Polish · 10 phrases

The Essential Ten

Start here: the words you'll hear within an hour of landing. Kurwa above all — one word, two lives, from harmless comma to genuine curse — plus the euphemism ladder that lets a whole nation almost-say it, and the mild religious gasps that surprise everyone by being completely safe. Learn the aim rules first; the vocabulary follows.

cholera kho-LEH-rah Damn / darn it — the respectable person's curse. kurczę KOOR-cheh Shoot / darn — the softest rung of the euphemism ladder. kurde KOOR-deh Darn / crap — kurwa with the fuse removed. masakra mah-SAHK-rah A disaster / unbelievable / total carnage — the all-purpose 'this is insane.' no co ty! noh TSOH tih No way! / Come on! / You can't be serious.

no weź! noh VESH Oh come on! / Give me a break! o Jezu oh YEH-zoo Oh God / oh no / oh wow — everyday mild alarm, despite the holy name. spoko SPOH-koh Chill / no worries / it's fine — the great Polish de-escalator. stary STAH-rih Dude / man / mate — the standard buddy vocative. kurwa KOOR-vah Fuck / damn / shit — the load-bearing word of Polish, and its most common comma.