Winter has arrived in Poland, and with it comes a whole new set of words to keep your vocabulary ready for the season. Whether you’re navigating icy streets, enjoying winter sports, or celebrating the arrival of the new year, these words will help you feel at home in the Polish winter.
Let’s begin with the essentials: śnieg (snow) and mróz (frost) are constant companions, while lód (ice) makes sidewalks tricky. You’ll often hear people complain about zimno (cold). To stay warm, don’t forget your czapka (cap, hat, beanie - you name it), szalik (scarf), and rękawiczki (gloves).
Winter is also the season of sports. Poles love narty (skiing), snowboard (snowboarding), and łyżwy (ice skating). Children enjoy bitwa na śnieżki (snowball fight) and zjeżdżanie na sankach (sledding). Traditional sleigh rides, known as kulig, are still popular in some regions.
Daily life has its challenges, too - mornings may require skrobanie szyb (scraping car windows) from szron (frost) that appeared overnight. Commuters deal with odśnieżanie (snow clearing). Life indoors has its own rhythm. After a long day outside, people warm up with herbata z cytryną (tea with lemon) or gorąca czekolada (hot chocolate). Cosy evenings are spent with friends and family, often playing gry planszowe (board games) or simply relaxing by the kominek (fireplace).
Finally, winter means celebration. Sylwester (New Year’s Eve) is one of the biggest events of the season, marked by fajerwerki (fireworks), imprezy (parties), and the countdown to północ (midnight). It’s a time for gathering with friends, welcoming the nowy rok (new year), and making resolutions. The festive atmosphere continues into the first days of January, when greetings of “Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!” (Happy New Year!) fill conversations.
So there you have it, your winter vocabulary toolkit. These words aren’t just for study, you’ll hear them in conversations, see them in traditions, and experience them in everyday life.
Which of these winter sports or festive words do you find most useful? Would you like me to prepare a spring version next? Let me know on the forum!
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