Polish For Dummies

The fast and informal way to learn to speak Polish Packed with practical lessons, cultural facts and handy references, this book gets you up and running with everything you need to start speaking Polish with confidence. Whether you want to chat with Polish friends at home or find a Thai restaurant while in Krakow, this easy–to–use book and audio CD help you wrap your tongue (and your head) around this tricky language in no time. Jump in with both feet – start off with a quick primer on Polish pronunciation, grammar basics and the use of accents and inflections Hit the ground running – practise speaking Polish in real–world situations Take it on the road – be a confident visitor to Poland – from taking in a museum to getting through Customs; checking into a hotel to ordering a meal Get down to business – get a handle on Polish business–speak and the specialised language of Polish office and worksite culture Polish your Polish – sharpen your conversational Polish skills with the help of ′Talkin′ the Talk′ dialogues strategically placed throughout the book Bonus CD includes Over 30 Polish dialogues to help you get used to spoken Polish and perfect your pronunciation. Featuring a host of everyday words, sentences and conversations to speak aloud, this CD is an essential companion to the book. Open the book and find: The essentials of Polish pronunciation and grammar Greetings, introductions, small talk and basic everyday conversation All the Polish that travellersneed to know Fun facts about Poland and Polish culture Ways to speak Polish quickly Phrases that make you sound fluent in Polish Polish/English mini–dictionary Lists of Polish verbs with conjugations Learn to: Speak Polish on the go in a variety ofeveryday situations Communicate confidently in Polish Get to grips with Polish grammar and vocabulary Perfect your pronunciation with the audio CD

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started 7 Chapter 1: Introducing Polish 9 Chapter 2: Getting Down to Essential Polish Grammar 25 Part II: Polish in Action 49 Chapter 3: Dzień dobry! Cześć! Greetings and Introductions 51 Chapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 73 Chapter 5: Dining Out and Going to the Market 91 Chapter 6: Shopping Made Easy 121 Chapter 7: Going Out on the Town 137 Chapter 8: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation 159 Chapter 9: Talking on the Phone 179 Part III: Polish on the Go 191 Chapter 10: Money, Money, Money 193 Chapter 11: Asking Directions 203 Chapter 12: Checking into a Hotel 225 Chapter 13: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis and More 239 Chapter 14: Planning a Trip 255 Chapter 15: Help! Handling Emergencies 269 Part IV: Polish in the Workplace 287 Chapter 16: Using Polish in the Office 289 Chapter 17: Polish on the Worksite 305 Chapter 18: Polish for Public Servants and Professionals 319 Part V: The Part of Tens 333 Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Pick Up Polish Quickly 335 Chapter 20: Ten Everyday Polish Expressions 339 Chapter 21: Ten Polish Holidays to Remember 343 Chapter 22: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Polish 349 Part VI: Appendixes 353 Appendix A: Mini–Dictionaries 355 Appendix B: Verb Tables 375 Appendix C: Polish Facts 389 Appendix D: Audio Tracks 393 Index 395

Daria Gabryanczyk holds a degree in Teaching Modern Languages. She has taught Polish literature and Polish as a foreign language to schoolchildren, undergraduates and adults. Daria is a lecturer and an examiner for UK government institutions and London universities, as well as a publisherand a Polish Culture and Business trainer.