How You Say?

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]

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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.]

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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]

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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’]

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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.]

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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.]

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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]

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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!

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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]

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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

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