Return PolishForums LIVE
  PolishForums Archive :
Archives - 2005-2009 / Language  % width 113

The only polish word a foreigner won't ever say correctly :P


JustysiaS 13 | 2,239  
24 Feb 2008 /  #61
czcinie

its 'trzcinie', and really it shoud be 'chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie w Szczebrzeszynie, a Szczebrzeszyn z tego słynie', which means 'a beetle/cockroach makes a sound (whatever you call the sounds they make lol) in the cane in Szczebrzeszyn (Polish town), Szczebrzeszyn is famous for it'.
posith - | 11  
24 Feb 2008 /  #62
sorry, of course it's trzcinie.. thx Justysia,
JustysiaS 13 | 2,239  
24 Feb 2008 /  #63
tut tut, shouldnt make mistakes like that panie studencie ;)
posith - | 11  
24 Feb 2008 /  #64
wierz mi, palę się ze wstydu teraz :( Rzadko mi się zdarza pisać nieortograficznie
JustysiaS 13 | 2,239  
24 Feb 2008 /  #65
mam taką nadzieję! :)
ziomek  
24 Feb 2008 /  #66
Hi.
I think for the forigners the hardest in Polish are all the "wizzing" collocations, containing "szcz", "strz", "drz"/"brz"/"grz" etc.

trzeszczeć (to crackle), Grzegorz (boys name), brzęczeć (to buzz, to jingle), strzelać (to shoot), zbrzydnąć (become ugly) and so on. Try to say "zbrzydł" correctly ;-)

In fact, most Polish native speakers don't say "strz" correctly, they usually say "szcz" instead. Same with "drz" followed by consonant - ex. "drzwi" (door) - usually we say "dżwi" (which is incorrect).
posith - | 11  
24 Feb 2008 /  #67
some time ago I met this german guy who couldn't say "Anka". And that's a simple word :-).
it was hard for him to merge n with k.
JustysiaS 13 | 2,239  
24 Feb 2008 /  #68
you shouldve tried to make him say 'w*nker' ;)

most Polish native speakers don't say "strz" correctly

Same with "drz" followed by consonant

yeah some of them dont, but if you try being exactly correct and pronounce everything exactly as its written, including ę and ą, people would think youre stuck up and that youre talking down to them.
Arien  
24 Feb 2008 /  #69
jesteś ostra

Kto Ci tak powiedział? (lol)
polski_zyd 2 | 72  
24 Feb 2008 /  #70
I'd like to hear someone English say:

"Przedsiębiorstwo Świnoujście nie jest w Województwie Dolnośląskim", lol
Tommy  
24 Feb 2008 /  #71
See how a German SS officer is trying to put down the name Brzęczyszczykiewicz (from the Polish comedy film):
JustysiaS 13 | 2,239  
24 Feb 2008 /  #72
oh that is legendary lol
marcyspp - | 10  
24 Feb 2008 /  #73
Last week my Canadian teacher said that the biggest problem for him is to say correctly (and understand the difference) between: kasza, kasia and kasa. Whenever we hear him calling my friend, we have no doubts that's hard for him :o)
slepek  
24 Feb 2008 /  #74
spirytusik najwydestylowaniuchniejszy
posith - | 11  
24 Feb 2008 /  #75
One word:
- Konstantynopolitańczykiewiczkówianeczka.

- Wszcznij (od: wszcząć)

- Dziewięćsetdziewięćdziesięciodziewięciotysięcznik. (mountain 9,99km of height)
Tommy  
24 Feb 2008 /  #76
So, instead of "Strzała na stole" we say "Szczała na stole" ?????
JustysiaS 13 | 2,239  
24 Feb 2008 /  #77
Szczała na stole

she doesnt sound very civilised ha ha
Grzegorz_Brzecz - | 2  
24 Feb 2008 /  #78
Try to say "Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz" it's a name and surename. or the longest surename ever "konstyntanopolitańczykiewiczówna"
Tommy  
24 Feb 2008 /  #79
Tommy wrote:
Szczała na stole

she doesnt sound very civilised ha ha

Because she got "zostawiona przez Indianina" and she was really angry. She did it to protest against being dumped.
Bondi 4 | 142  
25 Feb 2008 /  #80
>I think for the forigners the hardest in Polish are all the "wizzing" collocations, containing "szcz", "strz", "drz"/"brz"/"grz" etc.

And the collisions of ł and w. They absolutely do my head in. You know, like słowo, słońce, Wrocław, Włocławek... I have to force myself not to say either "l" or "v" (i.e "swowo", "Wroclaw").

In English, there is a phrase to practice the difference between v and w: "The vicar of Wakefield's wife gave a warm welcome to the visitors." Can you suggest me something similar in Polish?
MareGaea 29 | 2,751  
25 Feb 2008 /  #81
Hm, found this one pretty tough either...

ubezdźwięczniania (devoicing)

M-G (trouble)
pdb - | 3  
25 Feb 2008 /  #82
teacher said that the biggest problem for him is to say correctly (and understand the difference) between: kasza, kasia and kasa.

I've noticed that English speaking persons have difficulties with hearing the difference between 'wiesz' and 'wieś'. Maybe comparing them with 'ż' and 'ź' as their voiced counterparts would help to hear that.
rog1201 - | 16  
26 Feb 2008 /  #83
I'm from Poland and I'm laughing when I'm reading this. I don't know that my language is so difficult. I can help you with something if you want:)
pipeczko  
29 Feb 2008 /  #84
i've seen it written out like htse, but i just can't seem to make that noise!

I'm not surprised you can't make that noise. Try this:

Start by making a gutteral 'h' sound at the back of your throat - like you want to clear your throat when you have a, shall we say, very wet cold.

Now, keep that going, and then finish it off by saying 'tse' like a chinese person who is slightly cross.

That's roughly it. Practise that lots of times (it should sound quite extreme), and then when you can do that, try relaxing and softening it all a bit. Make it the same basic shape, but gentler. And hey presto.

Then try it on someone Polish. : )
OP James Revan 1 | 66  
29 Feb 2008 /  #85
Start by making a gutteral 'h' sound at the back of your throat - like you want to clear your throat when you have a, shall we say, very wet cold.

Well... Not really, the "h" sounds more like you let the air out like in this one: wrzuta.pl/audio/dpFXUzaaeB (yup, thats me) here are 3 examples of how the "h" or "ch" sounds. And here is the "chce" word said twice: wrzuta.pl/audio/jQoYkMxG0J
pipeczko  
29 Feb 2008 /  #86
Well... Not really, the "h" sounds more like you let the air out like in this one

That's why I said to start the gutteral way, which is relatively easy for the English to achieve, and then soften it. But great to have some links to how it really sounds. No substitute for the real thing ...
OP James Revan 1 | 66  
29 Feb 2008 /  #87
Yup.. I dug up my mic so if anyone needs help in pronouncing just PM me :>
pdb - | 3  
29 Feb 2008 /  #88
I am not sure, but isn't it the problem with just 'c'. 'h' is nothing extraordinary in English, but 'c' is not present in it. It is usually simulated by 'ts', but it is not the same thing. When you master saying just polish 'c' all the rest is straightforward. Am I right?
pipeczko  
29 Feb 2008 /  #89
Am I right?

you might be. the problem, i think, is the combination of the 'ch' sound and the 'c' - it's like a tongue-twister for the Brits ... just needs to be said carefully and precisely 100 times a day for at least a year, and then they can do it :)

(i too am English, so i know!)
(and before I get a pile of complaint and outrage at this slighting of British linguistic skills, I WAS JOKING, NO, IT DIDN'T TAKE A YEAR!!)

I'd like to hear someone English say:

"Przedsiębiorstwo Świnoujście nie jest w Województwie Dolnośląskim", lol

call me, then - that's an easy one. it's all the ones that start with 'brzm' that get me :)
Saja - | 9  
2 Mar 2008 /  #90
try "Stół z powyłamywanymi nogami"

Archives - 2005-2009 / Language / The only polish word a foreigner won't ever say correctly :PArchived