Day 34: No Apologies from Cats
At Sunday dinner in a flat in Gniezno, Grandma Krystyna (A), a retired Polish teacher, has spoken nothing but the Polish of old novels for three days, ever since her grandson Franek (C), sixteen, laughed at her, and her daughter Beata (B), Franek's mother, has had enough.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a Polish word to see what it means.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Polish, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning
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A
Beato, córko moja, racz rzec swemu synowi, iż wieczerza stygnie, a on, zasiadłszy do stołu, jeno w zwierciadło patrzy.
Beata, my daughter, pray tell your son that supper grows cold, while he, having sat down at table, does naught but gaze into his looking glass.
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B
Mamo, on siedzi obok i wszystko słyszy. Od trzech dni robię za waszą tłumaczkę i naprawdę mam już dość.
Mum, he's sitting right next to you and can hear every word. I've been your interpreter for three days now, and I've honestly had enough.
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C
To przez to, że się zaśmiałem, jak babcia spytała, czy „essa” to jakiś proszek do prania. Ale przecież przeprosiłem!
It's because I laughed when Grandma asked if 'essa' was some kind of washing powder. But I did say sorry!
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A
Przeprosiłeś, zaiste: serduszkiem i kotem, co łzy roni. Przeprosin od kotów przyjmować nie zwykłam.
You apologised, verily: with a little heart and a cat shedding tears. I am not wont to accept apologies from cats.
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C
Mamo, to co ja mam zrobić? Paść na kolana i recytować „Pana Tadeusza”?
Mum, so what am I supposed to do? Fall on my knees and recite Pan Tadeusz?
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A
Dość by było, abyś przeprosił jako rycerz, który, uraziwszy damę, nie za kotem się chowa, jeno klęka.
It would suffice for you to apologise as a knight who, having offended a lady, hides not behind a cat, but kneels.
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B
Słyszałeś, rycerzu? Ja bym na twoim miejscu uklękła, bo inaczej babcia przejdzie na łacinę.
You heard her, sir knight. If I were you, I'd kneel, because otherwise Grandma will switch to Latin.
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C
No dobra. Najjaśniejsza babko, racz wybaczyć niegodnemu wnukowi, który śmiał się był z twej mądrości, albowiem głupi był i młody.
Fine. Most Serene Grandmother, deign to forgive thy unworthy grandson, who had laughed at thy wisdom, for he was foolish and young.
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A
Ach, jak pięknie! Skądże ty, dziecko, znasz taką polszczyznę?
Oh, how beautiful! Wherever did you learn Polish like that, child?
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C
Z „Wiedźmina”, babciu. Przeszedłem go trzy razy, więc jak chcesz, mogę tak gadać do rana.
From The Witcher, Grandma. I've played it through three times, so if you like, I can keep talking like this till morning.
Your progress is saved in this browser only, with no sign-up. The course page and the menu show where you left off. Well done! Next up: Day 35: One and a Half Norwid Readers
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