant Translation: Throwing peas against a wall!

English Equivalent:…

Co nagle to po diable!

English Phonemes: “tsoh NAH-gleh toh poh DYAH-bleh”

Literal Translation: What suddenly this after devil.

Elegant Translation: What is sudden is modeled after the devil.

English Equ…

Jadę na ferie!

English Phonemes: “YAH-d[ę] nah FEH-ree-yeh”

Literal Translation: I ride on vacation!

Elegant Translation: I’m going on vacation!

You can use this phrase any time you have a plan to go on …

Part 2 of the 2-part series!!

Wlazło mi do głowy!

English Phonemes: “VLAHZ-woh mee doh GWOH-vih”

Literal Translation: It crawled to me into head!

Elegant Translation: It crawled into my head!

English Equi…