świnka morska
/ˈɕfiŋ.ka ˈmɔr.ska/
The English phrase "guinea pig" is translated into Polish as świnka morska.
Meaning: experimental subject (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, świnka morska translates to "sea pig".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase świnka morska declines according to Polish grammar rules based on its grammatical case. For example, the plural form is świnki morskie and other singular forms include śwince morskiej.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈɕfiŋ.ka ˈmɔr.ska/. It consists of 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'guinea pig' to mean an experimental subject, a Pole would find this translation literal and confusing if used in a laboratory context. To refer to a human test subject, one would use the term królik doświadczalny, which literally means 'experimental rabbit'.
- The term świnka morska is a linguistic 'calque', meaning it was borrowed by translating the German word Meerschweinchen word for word into Polish. This process created a term that describes a land mammal as if it belonged to the sea.
- In Polish, adding the diminutive suffix '-ka' to świnia creates świnka, which makes the word sound much more endearing and 'cute' than the standard word for 'pig'. This reflects how much the animal is viewed as a beloved pet.
Examples in context
- W Sopocie jest festiwal świnek morskich.There is a guinea pig festival in Sopot.
- Ta świnka morska bierze udział w badaniu.This guinea pig is participating in the study.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry świnka morska, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries świnka, świnka morska, CC BY-SA 4.0.
