AboutMaciej St. Zięba Expertise I am native Polish and I used to teach Polish to foreigners. I know (passively of actively) more than 15 other languages - so I can answer many questions concerning Polish grammar, pronounciation, spelling, ethymology and usage - as compared to English, French, German, Russian, Dutch, Esperanto or Norwegian. Also questions concerning other Slavic languages, Sanskrit, Chinese, Tibetan, or general linguistics, especially scripts (writing systems and transcriptions) - are welcome.
Experience Teaching English and French to Poles, Polish to foreigners, teaching Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan to philosophy students.
Expert: Maciej St. Ziêba Date: 4/11/2007 Subject: how to say grandfather and grandmother
Question I am a new grandmother and would like to use the Polish words for grandmother
and grandfather. My Dad was Polish, but is no longer living. It would be nice if
our granddaughter could refer to us using the polish words for grandmother
and grandfather. I think the words are babcia and dziadek, but I do not know
how to pronounce them.
Answer Dear Patricia,
Congratulations on becoming grandmother! I know what that means - I have become grandfather a year and three months ago (with a granddaughter, born of my daughter) and again two months ago (with a grandson, born of my other daughter).
You are right
- the Polish word for grandmother is "babcia", you pronounce it [BAHP-chah] - "ch" as in "China", "ah" as "a" in "father".
- the Polish word for grandfather is "dziadek", you pronounce it [JAH-deck] - "j" as in "jingle", "ah" as "a" in "father";
- but Polish children more often call their grandpas "dziadzio" - which is the endearment form made of "dziadek" (same way as grannies are called "babcia" - which is an endearment form made of "babka") -
you pronounce "dziadzio" as [JAH-joh] - "oh" as "o" in "spot".
(NB. the syllable capitalized in the pronunciation: [......], is the one stressed).
