"Never say 'bless you' to a Polish person" - Reddit Bakergirl 4 May 2009 / #1 How can I stop offending my host. I also hate it when I try to practice my Polish speaking powers when I am at a store for example, and just because I dont look Polish (I am Asian) they will speak to me in English It is a funny pic an Asian woman speaking Polish and getting some answers from a Polish lady in english , Hey Kaye! They are looking for a hole in the whole (szuka dziury w caym). Lets face it, every country has its own quirks and weird customs but actually, this is what makes it special and fun to travel and live in another place. But she said that it literally meant cholera as in the disease because it was the worst thing that you could wish on someone. Answer (1 of 2): I remember being told this by a cop during a high school anti-drug lecture. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Whats it like to work with Polish people? Let's just say these were the 15 passibly least offensive while still being passibly maybe funny jokes. Even if you dont know what to do to help, just being there for them and listening to them can greatly reduce their feelings of isolation and shame. Standley CJ, Foster-Fishman P. Intersectionality, social support, and youth suicidality: A socioecological approach to prevention. Like when our friends get drunk, take my hands in theirs, and say "Leah, to bardzo fajnie e prbujesz mwi po polsku. The host then said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Something to know (or note? Tip for bosses/managers working with Poles: Whatever cultures youre working with, you need to be reflective of how their backgrounds and culture might influence their working style. > Lets see, the so called four letter word, or to be explicit, f*** no need to be prudish here, Um f*** is being explicit and not prudish?! @Diana Cobos Sha kreh is most probably psiakrew which literally translates as dogs blood and I suppose is roughly equivalent to damnit in English. If you want to join Poles and start celebrating your name day, pick up the nearest calendar, it should contain the names celebrated on any given day. My husbands grandmother does this for me and shes 80-something. Today Id like to give a couple of thoughts on what you might be experiencing when working with Polish people and where certain behaviours might come from. And do you know why Poles developed those funny behaviours? - Quora. The subject of swearwords is huge and a suitable subject for a number of doctoral dissertations, at least. For example, Im going to run a marathon without even training for it to which you pull down your lower eyelid and retort, Right, and do I have a train riding here? Its the Polish equivalent of not gonna happen.. Anything over 5 is considered a lot. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness. You can be sure to be asked by the cashier if you have 32 groszy on you so she can give you a round number of coins back. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. A Guide to Polish - 10 facts about the Polish language - BBC Polish people are hardworking, often look angry and drink a lot. That wouldnt be surprising as its a custom for many different cultures but what you may not expect is that you will be offered a pair of used slippers. Things Not To Say to Scottish people. I enjoy skiing, kayaking, biking and paddle boarding. Communicating the message that they should feel shame for a thought that is ultimately out of their control does not make them stop thinking about suicide or make them stop feeling what they feel. There were many famous soldiers, presidents, leaders who are iconic figures recognised also in many places outside of Poland, eg. So I figure it must be really bad. Do Not Urinate inside a police officer's car. 11 Your safety . And its a great way to start a sentence. Also, because Russia is bigger and everyones more interested in what happens there. Windbreaks allow to secure the best spots on the beach and give a bit of privacy. 3. This tradition has Catholic roots and originated from the custom of naming children after saints. Whatever you do, dont say Polish is basically Russian.. A Pole won't tell you to get lost. If you want to have a conversation with someone, you likely want them to know your name. Its curious that they use them so much, but are not will to help you learn. what does koodivac mean? At my girls new school most of the teachers made an effort to pronounce our last name correctly, and its not an easy one. And the Germans. It's when you surrender, lose all hope, just give up. So its important to have a wide range of ways and techniques of communication to be able to build rapport with all your employees. Due to certain historical circumstances, we do not like this association at all. Of course I asked Przepraszam, czy ma Pani maso orzechowe? To ma sens, nie? Listen intently as a group with all eyes on them. Dont force a person to use polish accent and polish pronunciation. Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more! What People Say. For more information read our privacy policy. This is the big one. Tip 4. Some think this custom is a result of not enough change going around, but it could also be down to the efficient nature of Polish people. Keep in mind that people have different backgrounds and characters and the characteristics described above might not 100% apply to them! Some Polish people bring a pair of their own slippers with them so they dont have to deal with the situation. @George Kolbusz George. As in, The baby cried the whole night, Im walking on my eyelashes. And sometimes, these two meanings walk hand in hand. It makes me crazy. They think of blue almonds (myle o niebieskich migdaach). Whoo! Press Esc to cancel. My uncle told me it meant asshole but I cant find it anywhere. Dont just treat it as a small talk that you will forget when you leave the room. And if you are not lucky, check out messages displayed in your local bus, usually it shows the time, date and the names that should be celebrated that day! Sto lat meaning literally hundred years is the same song people in Poland sing for weddings, anniversaries and official national days. I also run the online language school TalkBack. Bad words in a foreign language rarely seem to feel as strong as bad words in our first language. Im not sure it will provide a solution to your situation, but at least it might make you smile. Thats a remark I very often hear, especially from American and Latin American colleagues. 1. 2023 Transparent Language, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Perhaps its because washing machines are usually kept in the bathrooms rather than kitchens or separate utility room (so there is not enough space for a dryer). It is yet another widely used Polish expletive that is a must in anyones Polish vocabulary. Well, you get my point just Dont talk to strangers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Leah, an American living in Poland where I teach, explore and try to make sense of my life. They put up a good face for a bad game (robi dobr min do zej gry). Move da dupa is probably pocauj mnie w dup ! If someone in your life expresses that they may be . At least you have to try not to roll your rs in English. 14 Dairy okay, so we dont make hundreds of varieties of cheese we prefer simple white cottage cheese and curdled milk (which is wasted by the rest of the world as milk gone bad) but we take great pride in complaining about the EU directives which demand that all milk should be pasteurised, when everyone knows only fresh milk straight from the udder can be good. Kurwa is always used everywhere I go. How To Piss Off Someone From Poland - Matador Network Perhaps one who lacks a shred of grace? 'I hope you don't mind, but.'. Polish jokes exist, but that's more of a thing from 30+ years ago. But its true. Dude, have you seen our roads? well say with a gleeful smile. Believe it or not, it does not sound the same. Change it, you say? But czubekliterally refers to the tip, or extremity, of something. However, you will hear from many people that it is not the most important type of trust. Elderly people are perceived as more experienced and wiser, you have to treat them with due respect. If you are not Scandinavian you will struggle with this concept. Learn the top 15 Polish compliments you want to hear. We are ridiculously proud of the quality of our staples keep your baguettes and bruschettas, for we and only we are the keepers of the real, natural, nourishing bread in all its shapes and varieties. You can swear in diseases, you can use the Polish equivalent of the F-word (there are a few to choose from), call someone a penis or if you really dislike someone, call them a prostitute. It also leads to further isolation out of fear of judgment for talking about their distress. Its like Canadians and Americans, or New Zealanders and Australians only with centuries of conflict and oppression operating as subtext. However, I do think accent is important. On the other hand, I had a situation years ago which wasnt funny at all, when my older child went for a kindergarten interview. Tip for bosses/managers working with Poles: Especially if youre coming from a more individualistic culture remember that the surface How are you, whats the weather like will not be enough to build real connection with a person. If a dupek is sort of a jerk, a gupek is just a big ol boneheaded idiot. There are also many who are non-believers or of different faith. The ones below are very often used by parents or grandparents and therefore very strongly rooted in young Polish minds: Co wolno wojewodzie to nie tobie smrodzie I couldnt find a relevant English translation, to be honest. We are, after all, nothing if not magnanimous and gregarious, even though they hurt us so much in the past, the evildoers. All of the above are real-life conversations. The Death Star of any Pole-befriending scheme you might be hatching. Garlic sauce is the king! Most Polish jokes we came across were generic stereotypes about Polish people stealing, drinking, being racist, being lazy and being corrupt, with a splash of Poland vs. Russia & Germany. But we dont harbour bad feelings. I know, I get it. He just fell from the Christmas tree (urwa si z choinki). But for you that want to become Polish (by marriage maybe) or you have some Polish friends or relatives, read this to know their troubles! NSW Police Guidelines Your rights and what police will do What to expect when working with Polish people? - Project Abroad Help Center & FAQ. 2. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device. Many other guests may had a pleasure of wearing those before you, but if you refuse, your host will be worried about your health (its unthinkable to walk barefoot in a Polish household!).