język polski
/ˈjɛw̃.zɘk ˈpɔl.ski/word by word
język polski is the Polish way to say the Polish language.
This phrase is used to refer to the official language spoken in Poland.
Which one should you use?
The word polski serves as both the adjective for 'Polish' and is part of the noun phrase for the language itself. However, to refer to the language, you use the noun język accompanied by the adjective polski.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes based on grammatical cases. For example, when you want to say 'of the Polish language' (such as 'the rules of the Polish language'), the phrase becomes języka polskiego using the genitive case. The adjective polski is used specifically to modify the noun język.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈjɛw̃.zɘk ˈpɔl.ski/. There are 4 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The adjective polski is derived from the word pole, which means 'field'. This suggests that the people who spoke język polski were originally viewed as dwellers of the fields.
- Polish speakers use język polski as a formal name for the language, but in everyday conversation they often omit język and simply say po polsku when describing how they speak.
- While język polski refers to the language, the suffix -ski is a hallmark of Polish surnames, such as 'Kowalski'.
Examples in context
- Pszczółka Maja to nie jest polska bajka, wiesz to? Napisana została w Niemczech, animowana w Japonii, i przetłumaczona na język polski.Maya the Bee isn't a Polish cartoon, you know that? It was written in Germany, animated in Japan, and was translated into the Polish language.This sentence uses język polski to describe a work that was translated into the Polish language.Tatoeba #2720748 by MarekMazurkiewicz, translation #2720749 by shekitten
- Mówisz po polsku?Do you speak Polish?
- Czy znasz język polski?Do you know the Polish language?
- Język polski jest bardzo trudny.The Polish language is very difficult.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about learning new languages.
- MałgorzataUczę się nowego języka.I am learning a new language.
- PiotrTo super! Jaki to język?That's great! Which language is it?
- MałgorzataTo jest język polski.It is the Polish language.
- PiotrPowodzenia, Małgorzato!Good luck, Małgorzata!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (język, polski) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
