Lesson 16 – Family

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into family vocabulary in Polish. Family is a central part of Polish culture, and being able to talk about your family is essential for building connections and sharing stories. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently describe your family members and their relationships. Let’s get started!

Why Learn Family Vocabulary?

Talking about family is a common topic in everyday conversations. Whether you’re introducing your family, sharing stories, or asking about someone else’s family, these words will help you:

• Build stronger relationships.
• Practice noun genders and plural forms.
• Sound more natural in Polish.

Key Family Vocabulary

Here are the most important family-related words in Polish:

Using Family Vocabulary in Sentences

Let’s see how these words work in real-life sentences:

1. Introducing Family Members:
   • Mam brata i siostrę. – I have a brother and a sister.
   • Moja mama ma na imię Anna. – My mom’s name is Anna.
   • Mój tata to Piotr. – My dad is Piotr.
2. Describing Relationships:
   • Mój dziadek mieszka w Warszawie. – My grandfather lives in Warsaw.
   • Moja babcia lubi gotować. – My grandmother likes to cook.
   • Mój wujek jest lekarzem. – My uncle is a doctor.
3. Talking About Your Immediate Family:
   • Mam męża i dwie córki. – I have a husband and two daughters.
   • Mój syn ma 10 lat. – My son is 10 years old.
   • Moja żona pracuje w szkole. – My wife works at a school.

Grammar Notes

1. Noun Genders:
   • Family nouns in Polish have genders. For example:
     • brat (brother) is masculine.
     • siostra (sister) is feminine.
     • dziecko (child) is neuter.
2. Plural Forms:
   • Family nouns change in the plural. For example:
     • brat → bracia (brothers).
     • siostra → siostry (sisters).
     • dziecko → dzieci (children).
3. Possessive Pronouns:
   • Use possessive pronouns like mój (my), twój (your), or nasz (our) to describe family relationships. For example:
     • Mój brat (my brother), twoja siostra (your sister).

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct family word:
   • Mam ___ (brother) i ___ (sister).
   • Moja ___ (grandmother) mieszka na wsi.
   • Mój ___ (uncle) jest nauczycielem.
   • Moja ___ (wife) lubi czytać książki.
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • I have two sons and one daughter.
   • My grandfather is 75 years old.
   • Her aunt lives in Krakow.
   • Our cousins are very kind.
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences about your family. For example:
   • Mam brata i siostrę. – I have a brother and a sister.
   • Mój tata jest inżynierem. – My dad is an engineer.

Cultural Tip: Family in Poland

Family is incredibly important in Polish culture. Poles often spend weekends and holidays with extended family, and it’s common for multiple generations to live close to each other. When meeting someone new, it’s not unusual to ask about their family as a way to start a conversation.

Homework

1. Write a short paragraph introducing your family. Include names, ages, and what they do. For example:
   • Mam brata i siostrę. Mój brat ma na imię Marek, a moja siostra to Kasia. Mój tata jest lekarzem, a moja mama jest nauczycielką.
2. Practice saying your family introduction out loud. Focus on pronunciation and fluency.
3. Bonus: Look up 5 new family-related words (e.g., teść – father-in-law, zięć – son-in-law) and practice using them in sentences.

That’s it for Lesson 16! You’ve now mastered the key vocabulary for talking about family in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be sharing stories about your family like a native speaker. Do zobaczenia! 😊