{"id":1712,"date":"2018-05-08T18:24:59","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T18:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/?p=1712"},"modified":"2018-06-24T09:42:18","modified_gmt":"2018-06-24T09:42:18","slug":"how-are-you-in-polish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/how-are-you-in-polish\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cHow Are You?\u201d in Polish: 6 Friendly Polish Phrases and When to Use Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\u201cHow<\/p>\n

Native speakers of English tend to see \u201chow are you?\u201d as an indispensable phrase that every language learner should learn. Preferably in their very first lesson. While this approach works great for many popular languages, it might not be so helpful when learning Polish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let me explain.\u00a0<\/strong>Polish does\u00a0<\/em>have a handful of phrases that can be translated as \u201chow are you?\u201d.\u00a0But in most contexts, they are treated somehow differently to what you’re used to in English.<\/p>\n

This article will teach you how, but most of all, when<\/em> to say \u201chow are you?\u201d in Polish.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(You can click each farewell to check its pronunciation at Forvo.)<\/p>\n

When to say \u201chow are you?\u201d in Polish\u2014cultural notes<\/h2>\n

Before we start discussing specific phrases, there’s one thing you absolutely need to know.<\/p>\n

Polish equivalents of \u201chow are you?\u201d aren’t used too often in everyday conversations. <\/strong>If you want to speak natural Polish, you should learn to recognize the contexts where it’s acceptable (or expected) to ask people how their day is going.<\/p>\n

Poles treat \u201chow are you?\u201d very literally.<\/strong> When asked the question, they will often read it as an expression of genuine interest in their well-being and the events of their day, and not just a friendly greeting.<\/p>\n

If you’re \u201clucky\u201d, they will treat you to an extensive summary of their recent ordeals. If you’re less fortunate (again, depending on how you look at it), they will respond with a single word and immediately change the topic.<\/p>\n

There are, however, some situations where starting a conversation in Polish with a \u201chow are you?\u201d is always appropriate.<\/strong>\u00a0Some of the phrases described below work great when catching up with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. Others are commonly used to express concern about someone’s health or mental well-being.<\/p>\n

Another thing to keep in mind: almost all instances of \u201chow are you?\u201d in Polish are informal.\u00a0<\/strong>It’s okay to use them with friends, family or colleagues, but you should probably refrain from using them when talking to strangers or people you’re in a professional relationship with.<\/p>\n

Most common ways to say \u201chow are you?\u201d in Polish<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you believe you have a good reason to ask someone how they are, your safest bet will be to use one of the four short phrases listed below.<\/p>\n

Jak tam?<\/a> \/\u00a0<\/em><\/b>jak leci?<\/em><\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

This is a very casual way to ask someone about their well-being. Both phrases\u00a0<\/em>can be compared to \u201chow is it going?\u201d in English.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you ask this question, you can expect to hear a very short summary of the person’s current mood. This means you can safely use it as a conversation starter. If your friend doesn’t feel like talking about the details of their life, they can always brush you off with a quick\u00a0dobrze<\/em> (\u201cgood\u201d) without feeling bad about it.<\/p>\n

Curiously enough, the literal translation of\u00a0jak leci?\u00a0<\/em>is \u201chow is it flying?\u201d, which is probably why it is seen as the more colloquial of the two.<\/p>\n

Co s\u0142ycha\u0107?<\/em><\/b><\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0co tam?<\/em><\/b><\/h3>\n

Though in tone they are similar to the two phrases described above,\u00a0co tam?\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0co s\u0142ycha\u0107?\u00a0<\/em>invite a longer reply. In principle, they are equivalent to \u201cwhat’s up?\u201d or \u201cwhat’s new?\u201d in English.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because of these connotations, the two phrases work great when you’re catching up with a friend and would like to encourage them to tell you about what’s been going on in their life.<\/p>\n

Both phrases also have longer versions that explicitly mention the addressee. If you’re addressing a single person, you can say\u00a0co tam u ciebie<\/span>?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0co u ciebie<\/span> s\u0142ycha\u0107? <\/em><\/strong>Similarly, when\u00a0speaking to a group, you can use\u00a0co tam u was<\/span>?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>or\u00a0co u was<\/span> s\u0142ycha\u0107?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Additionally, you can make the greeting much more formal (but still friendly) by using the formal forms of address:\u00a0co u pana<\/span> s\u0142ycha\u0107?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>(when speaking to a man),\u00a0co u pani<\/span> s\u0142ycha\u0107?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(when speaking to a woman) or\u00a0co u pa\u0144stwa<\/span>\u00a0s\u0142ycha\u0107?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>(when speaking to a group).\u00a0<\/i>This is one of the few ways to gracefully ask someone \u201chow are you?\u201d in a more formal context.<\/p>\n

Other ways to say \u201chow are you?\u201d in Polish<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In addition to the above, there are two other closely related expressions that every learner should know (though not necessarily use a lot!)<\/p>\n

Jak si\u0119 czujesz?<\/em><\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

This phrase translates to \u201chow are you feeling?\u201d, and should only be used as such.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though in some contexts it can also be translated as \u201chow are you?\u201d, it might be risky to remember it that way.\u00a0More often than not,\u00a0jak si\u0119 czujesz?<\/em> is used to ask about someone’s well-being. If you’re talking to a Polish friend who has recently been unwell,\u00a0saying\u00a0jak si\u0119 czujesz?\u00a0<\/em>will let you express your concern about their health.<\/p>\n

When addressing people who you’re on less familiar terms with, it’s much better to use the formal variants: jak si\u0119 pan<\/span> czuje?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>(when speaking to a man),\u00a0jak si\u0119 pani<\/span> czuje?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>(when speaking to a woman), and\u00a0jak si\u0119 pa\u0144stwo<\/span>\u00a0czuj\u0105?<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>(when speaking to a group).<\/p>\n

Jak si\u0119 masz?<\/em><\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

In some phrasebooks, you might see this expression listed as the default equivalent of \u201chow are you?\u201d in Polish. Don’t fall for that. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Jak si\u0119 masz?\u00a0<\/em>sounds very stilted, which is why hardly any Pole uses it in everyday speech.<\/p>\n

While it’s true that the phrase is one of the most literal translations of \u201chow are you?\u201d into Polish, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it sounds good to the Polish ear. People who say\u00a0jak si\u0119 masz? <\/em>are mostly foreigners… or Poles who just want to sound quirky.<\/p>\n

My advice for you is to avoid using the expression altogether, and stick to\u00a0jak tam?<\/em> or\u00a0co s\u0142ycha\u0107?<\/em>, which are much more natural.<\/p>\n

Typical responses to \u201chow are you?\u201d in Polish<\/strong><\/h2>\n