Lesson 19 – Food & Drinks

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into food and drink vocabulary in Polish. Whether you’re shopping at a grocery store, ordering at a restaurant, or simply talking about your favorite meals, these words will help you navigate everyday situations with ease. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently talk about food and drinks in Polish. Let’s get started!

Why Learn Food and Drink Vocabulary?

Food is a universal topic, and knowing how to talk about it in Polish will help you:

• Order meals at restaurants.
• Shop for groceries.
• Share your favorite dishes and recipes.
• Connect with Polish culture through its cuisine.

Common Foods (Jedzenie)

Here are some essential food-related words in Polish:

Common Drinks (Napoje)

Here are some essential drink-related words in Polish:

Using Food and Drink Vocabulary in Sentences

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

1. Talking About Meals:
   • Na śniadanie jem chleb z masłem. – For breakfast, I eat bread with butter.
   • Na obiad jem kurczaka i ziemniaki. – For lunch, I eat chicken and potatoes.
   • Na kolację jem sałatkę. – For dinner, I eat a salad.
2. Ordering at a Restaurant:
   • Poproszę zupę i sałatkę. – I’ll have soup and a salad, please.
   • Czy mogę dostać kawę? – Can I get a coffee?
   • Jakie jest danie dnia? – What is the dish of the day?
3. Shopping for Groceries:
   • Gdzie jest dział z warzywami? – Where is the vegetable section?
   • Ile kosztuje chleb? – How much does the bread cost?
   • Czy macie świeże owoce? – Do you have fresh fruits?

Grammar Notes

1. Noun Genders:
   • Food and drink nouns in Polish have genders. For example:
     • chleb (bread) is masculine.
     • zupa (soup) is feminine.
     • mleko (milk) is neuter.
2. Plural Forms:
   • Many food and drink nouns change in the plural. For example:
     • jajko (egg) → jajka (eggs).
     • owoc (fruit) → owoce (fruits).
3. Asking for Quantities:
   • Use ile (how much/many) to ask about quantities. For example:
     • Ile kosztuje chleb? – How much does the bread cost?
     • Ile jajek potrzebujesz? – How many eggs do you need?

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct food or drink word:
   • Na śniadanie jem ___ (bread) z ___ (butter).
   • Lubię pić ___ (coffee) rano.
   • Na obiad jem ___ (chicken) i ___ (potatoes).
   • Gdzie jest dział z ___ (vegetables)?
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • I drink tea in the evening.
   • She eats fish for dinner.
   • We need milk and eggs.
   • Do you have fresh fruits?
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences about your favorite foods and drinks. For example:
   • Lubię jeść makaron z serem. – I like to eat pasta with cheese.
   • Piję sok pomarańczowy na śniadanie. – I drink orange juice for breakfast.

Cultural Tip: Polish Cuisine

Polish cuisine is hearty and flavorful, with dishes like:

• Pierogi – Dumplings filled with meat, cheese, or potatoes.
• Bigos – A stew made with sauerkraut and meat.
• Żurek – A sour rye soup often served with sausage and eggs.

When in Poland, don’t miss the chance to try these traditional dishes!

Homework

1. Write a grocery list in Polish. Include at least 10 items.
2. Practice ordering food and drinks in Polish. Write down 5 sentences you’d use at a restaurant.
3. Bonus: Look up a traditional Polish recipe and try cooking it at home.

That’s it for Lesson 19! You’ve now mastered the basics of food and drink vocabulary in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be ordering meals and shopping like a pro. Smacznego! (Enjoy your meal!) 😊