English translation

Sometimes Polish may seem like a strange, exotic language. One of (such) reasons is that the English word „no”, read in Polish as „no”, means „yes”, or „tak” in Polish. What means „no” in one language, means „yes” in the other language.

If you watch this video, make sure to activate the subtitles available in Polish and English, so that you can understand this video better. And if you want more, you can download a special PDF file that I’ve prepared, which is available for free on my website, where you will find the full transcript and various exercises for this video.

For example, if someone asks you: „Will you take out the trash?”, you can answer „tak”, but you can also say „no”. And this „no” will be understood as acceptance, as „tak”. Of course, there is a slight difference. If you say „tak”, it means something a bit different: you are an active party who makes the decision. If you say „no”, you are rather adapting to what the other person wants. But anyway, it’s acceptance. „No” means „yes”.

A different situation. Someone may ask you: „Would you like some scrambled eggs?” You can say „no”, and it will again mean „yes”, that you want those scrambled eggs. This is not a statement full of enthusiasm… I guess if you said „yes”, it would mean that you are keenly interested in these scrambled eggs. If you say „no”, it is rather an acceptance of what the other person has to offer you.

However, (this) Polish „no” can also mean other things than simply saying „yes”. It can reinforce some command or order. When you want someone to do something, you can just say „Zrób to”, or you can say: „No, zrób to”. Then it emphasizes that you really care for that person to do a certain thing. In the same way, you can say to a child or a dog: „Siedź spokojnie”. But you can also reinforce this message by saying: „Siedź no spokojnie”. Then you show that you are more determined, that you care more, that you are a bit impatient to make that person more calm. [„Siedź spokojnie” means „Sit still”]

Moreover, the Polish „no” can also mean something similar to the English „well” or „then”. That is, to refer to things which were previously said: they are either clear from the context or from a previous utterance (or from a previous sentence). I’ll give you a few examples again. The first such example is „No dobrze”. „No dobrze” is like the English „okay, well, let it be”. You can also say, for example: „No co ja mam zrobić?” This „no” indicates that it is a specific situation, that both you and the interlocutor know. Because if you asked, „Co ja mam zrobić?” then you are asking more generally. The same with „No więc co?” „No więc co?” it a bit like… like the English „So what?” „No więc co?”

And finally, „no” can also have an expressive function. For example, if something surprises you, you can say, „No, no” You can also say, „No proszę”. Or if something is (so) obvious, You want to nod, so you say, „No tak”. Each time this „no” shows either an element of surprise, or on the contrary – a lack of surprise.

You don’t have to remember each of these uses. Rather, remember that (this) „no” can have many different functions, and you can meet it in different places in a sentence, but it doesn’t radically change the meaning of such sentence. So if (this) „no” wasn’t there, the sentence would have a very similar meaning. And, indeed, once again, [back to] what we started with, that is, the basic meaning of „no” might just be a nod. What means „no” in English, in Polish means „yes”.

If you watched this video till the end, then you can use the transcription and the exercises that I publish on my website. So to learn more about some nuances, or just look through it calmly and slowly, and follow what I’m talking about. This transcript is available for free, and you will find the link to it in the description.

If you know other interesting words in Polish, then write about them in the comments. I’m very curious which Polish words remind you of words that appear in your language. Perhaps there is one that causes some confusion or problems. Share it and write in a comment, whether there are any such words.