Polish/Introductions
When introducing themselves, most Poles simply shake hands and pronounce their names. However, there are two types of questions that you, as a foreigner, need to know in order to respond properly if a curious Pole wants to know your name.
- imię /eemye/ – first name
- nazwisko /nazveesko/ – last name
1. Jak się nazywasz? /yak she nazivash/ – "what's your name"; usually implies both first and last name, although it is used colloquially to ask about the last name
- nazywać się (infinitive) – to be called
Conjugation:
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | (ja) nazywam się | (my) nazywamy się |
| 2. | (ty) nazywasz się | (wy) nazywacie się |
| 3. | (on/ona/ono) nazywa się | (oni/one) nazywają się |
For example:
" - Jak się nazywasz?" " - Nazywam się ..." " - Miło mi /meewo mi/" (nice to meet you)
In a formal setting, the question will be:
" - Jak się Pan/Pani nazywa?" - What is your name, Sir/Madam?
2. a. Jak masz na imię? /yak mash na eemye?/ – literally "what have you got as a name?"- asks specifically about the first name
b. Jak Ci na imię? /yak chy na eemye/ – literally "what your name?"-paradoxally, sounds even more eloquent than the other two types above, even though there is no verb...
- mieć (infinitive) /myech'/ – to have
Conjugation:
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | (ja) mam | (my) mamy |
| 2. | (ty) masz /mash/ | (wy) macie /mache/ |
| 3. | (on/ona/ono) ma | (oni/one) mają /majõ/ |
For example:
" - Jak Ci na imię?" " - Mam na imię Kasia." " - A jak on ma na imię?" (And what is his name?) " - Aleksander."