Polish 101

Some Polish Pronunciations

i is pronouced like ee, as in seek

j is pronounced like y, as in yellow

w is pronounced like v, as in violet

sz is pronounced like sh, as in cash

a is generally pronounced like ah, as in father

szcz--don't even attempt it

przylb--actually exists; attempt only at your peril

The Polish Matronymic

Polish last names have masculine and feminine forms. When a Polish woman marries, she takes the last name of her husband, but modifies that name to the feminine form. Thus, the wife of Mr. (Pan) Soberski is Mrs. (Pani) Soberska. The wife of Mr. (Pan) Novak is Mrs. (Pani) Novakowa.

Immigrant families were required to choose only one form, and in most cases the masculine form was chosen (thus many more Polish-Americans have last names ending in -ski than in -ska). Some female Polish-American immigrants did use the feminine forms of their last names informally, but this custom died out with most second-generation Polish-Americans.