Proszę ‒ Poland: Word by Word
Proszę means please, but it's also so much more. Here's why it's perhaps the most useful Polish word you'll ever learn.
When used properly, Proszę really opens every door and melts everybody's hearts. Using Proszę is really simple, especially since this universal word works like a skeleton key and can be used in many social situations which in English normally require very different phrases. Compare the following phrases and situations:
- Excuse me? (to ask someone to repeat themselves)
- Go ahead! (when you let someone go ahead of you – in a doorway, etc.)
- Here you are! (when handing something requested)
- Not at all! (as in when someone says ‘thank you’ and you answer ‘no problem’)
- Well, well! (when irritated)
- Come in! (when answering the door)
- Please! (when asking or pleading with someone)
- Hello! (what you say when you answer the telephone)
In all of the above situations you can comfortably say Proszę. It covers them all.
Speaking of other polite words, one you need to know is Przepraszam – used both in situations when you want to approach someone, say, in the street (e.g. ‘Excuse me, but can you tell me what time it is…’) and when you mean to apologise to someone for something (‘I’m sorry’). Again, one word covers those two quite different situations.
Last but not least, remember Dziękuję. This is plain ‘thank you’ (Dzięki is ‘thanks’). If you have trouble remembering it, you can always try remembering that it comes from the German word Danke, even if it doesn’t look like it.
Our online series Poland: Word by Word allows foreigners to familiarise themselves with everyday Polish words by explaining their cultural context and significance. It later became the basis for Culture.pl's very first book: Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 100 Words.
Tytuł (nagłówek do zdjęcia)
Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi:
Poland in 100 Words
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