Polish is the official language, but travellers will find that many people, especially those in business or the tourist trade, will speak some English, German or French. Most Poles were required to learn Russian in school, however, it was a matter of pride not to learn it, and speaking Russian may give offence.
Polish is a West Slavic language, related to Czech and Slovak. The following are the Polish characters and their nearest English equivalent: a–u, aj–i (as in bike), c–ts, cz–ch, dz–ds or j, ej–a (as in bake), h–ch (as in loch), j–y, l (with a slash through it)–w, sz–sh, u–oo, w–v, rz–s (as in pleasure). The second-last syllable of a word is always the one stressed.
Phrases
Yes - Tak
No - Nie
Hello - Dzien dobry
Goodbye - Do widzenia / Do zobaczenia
Please - Prosze
Thank you - Dziekuje
My name is … - Nazywam sie ...
How are you? - Jak sie masz? / Jak sie pan ma?
I’m very well - W porzadku / Miewam sie dobrze
I feel ill - Jestern chory(a)
How much does it cost? - Ile to kosztuje?
Do you speak English? - Czy mowi pan po angielsku? (to a man) / Czy mowi pani po angielsku? (to a woman)
I don’t understand - Nie rozumiem
Where is …? - Gdzie jest …?
Entrance - Wejscie
Exit - Wyjscie
Danger - Niebezpiecznie / Niebezpieczenstwo
Open - Otwarte
Closed - Zamkniete
Toilets - Toalety
Doctor - Doktor
Hotel - Hotel
Restaurant - Restauracja
Beer - Piwo
Wine - Wino
Menu - Jadtospis
Today - Dzis / Dzisiaj
Tomorrow - Jutro
Monday - Poniedzialek
Tuesday - Wtorek
Wednesday - Sroda
Thursday - Czwartek
Friday - Piatek
Saturday - Sobota
Sunday - Niedziela
One - Jeden
Two - Dwa
Three - Trzy
Four - Cztery
Five - Piec
Six - Szesc
Seven - Siedem
Eight - Osiem
Nine - Dziewiec
Ten - Dziesiec
Twenty - Dwadziescia
Thirty - Trzydziesci
Forty - Czterdziesci
Fifty - Piecdziesiat
Sixty - Szescdziesiat
Seventy - Siedemdziesiat
Eighty - Osiemdziesiat
Ninety - Dziewiecdziesiat
One Hundred - Sto
One Thousand - Tysiac
