Cześć i dziękuję
Cześć i dziękuję is the Polish way to say 'hello and thank you'.
This phrase is used as a casual greeting combined with an expression of gratitude.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cześć (hi/bye), i (and) and dziękuję (I thank you).
Which one should you use?
To express a more formal version of 'hello and thank you', you would replace cześć with dzień dobry (good day).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Because it uses cześć, this phrase is informal and suitable for friends or peers rather than formal business settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb dziękuję is in the first-person singular form, meaning 'I thank' rather than a general 'thank you'.
Did you know?
- The word cześć actually shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'honor', as both relate to concepts of dignity and respect.
- When responding to dziękuję, Poles often say proszę, which is also the word used to say 'please' or 'here you go'.
- While English speakers use 'hi' for greetings, saying cześć to a stranger in Poland might be seen as overly familiar or even impolite.
Examples in context
- Cześć i dziękuję, że przyszedłeś.Hello and thank you for coming.
Example conversation
Paweł visits Małgorzata after she lent him a book.
- PawełCześć i dziękuję za pożyczenie książki.Hello and thank you for lending the book.
- MałgorzataNie ma za co, Paweł.You are welcome, Paweł.
- PawełByła naprawdę bardzo ciekawa.It was really very interesting.
- MałgorzataCieszę się, że ci się podobała.I am glad you liked it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cześć, dziękuję, CC BY-SA 4.0.
