Polish Language -- St. Mary's Visitation Parish, Dickson City, PA

Heritage: Polish

This page explains the pronounciation rules for Polish, and lists the lyrics and rough translations of various Polish songs. Some are church hymns, while others are traditional folk songs. The music files on this page may require an extra minute or two to fully download before you can play them. If you can't find a song here, let us know and we'll try to get the lyrics and translation so we can add it.

How do I pronounce Polish letters?

THE POLISH ALPHABET

The Polish alphabet has 32 letters:

a, ą, b, c, ć, d, e, ę, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, ł, m, n, ń, o, ó, p, r, s, ś, t, u, w, y, z, ź, ż.
There are nine vowels:
a, ą, e, ę, i, o, ó, u, y
and 23 consonants:
b, c, ć, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, ł, m, n, ń, p, r, s, ś, t, w, z, ź, ż

PRONOUNCING CONSONANTS

The following Polish consonants sound the way a northeastern Pennsylvania resident might expect:

b, d, f, g, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, z.
Each letter above corresponds to a single sound. All g's are hard as in the English word "go", never soft as in the English word "general." All s's are soft as in, well, the English word "soft." They are never pronounced like the "s" in the English word "measure."

The Polish letter c is always pronounced like the English letter "s" with a "t" in front of it. So, the Polish word co (what) is pronounced like "tso".

The Polish letter j is pronounced like the English letter "y" in "yet," so the Polish word Ja (English "I") is pronounced like "Yah."

The Polish letter w is pronounced like the English letter "v," so the Polish word woda (water) is pronounced like "voda." There is a "w" sound in Polish, but it is represented by the Polish letter ł.

The pronunciation of the Polish letter ć is difficult to explain to English speakers except to say that softly pronouncing the English sound "ch" in "chin" approximates it.

The Polish letter ń is pronounced like the sound produced by the "ni" in the English word "onion."

The Polish letter ś is pronounced somewhat like the "sh" in the English word "shine", but more softly.

The Polish letter ż is pronounced the way the "s" in the English word "measure" is pronounced. This is called a hard z sound and is often shown in English pronunciation directions like "zh".

To the untrained American ear, the Polish letter ź might sound like ż, but it is a "softer" version that comes closer to a "pure z" sound, except that it is "palatalized" by not keeping the tongue flat. If all this sounds too complicated, a simple approximation is to pronounce ź like soft "zh". To a Pole, you'll have a strong "American accent," if you do this, but they'll still understand you.

In Polish there are also several two-letter combinations that always are pronounced as a single consonant sound. The following table summarizes them and their pronunciations:

Letters Pronunciation

ci Like ć described above.

ni Like ń described above; never like "ni" in "night."

ch Like "h" in "ha." but aspirated; never like English "ch" sound.

sz Like "sh" in "shoe."

cz Like "ch" in "check."

dz Like the "dz" sound in English "adze."

dź Run the d and ź together.

dż Like the "g" in the English word "gel."

rz Like the "s" in the English word "measure."
Both rz and ż are pronounced the same way.

Letters	Pronunciation
ci	Like ć described above.
ni	Like ń described above; never like "ni" in "night."
ch	Like "h" in "ha." but aspirated; never like English "ch" sound.
sz	Like "sh" in "shoe."
cz	Like "ch" in "check."
dz	Like the "dz" sound in English "adze."
dź	Run the d and ź together.
dż	Like the "g" in the English word "gel."
rz	Like the "s" in the English word "measure." Both rz and ż are pronounced the same way.

PRONOUNCING VOWELS

The nine Polish vowels are a, ą, e, ę, i, o, ó, u, y. When pronouncing them, remember that there are no long or short vowels in Polish; each one is pronounced with the same duration that is typically shorter than that of English vowels. The following table gives basic pronunciations, but note that when ą and ę occur before certain consonants, they are pronounced somewhat differently so that they blend together better with that consonant.

Vowel Pronunciation

a A first approximation is the "a" sound in "father," but a better approximation is actually the "u" sound in "but."

ą This is a nasal sound, like the "on" sound in "only," except the "o" is not as long.

e Like the sound "e" makes in the English word "bed."

ę This is another nasal sound, like the "en" sound in "enter."

i Like the "ee" sound in "eel," but much shorter in duration.

o Like the "o" sound in the English word "port."

ó Like the "oo" sound in the English word "foot."

u Just like the sound for ó above.

y Like the sound "i" makes in the English word "this."

Vowel	Pronunciation
a	A first approximation is the "a" sound in "father," but a better approximation is actually the "u" sound in "but."
ą	This is a nasal sound, like the "on" sound in "only," except the "o" is not as long.
e	Like the sound "e" makes in the English word "bed."
ę	This is another nasal sound, like the "en" sound in "enter."
i	Like the "ee" sound in "eel," but much shorter in duration.
o	Like the "o" sound in the English word "port."
ó	Like the "oo" sound in the English word "foot."
u	Just like the sound for ó above.
y	Like the sound "i" makes in the English word "this."

Can you translate a Polish song for me?

SERDECZNA MATKO This hymn, although occasionally played in our parish at funerals, is not just funeral music. It is appropriate for any occasion where Polish heritage is to be recognized. The heart-tugging hymn has long been regarded as an unofficial anthem of Poland.
Polish Lyrics Serdeczna Matko, Opiekunko ludzi Niech Cie płacz sierót do litości wzbudzi! Wygnańcy Ewy, do Ciebie wołamy, Zlituj się, zlituj, niech się, nie tułamy.	Rough Translation Beloved Mother, protector of the people Have compassion on the cries of orphans: Eve's banished children, we implore you Care for us, care! Do not let us wander.

GÓRALU CZY CI NIE ŻAL

This is a folk song from the mountainous regions (the Tatry mountains) of southern Poland. It tells of the bittersweet feelings a góral (mountaineer, or more colloquially, a "hillbilly") has for his native land after being forced to emigrate in order to feed himself and his family.

Polish Lyrics
Góralu, czy ci nie żal,
odchodić od stron ojczystych,
Świerkowych lasów i hal
I tych potoków srebrzystych?

    Góralu czy ci nie żal?
    Góralu wrycaj do hal!
    Góralu czy ci nie żal?
    Góralu wrycaj do hal!

Góral na góry spoziera,
I łzy rękawem ociera,
I góry porzucić trzeba,
Dla chleba, Panie, dla chleba.

    Góralu czy ci nie żal?
    Góralu wrycaj do hal!
    Góralu czy ci nie żal?
    Góralu wrycaj do hal!

Rough Translation
Highlander, don't you feel sad
To leave your native lands,
From the green forests and meadows
And the silvery streams?

    Highlander, don't you feel sad?
    Highlander, return to the meadows!
    Highlander, don't you feel sad?
    Highlander, return to the meadows!

And the highlander gazes at the mountains
And wipes away a tear with his sleeve,
Because he must leave the mountains
For bread, mister, for bread.

    Highlander, don't you feel sad?
    Highlander, return to the meadows!
    Highlander, don't you feel sad?
    Highlander, return to the meadows!

Can you translate a Polish Christmas carol for me?

Just as English speakers use the phrase "Christmas Carol" instead of "hymn" when they speak of songs sung at Christmas, so too Polish has a different term. In Polish, Christmas songs are referred to as kolędy (pronounced "ko-LEN-de"). This page will try to provide Polish lyrics with (very rough) English translations for kolędy sung at St. Mary's.

If you can't find a song here, let us know and we'll try to locate (and translate!) it.

CICHA NOC
Polish Lyrics Cicha noc, święta noc, Wszystko śpi, a tóli, Czuwa Józef i Maryja Kiedy Boska Dziecina W błogim pokoju śpi W błogim pokoju śpi	Rough Translation Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round Joseph, Mary, and the Son of God. Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.

DZISIAJ W BETLEJEM

Polish Lyrics
Dzisiaj w Betlejem, dzisiaj w Betlejem,
Wesoła nowina.
Że Panna czysta, że Panna czysta
Porodziła Syna.

   Chrystus się rodzi, nas oswobodzi,
   Anieli grają, Króle witają,
   Pasterze śpiewają, bydlęta klękają,
   Cuda, cuda ogłaszają.

Maryja Panna, Maryja Panna,
Dzieciątko piastuje
I Józef Święty, I Józef Święty,
Ono pielęgnuje.

Chrystus się rodzi...

Choć w stajeneczce, choć w stajeneczce,
Panna Syna rodzi,
Przecież On wkrótce, przecież On wkrótce,
Ludzi oswobodzi.

Chrystus się rodzi...

I trzej Królowie, i trzej Królowie,
Od wschodu przybyli,
I dary Panu, i dary Panu,
Kosztowne zlozyli.

Chrystus się rodzi...

Pójdzmy też i my, pójdzmy też i my,
Przywitać Jezusa,
Króla nad królami, Króla nad królami
Uwielbić Chrystusa.

Chrystus się rodzi...

Rough Translation
Today in Bethlehem, Today in Bethlehem,
Glad tidings!
To the Virgin, to the Virgin,
a Son has been born.

   Christ our Savior is born tonight.
   Angels are rejoicing, kings are greeting
   Shepherds are singing, cattle are kneeling
   Proclaiming the wonder, the wonder.

Virgin Mary, Virgin Mary
is cradling her Child
and Saint Joseph, and Saint Joseph,
is watching over Him.

Christ our Savior is born tonight...

Come to the stable, Come to the stable
The Virgin has born a Son.
Later, in a while, later, in a while,
He will redeem the people.

Christ our Savior is born tonight...

And three kings, and three kings
Coming from the East
Give the Lord, Give the Lord
finest gold.

Christ our Savior is born tonight...

Let us also go, Let us also go,
Greet Jesus
King of Kings, King of Kings,
Give homage to Christ.

Christ our Savior is born tonight...

TRYUMFY
Polish Lyrics Tryumfy Króla Niebieskiego Zstąpiły z nieba wysokiego. Pobudziły pasterzów, dobytku swego stróżów śpiewają. (3x) Chwała bądź Bogu w wysokości, a ludziom pokój na niskości. Narodził się Zbawiciel, dusz ludzkich Odkupiciel na ziemi. (3x)	Rough Translation Triumphs! The King of Heaven Comes down from heaven on high. Shepherds are roused While guarding their flocks By angels' singing. (3x) Glory to God in the Highest and peace to people below. A Redeemer is born who will save the souls on earth (3x)

Can you translate a Polish Lenten hymn for me?

Can you translate a Polish Easter hymn for me?

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish

Heritage: Polish

THE POLISH ALPHABET

PRONOUNCING CONSONANTS

PRONOUNCING VOWELS

SERDECZNA MATKO

GÓRALU CZY CI NIE ŻAL

CICHA NOC

DZISIAJ W BETLEJEM

TRYUMFY

WISI NA KRZYZU

OTRZYJCIE JUZ LZY PLACZACY