jesteś wredny
In Polish, the phrase for "you're mean" is jesteś wredny.
This phrase is used to tell someone that they are unkind or cruel.
Which one should you use?
While wredny implies a mean-spirited or spiteful personality, zły is more general and can mean 'bad' or 'angry'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase is informal and is typically used among friends, family or children rather than in formal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the second-person singular jesteś (you are), which is the informal way to address someone. The adjective changes to the feminine form wredna if you are speaking to a woman.
Did you know?
- In Polish, the same word used for 'mean' can also describe something 'harmful' or 'detrimental' in a physical sense.
- Despite its common use, wredny is a 'doublet' with the older Polish word wrzedny, meaning they share a common ancestor but evolved through different paths.
- Using jesteś wredny toward a stranger or superior is not just rude but a social blunder because the grammar itself implies an inappropriate level of intimacy.
Examples in context
- Jesteś wredny.You're mean.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase jesteś wredny.Tatoeba #5664978 by machmet, translation #2203075 by CK
- Jesteś niegrzeczny, bo zawsze tak traktujesz ludzi.You're mean because you always treat people this way.
- Jesteś wredny, kiedy tak mówisz.You're mean when you say things like that.
- Nie lubię cię, bo jesteś wredny.I don't like you because you're mean.
Example conversation
Paweł takes the last piece of cake from Agnieszka.
- PawełTo był mój kawałek ciasta!That was my piece of cake!
- AgnieszkaKto pierwszy, ten lepszy.First come, first served.
- PawełJesteś wredny, Paweł.You're mean, Paweł.
- AgnieszkaPrzepraszam, oddam ci połowę.Sorry, I'll give you half.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries wredny, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
