As David pointed out in the comment section to the previous post, we still have one more group of Polish last names to discuss. Actually, come to think of it, TWO more.
\nBut let\u2019s start with the easier one of the two:<\/p>\n
4. Surnames ending in vowels OTHER than \u201ca<\/strong>\u201d, \u201ci<\/strong>\u201d and \u201cy<\/strong>\u201d. And yes, \u201cy<\/strong>\u201d is considered a vowel in Polish. Unfortunately, I couldn\u2019t find any Polish Nobel Prize Winners in this category.<\/p>\n But there is a guy that no doubt will be familiar to my Polish readers, and whose name makes a fine example here: Aleksander Fredro<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n But anyway, back to our topic. The problem with those names that end in a vowel other than \u201ca<\/strong>\u201d, \u201ci<\/strong>\u201d or \u201cy<\/strong>\u201d is that sometimes they decline and sometimes they don\u2019t. And how can you tell them apart? You can\u2019t really. Last names that end in \u201ce<\/strong>\u201d or \u201cu<\/strong>\u201d are less common and the good news here is that they don\u2019t change their forms, no matter the case. Such last names are normally of non-Polish origin, sometimes German, Yiddish, Hungarian, Czech or what not.<\/p>\n And all those last names in the nominative case, they stay the same for both males and females.<\/p>\n 5. And finally, let\u2019s take a look at surnames ending with a consonant. And yes, I have a Nobel Winner for you: W\u0142adys\u0142aw Reymont<\/a><\/strong>. He wrote thick, mind-numbingly boring books, as was the style in his day. I remember being chained to my desk while in high school and forced to read one of his works. And trust me, poking my eyes with a pencil seemed like a very inviting alternative. But let\u2019s get back to the guy\u2019s name, shall we? and a female example using Hanna Krall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n These names can be of Polish or origin, it doesn\u2019t really matter, they all behave in the same manner.<\/p>\n Now one more thing. David pointed out that in some instances, a woman\u2019s last name can be derived from her husband\u2019s (or father\u2019s) last name in a slightly different way \u2013 by adding either \u2013owa<\/strong> or -\u00f3wna<\/strong> endings to the guy\u2019s name. It\u2019s kind of true. Why only kind of? Because this style of forming surnames is rather archaic. It was considered old-fashioned even when I was a child. I\u2019m reasonably certain that the only place in Poland where you will see it now is in history books.<\/p>\n PS. Merrilee wanted to know how this Polish last name would be pronounced – Mozdrzew. Here it is – audio<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As David pointed out in the comment section to the previous post, we still have one more group of Polish last names to discuss. Actually, come to think of it, TWO more. But let\u2019s start with the easier one of the two: 4. Surnames ending in vowels OTHER than \u201ca\u201d, \u201ci\u201d and \u201cy\u201d. And yes…<\/p>\n
\nHe was a playwright, poet and author who lived a while back (19th century). One of his famous comedies \u201cThe Revenge\u201d<\/em> (Zemsta<\/strong> in Polish) was made into a film by Andrzej Wajda<\/a><\/strong> in 2002, and as I remember it, it was quite decent.<\/p>\n
\nThose that end in \u201co\u201d are the worst. Fredro<\/strong> declines when combined with a guy\u2019s name:<\/p>\n\n
\nReymont<\/strong>. Ends with a consonant. A lady with the same last name would also be \u201cReymont<\/strong>\u201d. But because nothing is ever easy in Polish, things get a bit complicated here.
\nWhen combined with a girl\u2019s name, they don\u2019t decline (only the first name does), but when combined with a boy\u2019s name, the whole enchilada changes according to cases. So, let\u2019s look for this guy now:<\/p>\n\n
\n