In our last post we talked quite a bit about liking (or not) something (or someone). And I have finally realized (hey, better late than never!) that maybe this verb – \u201cto like\u201d – is not as clear and straightforward in Polish, as it is in English.<\/p>\n
In English it\u2019s used for just about anything. You can use it when talking about food, as in \u201cDo you like this potato salad?\u201d
\nOr when talking about clothes \u2013 \u201cI like this dress.\u201d
\nOr when talking about people \u2013 \u201cI like Anna, she\u2019s so helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
In English you just say \u201clike\u201d and that\u2019s it. \u201cTo like\u201d is a very handy verb.
\nBut not so in Polish. Oh no! When translating from English to Polish \u201cto like\u201d can morph into a couple of different things.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s go back to the potato salad for a second (what can I say, I\u2019m hungry)<\/em>:<\/p>\n See what happened? Of course, you can also say: Now, let\u2019s go clothes shopping (which reminds me I still need to buy a new pair of gloves, my hands are purple from the cold)<\/em>:<\/p>\n See what happened? This \u201clike\u201d can also be used when talking about people. As in:<\/p>\n Again, whether \u201cto like\u201d can be translated into Polish as \u201clubi\u0107<\/strong>\u201d or \u201cpodoba\u0107 si\u0119<\/strong>\u201d, you need to figure out from the context.<\/p>\n And then there\u2019s this old-fashioned, garden-variety \u201clubi\u0107<\/strong>\u201d:<\/p>\n And so on\u2026<\/p>\n And that\u2019s pretty much the deal with \u201cto like\u201d in Polish. Fun, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In our last post we talked quite a bit about liking (or not) something (or someone). And I have finally realized (hey, better late than never!) that maybe this verb – \u201cto like\u201d – is not as clear and straightforward in Polish, as it is in English. In English it\u2019s used for just about anything…<\/p>\n\n
\nSuddenly, \u201cto like\u201d became \u201csmakowa\u0107<\/strong>\u201d, as in \u201cit tastes good and I like it\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nLubi\u0119 sa\u0142atk\u0119 ziemniaczan\u0105<\/strong> but this is a very general statement that you like potato salad in general. Whether the verb \u201cto like\u201d morphs into \u201csmakowa\u0107<\/strong>\u201d or \u201clubi\u0107<\/strong>\u201d when talking about food, you have to figure out based on the context.<\/p>\n\n
\nSuddenly, \u201cto like\u201d became \u201cpodoba\u0107 si\u0119<\/strong>\u201d, as in: you like something enough to buy it.
\nOr when commenting on someone else\u2019s stuff:<\/p>\n\n
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