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 Equivalent: It will blow over.

This phrase has many uses, much like how “blow over” can be used in different sentences, tenses, and situations. I’m giving you the variant you are most likely to use. 

I don’t want to get into the word alternatives and past tense/future tense details that exist in other usages of this phrase in this episode. Just know that there are other variations of this saying. If you are interested in an extended episode that contains these alternates, let me know!

Rozejdzie = he/she/it will spread [3rd p. singular, future tense]
Się = self [reflective helper word]
Po = onto [preposition]
Kościach = bones [plural obj. form]

Support the show on Patreon!
www.patreon.com/howyousayfm

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm

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 bread.

English Equivalent: That dog won’t hunt.

Another equivalent — a bigger stretch, but closer to the kitchen theme — is the English phrase “this dough won’t rise”, but that saying is far less popular. 

This Polish phrase is used to say something won’t work. You acknowledge that you can sense some endeavor, relationship, plan, or any other hoped-for result, will not come to fruition given the way things are going. 

Z = from, with, out of, etc. [prepostion]
Tej = this [adj. fem. singular]
Mąki = flour [n. fem. singular, obj. form]
Chleba = bread [n. masc. singular, obj. form]
Nie = not, no
Będzie = he/she/it will, will be [3rd. p. singular, future tense]

Support the show on Patreon! www.patreon.com/howyousayfm
Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm

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?

English Equivalent: To take someone for a ride.

This is a fun way to ask someone if they intend to cheat you. To take you for a ride. To take you around the block. To sandbag you. To trick you. You get the idea. :-) It should be obvious that being the horse in this scenario is not a good thing!

So if one of your Polish-speaking friends is trying to pull a fast one on you, you can retort with this joke and shock the pants right off of them!

Chcesz = you want [2nd person singular, informal]
Mnie = me [s. obj. form] 
Zrobić = to make [infinitive]
W = in/into [preposition] 
Konia = horse [singular noun, obj. form]

Support the show on Patreon! www.patreon.com/howyousayfm
Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm

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 is a hilarious way to tell someone that their undershirt is poking out below their top layer. (Coat, sweater, over-shirt, whatever.) That’s it! Just a funny colloquialism. 

It’s pretty old and sort of out of use nowadays, especially when fashion trends made it cool (temporarily?) to have under-shirts poking out from the bottom of over-shirts. But you can still use it to draw attention, and probably get a laugh out of the unsuspecting party :-)

It’s also a slight reference to an even older saying that Saturday was shorter than Sunday. When Sunday used to be a culturally mandated day of rest, people would rush to do everything they had to do on Saturday, so even though the hours are the same, a Saturday always felt shorter. So today’s phrase originally stemmed from this even older joke.

Sobota = Saturday [fem. s. noun, subj. form]
Dłuższa = longer [fem. s. adj., subj. form]
Od = From [preposition]
Niedzieli = Sunday [fem. s. noun, obj. form]

PS: Fun Fact — days of the week, seasons, and months are written in Polish without being capitalized. Time nouns are regular nouns in Polish, whereas they are Proper Nouns in English.

Support the show on Patreon! www.patreon.com/howyousayfm
Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm

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 this positive phrase the exact same way we do in English. If you feel like saying “good” but not “very”, that’s your prerogative as well. Options!

Enjoy!

Bardzo = very
Dobrze = good [adv.]

Support the show on Patreon! www.patreon.com/howyousayfm
Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm

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 what we can.

This is a fun phrase. It definitely draws from Poland’s agricultural roots. The witticism basically means that the maximum each of us can ever do is to do our very best, whatever form that takes.

Picture a farmer with two horses. That person can plow quite a lot of land rather quickly. If that same farmer only has one horse, it’s harder. If they have no horse, that’s far more limiting, but maybe they might get a strong friend to pull the plow with them. And if they have no strong friends that can help, then it’s just a single farmer manning a plow on a field doing the best they can with what they have. 

This quip is very popular. Everyone knows it quite well. So if you’re ever in a situation with your Polish-speaking friends/family where someone is telling you about a story where they tried to reach a goal but fell short despite giving it their all, you can bust out this pearl of wisdom and look wise, compassionate, AND impressive, all in one fell swoop!

Każdy = everyone [s. subj. form]
Orze =  he/she/it plows (is plowing) [3rd p. s. present tense]
Jak = how 
Może = he/she/it is able, can [3rd p. s. present tense]

Support the show on Patreon! www.patreon.com/howyousayfm
Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm

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

Also exciting, I’m announcing our Patreon Page coming out next week!

Thanks to all you wonderful listeners! I hope you’re having as much fun as I am. See you again next week for a regular episode!

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!

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. Although it’s directed towards a singular person, you *can* use this in a group setting. So when you’ve finally finished cooking something nice, and your friends are all excited, that’s the perfect time to drop this phrase and ring the dinner bell. :-) You’re encouraging your buddy (or buddies) to “Go on!”, “Get in there!”, or “Go nuts and enjoy!”

Siadaj = sit down [s. informal imperative verb]
I = and
Zajadaj = tuck in, eat heartily, dig in [s. informal imperative verb]

Plus! A very special milestone has been reached by the show! We recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers! Thank you and welcome to all the new subscribers! And big hugs and thank you to the older listeners as well. Hooray to us all and I hope you all continue to enjoy. :-)

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!

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 charm!

This phrase works exactly the same way as “third time’s the charm” in English. Be cheerful when using it!

Do = to [proposition]
Trzech = three [adj, obj. form]
Razy = times [n. s. obj. form]
Sztuka = art, trick, performance [n. s. subj. form]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! <—Duck Face video!
Rate the show!

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 devil is happy.

Elegant Translation: When a person rushes, the devil rejoices.

English Equivalent: Haste makes waste. 

This is a fun way to tell someone to slow down. We’ve had episodes before with cautionary phrases similar to this one. Let’s just say the Polish are a cautious people. :-)

Jak = when, if, how
Się = himself/herself/itself [reflective helper word]
Człowiek = person [s. subj. form]
Śpieszy = he/she/it is rushing, hurrying [3rd p. s., present tense]
To = then
Diabeł = devil [s. subj. form]
Cieszy = he/she/it is happy, rejoices, delights in [3rd p. s., present tense]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! <—Duck Face video!
Rate the show!

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?

This is a fun way to call someone a cheapskate. Makes sense, right? If there was a snake in your pocket, you’d be less likely to reach in there, too!

This is in the informal case. Don’t use this with anyone but friends and family.

Co = What
Masz = you [s.] have [informal, 2nd p. s.]
Węża = snake [s. obj. form]
W = in, inside 
Kieszeni = pocket [s. obj. form]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! <—Duck Face video!
Rate the show!

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 my own mind.

This is a nice and firm way to say that you are sure about something. That you won’t be fooled, or swayed away from something you believe is true. Put your foot down!

You can also say this without the “już” part, but it takes away a bit of punch power.

Już = already
Ja = I [obj. form]
Swoje = own [possessive modifier, reflexive word, modifying ‘ja’]
Wiem = I know [1st person s.]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! <—Duck Face video!
Rate the show!

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 Equivalent: Bee in your bonnet!

When someone is in a tizzy about something, you can use this phrase to (hopefully) diffuse a bit of tension and make them take a moment to calm down!

But be careful! You might make things worse!

If you want to say it to multiple friends, replace “masz” with “macie”. Be aware, though, that BOTH these forms of “you” are informal! Only use this with friends/family.

Ale = wow, oh how, well [interjection word]
Masz = you have [2nd person s., informal]
Macie = you have [2nd person pl., informal]
Muchy = flies [pl., obj. form]
W = in, inside [preposition]
Nosie = nose [s. obj. form]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!

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!

English Equivalent: Stirred up trouble.

This is a funny way to say you stirred up some trouble. Other analogous English phrases include “poked the bear” or “stepped in it”. The phrase is a bit old, but it’s still very much in use!

FYI, “bigos” is a cabbage meat stew. You can make a vegetarian version, though it is less savory, it’s still delicious. Looking at the list of ingredients, you might think it’s simple, but it’s the science that makes it art. It takes hours to make, but WOW, is it worth it!

Ale = how, what, but [interjection word]
Narobiłem/Narobiłam = I made [1st person s., past. Use ‘-em’ if you are male, ‘-am’ if you are female]
Bigosu = cabbage meat stew [s. obj. form of ‘bigos’]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!

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 own kneecap.

English Equivalent: Looking out for number one. 

This is another beautifully glib Polish saying. It’s a cute way to say that everyone is really truly concerned with their own lives and tends not to work in the service of others. It’s a bit cynical. In English, the closest equivalent is “looking out for number one”, though the Polish version can also be used like “to each their own” or “different strokes for different folks”.

Quick note: This phrase requires use of the “Duck Face”. For a deep refresher on the “Duck Face”, please watch this video or listen back to lessons 1-10 of the show.

Każdy = everyone [s. subj. form] 
Sobie = himself/herself [obj. form]
Rzepkę = kneecap [s. obj. form]
Skrobie = he/she/it scrapes or scrubs [present tense, 3rd p. s.]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!

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’s a quick breakdown of what it is and how to use it.

Firstly, it’s slang, shortened from the words in the definition section below. Caveat — I have not been in Poland, and I certainly don’t know what the cool kids are doing with the language these days, but Google Translate defined this word as “cool”, which is accurate but not comprehensive. I want to add depth so you fully appreciate how awesome this word really is :-)

Second, this word is never used like “peace” is as a hippie greeting. You can only use it…

1. as a button to a conversation where you and your friends agree on something, or

2. to try to calm someone down when they appear agitated.

Spoko = cool, calm, peaceful [slang noun, shortened version of “spokojnie”]
Spokój = calm, peace [noun, s.]
Pokój = peace (also “room” - yay homonyms!) [s. noun]
Spokojnie = calmly [adv.]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!

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: Fall on deaf ears. Waste one’s breath.

This is a wonderful, colorful phrase that evokes the hopeless feeling that comes with pointlessly throwing peas at a wall. It’s a classic phrase used by parents when their kids don’t listen, or in any situation where something one person says is not getting through to the other person, for reasons of ignorance or deliberate avoidance.

Now you, too, can now use this in a myriad of situations!

Rzucać = to throw [infinitive verb]
Grochem = peas [obj. form]
O = against [preposition]
Ścianę = wall [s. obj. form]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!

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 Equivalent: Look before you leap.

This wee'k’s phrase is warning us that rushing into things only causes bigger problems.

Ten episodes ago (Episode 77), I taught you “śpiesz się powoli”, which means “hurry slowly” and is closest to the English phrase “haste makes waste”. 

Today’s phrase is a common continuation of the “hurry slowly” idea, as if to say “hurry slowly, because if you rush without thinking, everything turns to crap”. Though today’s phrase is stand-alone, you might hear it paired with the lesson from episode 77, which is why I’m linking to that episode.

Co = what
Nagle = suddenly, sudden [adv.]
To = this
Po = after, like [preposition, sometimes also a comparison word]
Diable = devil [obj. form, s. noun]

Episode 77 - Śpiesz się powoli!

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!

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 holiday. The word “ferie” typically refers to a quick or light vacation — not, for example, a journey around the world — but this word applies in most situations. 

Your host with the most is going on vacation, too! But there should be no interruption in the show schedule on your end :-) 

Jadę = I ride, am riding [1st p. s. present tense]
Na = on [preposition]
Ferie = vacation, getaway, trip [obj. form, plural]

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!

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 Equivalent: This idea grabbed a hold of me. I’ve got it in my head. I can’t get it out of my head. I can’t shake this idea.

Continuing on from last week when we talked about a sudden burst of inspiration that gives you a thought, this phrase is similar, but the tone is deeper. We’re being hounded by a more insistent invasive thought. It can be a welcome idea or an unwelcome one, as long as it’s one of those thoughts that is hard to shake loose. If you’ve got that feeling, then this is the phrase you want to pick.

Wlazło = he/she/it crawled/climbed [3rd per. s. past tense]
Mi = to me [obj. form] 
Do = to, into [preposition]
Głowy = head [s. obj. form]

*BONUS EXTRA OOMPHY VERSION:

Ależ mi to wlazło do głowy!
Literally, “Wow to me this crawled into head!”
Basically meaning, “Wow did this idea grab a hold of me!”

Ależ = slang of ale = interjection word which in this context means “oh” or “oh how” 
To = this

Email us! mailbag@howyousay.fm
Visit the website! www.howyousay.fm
Tweet us! @HowYouSayFM
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Rate the show!