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Archives / 2009 / Grammar, Usage / posts: 7

"i" vs. "y"



KapusniakThreads: 2
Posts: 4
Joined: Jul 18, 09 		  Aug 4, 09, 20:04 /  #
Is there a rule indicating when the letter "i" is used instead of "y"?

You have:

ryba (ryby)
chyba
tylko
było

Then you have

idzie
francji
pij
miłosæ
i (as in "and")

I'm confused. Is there a rule or do I just rely on my słownyk to get the spelling right.
BartolomeThreads: 2
Posts: 1,345
Joined: Sep 14, 06  Pictures: 3 		Edited by: Bartolome   Aug 4, 09, 20:08 /  #
I don't think so, but pronunciation of 'i' and 'y' in Polish is clearly different.

Kapusniak:
słownyk

słownik

(:
plk123Threads: 30
Posts: 6,412
Joined: Aug 29, 07  Pictures: 2 		Edited by: plk123   Aug 4, 09, 20:33 /  #
y - kind of sounds like "eh" kind of like the first "i" in wisconsin.
i - 'kind of sounds like "ee" - aberdeen
KapusniakThreads: 2
Posts: 4
Joined: Jul 18, 09 		  Aug 4, 09, 21:24 /  #
plk123:
y - kind of sounds like "eh" kind of like the first "i" in wisconsin.
i - 'kind of sounds like "ee" - aberdeen

OMG You're right!

When I pronounced that list of words using your guide, it immediately sounded "right" to my ear. I'm literally shaking my head right now. I can't believe I've let things slip like this.

Seriously, I rarely get a chance to speak the language anymore and this is proof that if you don't use it, you will eventually lose it. I'm taking this as a bit of a wakeup call.

Thanks, everyone.
plk123Threads: 30
Posts: 6,412
Joined: Aug 29, 07  Pictures: 2 		  Aug 4, 09, 21:47 /  #
cool. glad to help. :)
z_dariusThreads: 22
Posts: 5,091
Joined: Oct 18, 07 		  Aug 4, 09, 21:49 /  #
To contrast, one may use some pairs of words:

bitch - beech
shit - sheet.
axidThreads: -
Posts: 27
Joined: Jun 28, 09 		  Aug 10, 09, 03:25 /  #
or, to use non-vulgar words:

ship (y) or sheep (i)
fit (y) or feet (i)

in fact, the phonetical representation of English short i (in ship)
is closer to Polish y than i and so is the sound
which is confusing for Poles who learn English.
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Prepositions in the Polish language.  Polish Present Tense - Please Help Me.

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