Learn Polish vocabulary by typing words and phrases from flashcards. The flashcard summary allows you to check your progress and select flashcards to learn.
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Phonetic Symbols in Polish Pronunciation
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) provides a standardized set of symbols to represent the sounds of spoken language. Below are the IPA symbols for Polish pronunciation, with examples and descriptions, including the pronunciation of these sounds in English.
Polish Vowels
- /a/ - as in mama, pronounced /ˈmama/ (like "a" in father /ˈfɑːðər/)
- /ɛ/ - as in ser, pronounced /sɛr/ (like "e" in bed /bɛd/)
- /i/ - as in miód, pronounced /mʲut/ (like "ee" in see /siː/)
- /o/ - as in kot, pronounced /kɔt/ (like "o" in not /nɒt/)
- /u/ - as in but, pronounced /but/ (like "oo" in boot /buːt/)
- /ɔ̃/ - as in kąt, pronounced /kɔ̃t/ (nasalized "o", like "on" in French bon /bɔ̃/)
- /ɛ̃/ - as in pięć, pronounced /pjɛ̃t͡ɕ/ (nasalized "e", similar to "en" in French bien /bjɛ̃/)
Polish Diphthongs
- /aj/ - as in maj, pronounced /maj/ (like "ai" in aisle /aɪl/)
- /ɛj/ - as in lej, pronounced /lɛj/ (like "ey" in they /ðeɪ/)
Polish Consonants
- /p/ - as in pies, pronounced /pʲɛs/ (like "p" in pen /pɛn/)
- /b/ - as in być, pronounced /bɨt͡ɕ/ (like "b" in bat /bæt/)
- /t/ - as in tak, pronounced /tak/ (like "t" in top /tɒp/)
- /d/ - as in dom, pronounced /dɔm/ (like "d" in dog /dɒɡ/)
- /k/ - as in kot, pronounced /kɔt/ (like "k" in cat /kæt/)
- /ɡ/ - as in go, pronounced /ɡɔ/ (like "g" in go /ɡoʊ/)
- /f/ - as in fotel, pronounced /ˈfɔtɛl/ (like "f" in fun /fʌn/)
- /v/ - as in woda, pronounced /ˈvɔda/ (like "v" in voice /vɔɪs/)
- /s/ - as in sam, pronounced /sam/ (like "s" in see /siː/)
- /z/ - as in zima, pronounced /ˈʑima/ (like "z" in zebra /ˈzɛbrə/)
- /ʃ/ - as in szkoła, pronounced /ˈʃkɔwa/ (like "sh" in shoe /ʃuː/)
- /ʒ/ - as in żaba, pronounced /ˈʒaba/ (like "s" in measure /ˈmɛʒər/)
- /t͡ʃ/ - as in czek, pronounced /t͡ʃɛk/ (like "ch" in chess /tʃɛs/)
- /d͡ʒ/ - as in dżem, pronounced /d͡ʒɛm/ (like "j" in jam /dʒæm/)
- /ɲ/ - as in nie, pronounced /ɲɛ/ (like "ny" in canyon /ˈkænjən/)
- /l/ - as in las, pronounced /las/ (like "l" in leaf /liːf/)
- /w/ - as in ławka, pronounced /ˈwafka/ (like "w" in water /ˈwɔːtər/)
- /r/ - as in ręka, pronounced /ˈrɛŋka/ (a rolled "r", like in Spanish perro /ˈpero/)
- /m/ - as in mama, pronounced /ˈmama/ (like "m" in man /mæn/)
- /n/ - as in nos, pronounced /nɔs/ (like "n" in net /nɛt/)
Unique Features of Polish Pronunciation
Polish pronunciation has several unique features that distinguish it from other languages.
- Nasal Vowels: Polish uses nasal vowels like /ɔ̃/ and /ɛ̃/, which are pronounced with air flowing through the nose, similar to French nasal vowels.
- Consonant Clusters: Polish words often contain consonant clusters that can be challenging for non-native speakers. For example, skrzydło (wing) /ˈskʂɨdwɔ/.
- Palatalization: Many consonants in Polish have palatalized versions (like /ɲ/ and /ʑ/) when followed by certain vowels or the letter "i".
- Voiced and Voiceless Consonants: Polish distinguishes between voiced and voiceless consonants, often changing the pronunciation depending on the surrounding sounds. For instance, the word dziadek (grandfather) /ˈd͡ʑadɛk/ has a voiced /d͡ʑ/, whereas ciekawy (curious) /t͡ɕɛˈkavɨ/ has a voiceless /t͡ɕ/.
- Soft and Hard Consonants: Polish distinguishes between soft (palatalized) and hard consonants, affecting pronunciation and meaning. For example, się (self) /ɕɛ/ vs. se (third person reflexive pronoun) /sɛ/.