Learn Polish - Using Logic
Some English words ending 'ic' and 'ical' have their endings changed to 'iczny'. In this lesson you'll learn how to tell which words follow this rule
When we remove endings (like 'ic' and ical') we are left with a 'stem'..
If the stem ends with a hard letter, like 't', we add 'yczny'. If it ends with a softer letter like 'g' we use 'iczny'.
- Ecological - Ekologiczny
- Logical - Logiczny
- Tragic - Tragiczny
We can remember this rule by 'using logic'.
With 'logic' we are actually just adding 'zny' to the end. Remember to 'use Logic' to separate your 'yczny' from your 'iczny'.
Again, don't worry about getting these mixed up at first - everyone will understand you - but work to perfect it for your written usage.
Symbolic things
- Symbolic - Symboliczny
Symboliczny is widely used in Polish. If someone offers you food or drink you might not want it - say you are not hungry or the drink is alcholic and you are driving - but what to do to be polite?
The answer is to say 'Symboliczny' which means "I'll have a 'symbolic' bit just to taste/try it".
We can also talk about a 'Symboliczny moment' as a psychological milestone such as the first time a stock market has gone above a certain value or someone turning 18.
Listen out for this on TokFM
iczny or yczny
We use 'iczny' instead of 'yczny' when:
Select the correct answer from the following:
Think out the Polish
Fill in the missing words in the sentences below being careful to get the 'iczny'/'yczny' ending right
(Answers are case sensitive!)
Make sure your sound is turned on to hear the audio during this exercise
It is a fantastic hotel | To jest hotel
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It is a medical document | To jest dokument
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It is a tragic scandal | To jest skandal
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No, it is not an electrical product | Nie, to nie jest produkt
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No, it is not a logical document | Nie, to nie jest dokument
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Yes, it is a problematic computer | Tak, to jest komputer
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No, it is not an ecological business | Nie, to nie jest biznes
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Match the phrases
Sometimes we need to change a letter here and there. Try matching the English and Polish phrases below. You don't know all the words here but you should be able to work them out by the context
Make sure your sound is turned on to hear the audio during this exercise
Toxic
How would you spell 'Toxic' in Polish
Select the correct answer from the following: