\nPan<\/strong>\u2003\u2014\u2003to address a man\u2003\u2014\u2003a singular form.
\nPani<\/strong>\u2003\u2014\u2003to address a woman (whether she is married or not)\u2003\u2014\u2003a singular form.
\nPa\u0144stwo<\/strong>\u2003\u2014\u2003to address a man and a woman in a mixed group\u2003\u2014\u2003 a plural form.
\nPanowie<\/strong>\u2003\u2014\u2003to address a group of men\u2003\u2014\u2003 a plural form.
\nPanie<\/strong> \u2003\u2014\u2003to address a group of women\u2003\u2014\u2003 a plural form.<\/p>\n
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How do we manage to be polite in Polish and English respectively? Even if you are familiar with a person you write a letter to, a “you” that you use to address this person has to be spelled with a capital letter to show proper respect.\u00a0A special polite form has also to be used when addressing people in formal relations.\u00a0I am afraid, “Dear John, how are you doing?”, won’t get you very far when translating a business letter. In fact, the choice of the right form of address to the right person is an essential part of any letter writing in Polish. Most common form is “Szanowny Panie\/Szanowna Pani”<\/strong> literally meaning “Respected Sir\/Madam,” which is both respectful and neutral and would be translated as “Dear Sir\/Madam.” On the other hand “Drogi Panie\/Pani”<\/strong> meaning also “Dear Sir\/Madam” has a touch of distance to it unless the first name of the person addressed is added with or without “respected.” Thus “Drogi Panie Tomaszu”<\/strong> or even shorter “Panie Tomaszu”<\/strong> translated simply as “Dear Tomasz” is the form of choice to be used when addressing someone we are well familiar with.<\/p>\n People arguing in Polish in the street will still address each other as “Pan,” although the other invectives are far from as gentle. It is not uncommon to hear “Pan jest idiot\u0105”<\/strong> meaning literally “Sir, you are an idiot.” Omitting the “Sir” in this context denotes utter disrespect for the person that is being abused on all levels. Not only is his mental capacity questioned, besides he is totally worthless as a human being. Beware of the dire consequences! “You” when rightly pronounce in Polish is an abusive word!<\/p>\n Lately, due to the influence of English, the use of the “Pan\/Pani” has become less strict in the everyday speech, especially between young people and in communication over the Internet. Thus, in this context, it is not uncommon to address even unknown and unrelated persons as “you” and also skip the initial capital<\/span>. On the other hand, when looking for work in Poland you’d better keep the “Respected Sir\/Madam” in the proper place or you’ll lose out<\/p>\n There is also word “Panna”<\/strong>, designating an unmarried woman and corresponding to “Miss.” The modern society obviously is nowadays not interested in one’s marital status which is reflected in both languages. Presently, “panna” when infrequently used to address someone can have a bit of outdated feeling about it and, thus, as an address form it is not recommended. Sometimes people in Poland use it to make fun of someone, so please be careful using this word, or don’t use it at all:)<\/p>\n It is important to know that such greetings in English \u201cHow are you?\u201d Jak si\u0119 masz?, or \u201cHow is it going?\u201d Co s\u0142ycha\u0107? Jak leci ? (informal) are not used as greetings in Polish. Instead, they are treated as questions requiring information. They are answered in Polish with such feedback as: good or bad mood information, complaints, worries or the opposite. The interlocutor normally follows with a more specific question about the situation, offers help, etc.<\/p>\n The formal phrases are customary formulas for letter:<\/p>\n Szanowna Pani.\/Doktor.\/Mario.<\/strong> (Respectable Mrs.\/Doctor.\/Mary)<\/p>\n Szanowny Panie.\/Doktorze.\/Marku.<\/strong> (Respectable Mr.\/Doctor.\/Mark.)<\/p>\n Droga Pani Mario\u2026<\/strong>(\u00a0This is a semi formal form: Dear Mrs. Mary\u2026)<\/p>\n Note: Szanowny Panie Doktorze, Szanowna Pani Mario \u2003\u2014\u2003 it is customary that all the words referring to the addressee are spelled with a capital letter at the beginning.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nIt is an intriguing and quite complicated question. As it is widely known, Polish is a very formal language – every single person, no matter his social position, above the age of approximately sixteen, is a “Pan”<\/strong> (a mister or a Sir) or “Pani”<\/strong> (a madam or a lady). Professors in college would usually speak to students per Pan\/Pani as well.\u00a0An obvious exception to the rules is how the Poles address under-aged youth.<\/p>\n
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