Polish/Introductions

^ Polish ^

When introducing themselves, most Poles simply shake hands and pronounce their names. However, there are two types of questions that you, as a foreigner, need to know in order to respond properly if a curious Pole wants to know your name.

• imię /eemye/ – first name
• nazwisko /nazveesko/ – last name

1. Jak się nazywasz? /yak she nazivash/ – "what's your name"; usually implies both first and last name, although it is used colloquially to ask about the last name

• nazywać się (infinitive) – to be called

Conjugation:

For example:

  " - Jak się nazywasz?"
  " - Nazywam się ..."
  " - Miło mi /meewo mi/" (nice to meet you)

In a formal setting, the question will be:

  " - Jak się Pan/Pani nazywa?" - What is your name, Sir/Madam?

2. a. Jak masz na imię? /yak mash na eemye?/ – literally "what have you got as a name?"- asks specifically about the first name

b. Jak Ci na imię? /yak chy na eemye/ – literally "what your name?"-paradoxally, sounds even more eloquent than the other two types above, even though there is no verb...

• mieć (infinitive) /myech'/ – to have

Conjugation:

For example:

  " - Jak Ci na imię?"
  " - Mam na imię Kasia."
  " - A jak on ma na imię?" (And what is his name?) 
  " - Aleksander."

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