For autodidact students learning Polish: The pronoun my [mɨ] is the first-person plural subject pronoun meaning “we” in English. As one of the core personal pronouns, my is essential for expressing group actions, shared experiences, and collective identity. In Polish, unlike English, subject pronouns like my are often dropped because the verb ending already indicates who is performing the action, but using the pronoun provides emphasis or clarity.
Course Index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ Schema: Q: What does “my” mean in Polish? A: “My” is the Polish first-person plural subject pronoun meaning “we.” It is pronounced [mɨ] with a sound between English “i” in “bit” and “oo” in “put.” While Polish is a pro-drop language (subject pronouns can be omitted when the verb ending makes the subject clear), “my” is used for emphasis, contrast, or when clarity is needed. For example, “my idziemy” (we are going) emphasizes that we, as opposed to others, are going.
In the following 15 examples, you will encounter my in various contexts: as an emphatic subject, in contrast with other pronouns, in questions and answers, and both with and without explicit use (showing how Polish verbs contain person information). You’ll see my used with different verb tenses, aspects, and moods, demonstrating how this pronoun functions in real Polish communication from casual conversation to formal speech.
Key Takeaways: -
My is often optional in Polish (verb endings show person/number) -
Use my for emphasis or contrast (”WE did it, not them”) -
Pronunciation: [mɨ] - a high, central, unrounded vowel -
First-person plural verb endings: -my (present), -liśmy/-łyśmy (past), -będziemy (future) -
My takes nominative case as a subject pronoun
Educational Schema: This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute’s systematic Polish language course designed for English speakers using the construed reading method, focusing on frequency-ranked vocabulary for optimal learning efficiency.
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my [mɨ] - The ‘m’ is standard, but the ‘y’ represents a high central unrounded vowel that doesn’t exist in standard English. It’s between the ‘i’ in “bit” and the ‘u’ in “put,” produced with the tongue high and central in the mouth. Don’t pronounce it like English “my” [maɪ].
Polish ‘y’ sound [ɨ]: -
NOT like English ‘ee’ [i] -
NOT like English ‘eye’ [aɪ] -
Similar to Romanian ‘î’ or Russian ‘ы’ -
Tongue higher and more back than ‘i’ [i] -
Lips neutral (not rounded, not spread)
Practice sequence: -
Say English “me” [mi] -
Keep the ‘m’ but pull your tongue back slightly for the vowel -
Result should be [mɨ] - a more muffled, central sound
Key Polish sounds review: -
ą [ɔ̃] - nasalized ‘o’ -
ę [ɛ̃] - nasalized ‘e’ -
ł [w] - like ‘w’ in “water” -
ś, ć, ź, ń [ɕ, tɕ, ʑ, ɲ] - soft (palatalized) consonants -
sz, cz, ż/rz [ʂ, tʂ, ʐ] - hard sibilants
Stress: Polish stress almost always falls on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable. Since my is one syllable, it carries stress when used alone.
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21.1a My mieszkamy w Warszawie od pięciu lat 21.1b My [mɨ] we mieszkamy [mjɛʂˈkamɨ] live-1PL w [v] in Warszawie [varˈʂavjɛ] Warsaw-LOC od [ɔt] since pięciu [ˈpjɛɲt͡ɕu] five-GEN lat [lat] years-GEN
21.2a Czy my już się poznaliśmy? 21.2b Czy [t͡ʂɨ] QUEST my [mɨ] we już [juʂ] already się [ɕɛ] REFL poznaliśmy [pɔznaˈliɕmɨ] met-1PL
21.3a My jesteśmy nauczycielami w tej szkole 21.3b My [mɨ] we jesteśmy [jɛsˈtɛɕmɨ] are-1PL nauczycielami [naut͡ʂɨt͡ɕɛˈlammi] teachers-INST w [v] in tej [tɛj] this-LOC szkole [ˈʂkɔlɛ] school-LOC
21.4a My nie mamy czasu na wakacje 21.4b My [mɨ] we nie [ɲɛ] not mamy [ˈmamɨ] have-1PL czasu [ˈt͡ʂasu] time-GEN na [na] for wakacje [vaˈkat͡sɛ] vacation-ACC
21.5a Tylko my wiemy, co się naprawdę stało 21.5b Tylko [ˈtɨlkɔ] only my [mɨ] we wiemy [ˈvjɛmɨ] know-1PL co [t͡sɔ] what się [ɕɛ] REFL naprawdę [napˈravdɛ] really stało [ˈstawɔ] happened
21.6a My pójdziemy do kina wieczorem 21.6b My [mɨ] we pójdziemy [pujˈd͡ʑɛmɨ] will-go-1PL do [dɔ] to kina [ˈkina] cinema-GEN wieczorem [vjɛˈt͡ʂɔrɛm] evening-INST
21.7a My zawsze pomagamy sobie nawzajem 21.7b My [mɨ] we zawsze [ˈzafʂɛ] always pomagamy [pɔmaˈgamɨ] help-1PL sobie [ˈsɔbjɛ] ourselves-DAT nawzajem [navˈzajɛm] mutually
21.8a Wszyscy myśleli, że my tego nie zrobimy 21.8b Wszyscy [ˈfʂɨst͡sɨ] everyone myśleli [mɨɕˈlɛli] thought-3PL że [ʐɛ] that my [mɨ] we tego [ˈtɛgɔ] this-GEN nie [ɲɛ] not zrobimy [zrɔˈbimɨ] will-do-1PL
21.9a My razem studiowaliśmy na uniwersytecie 21.9b My [mɨ] we razem [ˈrazɛm] together studiowaliśmy [studjovaˈliɕmɨ] studied-1PL na [na] at uniwersytecie [univɛrʂɨˈtɛt͡ɕɛ] university-LOC
21.10a My już tutaj byliśmy w zeszłym roku 21.10b My [mɨ] we już [juʂ] already tutaj [ˈtutaj] here byliśmy [bɨˈliɕmɨ] were-1PL w [v] in zeszłym [ˈzɛʂwɨm] last-LOC roku [ˈrɔku] year-LOC
21.11a My pracujemy razem nad tym projektem 21.11b My [mɨ] we pracujemy [prat͡suˈjɛmɨ] work-1PL razem [ˈrazɛm] together nad [nat] over tym [tɨm] this-INST projektem [prɔˈjɛktɛm] project-INST
21.12a My chcemy kupić nowy dom 21.12b My [mɨ] we chcemy [ˈxt͡sɛmɨ] want-1PL kupić [ˈkupit͡ɕ] to-buy nowy [ˈnɔvɨ] new-ACC dom [dɔm] house-ACC
21.13a My rozumiemy waszą sytuację 21.13b My [mɨ] we rozumiemy [rɔzuˈmjɛmɨ] understand-1PL waszą [ˈvaʂɔ̃] your-ACC sytuację [sɨtuˈat͡sjɛ] situation-ACC
21.14a Czy my możemy ci jakoś pomóc? 21.14b Czy [t͡ʂɨ] QUEST my [mɨ] we możemy [mɔˈʐɛmɨ] can-1PL ci [t͡ɕi] you-DAT jakoś [ˈjakɔɕ] somehow pomóc [ˈpɔmut͡s] to-help
21.15a My nie zapomnimy o tej ważnej lekcji 21.15b My [mɨ] we nie [ɲɛ] not zapomnimy [zapɔmˈɲimɨ] will-forget-1PL o [ɔ] about tej [tɛj] this-LOC ważnej [ˈvaʐnɛj] important-LOC lekcji [ˈlɛkt͡sji] lesson-LOC
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21.1 My mieszkamy w Warszawie od pięciu lat “We have been living in Warsaw for five years”
21.2 Czy my już się poznaliśmy? “Have we already met?”
21.3 My jesteśmy nauczycielami w tej szkole “We are teachers at this school”
21.4 My nie mamy czasu na wakacje “We don’t have time for vacation”
21.5 Tylko my wiemy, co się naprawdę stało “Only we know what really happened”
21.6 My pójdziemy do kina wieczorem “We will go to the cinema in the evening”
21.7 My zawsze pomagamy sobie nawzajem “We always help each other”
21.8 Wszyscy myśleli, że my tego nie zrobimy “Everyone thought that we wouldn’t do it”
21.9 My razem studiowaliśmy na uniwersytecie “We studied together at the university”
21.10 My już tutaj byliśmy w zeszłym roku “We were already here last year”
21.11 My pracujemy razem nad tym projektem “We are working together on this project”
21.12 My chcemy kupić nowy dom “We want to buy a new house”
21.13 My rozumiemy waszą sytuację “We understand your situation”
21.14 Czy my możemy ci jakoś pomóc? “Can we help you somehow?”
21.15 My nie zapomnimy o tej ważnej lekcji “We won’t forget about this important lesson”
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21.1 My mieszkamy w Warszawie od pięciu lat
21.2 Czy my już się poznaliśmy?
21.3 My jesteśmy nauczycielami w tej szkole
21.4 My nie mamy czasu na wakacje
21.5 Tylko my wiemy, co się naprawdę stało
21.6 My pójdziemy do kina wieczorem
21.7 My zawsze pomagamy sobie nawzajem
21.8 Wszyscy myśleli, że my tego nie zrobimy
21.9 My razem studiowaliśmy na uniwersytecie
21.10 My już tutaj byliśmy w zeszłym roku
21.11 My pracujemy razem nad tym projektem
21.12 My chcemy kupić nowy dom
21.13 My rozumiemy waszą sytuację
21.14 Czy my możemy ci jakoś pomóc?
21.15 My nie zapomnimy o tej ważnej lekcji
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Grammar Rules for My in Polish:
1. Pro-Drop Nature of Polish
Polish is a pro-drop language, meaning subject pronouns can be omitted when the verb ending clearly indicates the subject. This is one of the most important concepts for English speakers to understand.
With pronoun (emphatic): -
My mieszkamy w Warszawie (WE live in Warsaw - emphasis on “we”)
Without pronoun (neutral): -
Mieszkamy w Warszawie (We live in Warsaw - neutral statement)
Both are grammatically correct, but they have different pragmatic effects. Use my when you want to: -
Emphasize or contrast (”WE did it, not them”) -
Provide clarity in ambiguous contexts -
Answer a question about who did something -
Create stylistic emphasis in writing
2. First-Person Plural Verb Endings
The reason Polish can drop my is because first-person plural verbs have distinctive endings:
Present tense: -my -
mieszkamy (we live) -
jemy (we eat) -
czytamy (we read)
Past tense: -liśmy (masculine personal), -łyśmy (non-masculine personal) -
byliśmy (we were - men or mixed group) -
byłyśmy (we were - women only) -
studiowaliśmy (we studied)
Future tense: będziemy + infinitive OR perfective present -
będziemy pracować (we will work) -
pójdziemy (we will go - perfective) -
zrobimy (we will do - perfective)
3. Cases with My
As a subject pronoun, my always appears in the nominative case. However, Polish has different forms of “we/us” for different grammatical functions:
Nominative (subject): my - we Genitive: nas - of us, us (after negated verbs) Dative: nam - to us, for us Accusative: nas - us (direct object) Instrumental: nami - with us, by us Locative: nas - about us (after o)
Examples: -
My mieszkamy (We live - nominative subject) -
Nie ma nas w domu (We’re not at home - genitive after negated ma) -
Daj nam książkę (Give us the book - dative indirect object) -
Widzą nas (They see us - accusative direct object) -
Pójdź z nami (Come with us - instrumental after z) -
Mówią o nas (They talk about us - locative after o)
4. Agreement Patterns
When my is the subject, verbs must be in first-person plural, and adjectives/participles must agree in number and gender:
Masculine personal (men or mixed group): -
My jesteśmy zmęczeni (We are tired) -
Byliśmy szczęśliwi (We were happy)
Non-masculine personal (women only, or things): -
My jesteśmy zmęczone (We are tired - women) -
Byłyśmy szczęśliwe (We were happy - women)
5. Emphasis and Contrast
The primary reason to use my explicitly is for emphasis or contrast:
Emphasis: -
“Kto to zrobił?” “MY to zrobiliśmy!” (Who did it? WE did it!)
Contrast: -
Oni poszli do kina, a my zostaliśmy w domu (They went to the cinema, and WE stayed home) -
My lubimy kawę, ale wy wolicie herbatę (WE like coffee, but you prefer tea)
6. Questions with My
In questions, my is often used for clarity: -
Czy my się znamy? (Do we know each other?) -
Kiedy my wyjeżdżamy? (When are we leaving?)
Without my, these questions would still be grammatical, but including it makes them clearer and slightly more emphatic.
Common Mistakes for English Speakers: -
Overusing my: English speakers often include my too often because English requires “we.” In Polish, use it only for emphasis or clarity. -
Wrong case forms: Confusing “my” (nominative) with “nas” or “nam” in other cases. -
Agreement errors: Forgetting that adjectives must agree with masculine personal vs. non-masculine personal forms. -
Pronunciation: Saying [maɪ] like English “my” instead of [mɨ]. -
Past tense agreement: Using the wrong past tense form (-liśmy vs. -łyśmy) based on gender composition of the group.
Summary Table (Text Format):
Usage: Emphatic subject, contrast, clarity in questions Case: Nominative only (nas/nam for other cases) Verb endings: -my (present), -liśmy/-łyśmy (past), będziemy/perfective (future) Agreement: Masculine personal vs. non-masculine personal in adjectives Pro-drop: Can usually be omitted; include for emphasis
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Collectivism in Polish Culture
The pronoun my (we) holds special significance in Polish culture, which traditionally emphasizes community, family, and collective identity over individualism. This cultural value manifests in how Poles use language to express group belonging and shared experiences.
Historical Context
During Poland’s partitions (1795-1918) and later during communist rule and martial law, the concept of “we” became powerful in Polish resistance movements. Phrases like “My, naród” (We, the people) carried tremendous political and emotional weight. The collective “we” represented Polish identity when Poland as a state didn’t officially exist.
Family and Community
Polish families are generally close-knit, and the use of my to describe family units is common: -
“My, rodzina” (We, the family) -
“My, Polacy” (We, Poles) -
“My wszyscy” (All of us)
This reflects the cultural importance of family solidarity and group identity.
Formal vs. Informal Usage
In formal business or academic contexts, using my explicitly can sound more professional and inclusive: -
“My, jako firma, oferujemy...” (We, as a company, offer...) -
“My, badacze, doszliśmy do wniosku...” (We, researchers, have concluded...)
In informal conversation among friends, my is often dropped, and the verb ending alone conveys the subject.
Regional Variations
Standard Polish use of my is consistent across regions. However, in some dialects (particularly in mountainous areas like Podhale or Silesia), there may be variations in: -
Intonation patterns when using my -
Frequency of explicit pronoun use -
Related dialectal pronouns (e.g., regional variations)
These are not standard and are considered local color rather than proper Polish.
In Literature and Poetry
Polish Romantic poets like Adam Mickiewicz used my powerfully in nationalistic poetry: -
“My, wygnańcy” (We, the exiles) -
“My, Polacy” (We, Poles)
The pronoun carried emotional weight, representing collective suffering, hope, and identity during times when Poland was not independent.
Modern Usage Trends
In contemporary Polish, especially among younger urban speakers: -
My is used less frequently in casual speech (pro-drop is more common) -
In social media and texting, explicit pronouns are sometimes added for emphasis -
Business language tends to use my more explicitly for clarity and professionalism
False Friends and Translation Issues
English speakers often: -
Use my too frequently (direct translation from English) -
Don’t understand when to emphasize with my vs. omit it -
Confuse my (we) with mój/moja (my - possessive)
Note: my [mɨ] (we) ≠ mój [muj] (my - masculine), moja [ˈmɔja] (my - feminine)
Solidarity and Group Identity
In Polish workplace culture, using my creates team cohesion: -
“My to zrobimy” (We’ll do it - team spirit) -
“My razem” (We together - solidarity)
This reflects broader cultural values of cooperation and collective responsibility.
Catholic Influence
Poland’s strong Catholic tradition influences collective identity expressions. In religious contexts, my appears in: -
Prayers: “My, grzeszni” (We, sinners) -
Church communities: “My, wierni” (We, the faithful) -
Religious solidarity expressions
Generational Differences
Older generations (who experienced communist Poland) may use my more emphatically in contexts involving national or collective identity, while younger generations use it more casually and drop it more frequently in everyday speech.
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F-A: Interleaved Text (Adapted from Polish literary style)
F-A.1a My, co przeżyliśmy te straszne czasy F-A.1b My [mɨ] we co [t͡sɔ] who przeżyliśmy [pʂɛʐɨˈliɕmɨ] survived-1PL te [tɛ] these-ACC straszne [ˈstraʂnɛ] terrible-ACC czasy [ˈt͡ʂasɨ] times-ACC
F-A.2a My pamiętamy, jak wyglądała wolność F-A.2b My [mɨ] we pamiętamy [pamjɛ̃ˈtamɨ] remember-1PL jak [jak] how wyglądała [vɨglɔ̃ˈdawa] looked wolność [ˈvɔlnɔɕt͡ɕ] freedom-NOM
F-A.3a My razem budowaliśmy nową Polskę F-A.3b My [mɨ] we razem [ˈrazɛm] together budowaliśmy [budɔvaˈliɕmɨ] built-1PL nową [ˈnɔvɔ̃] new-ACC Polskę [ˈpɔlskɛ] Poland-ACC
F-B: The Text from F-A
F-A.1 My, co przeżyliśmy te straszne czasy → “We who survived those terrible times”
F-A.2 My pamiętamy, jak wyglądała wolność → “We remember what freedom looked like”
F-A.3 My razem budowaliśmy nową Polskę → “We together built a new Poland”
F-C: Original Polish Text Only
F-A.1 My, co przeżyliśmy te straszne czasy
F-A.2 My pamiętamy, jak wyglądała wolność
F-A.3 My razem budowaliśmy nową Polskę
F-D: Grammar Commentary
These lines, written in a style reminiscent of Polish memoir literature and patriotic writing, demonstrate important uses of my:
Line 1 shows my followed by a relative clause “co przeżyliśmy” (who survived). The use of my here is emphatic, identifying the specific group of people who lived through difficult historical periods. The verb “przeżyliśmy” is first-person plural past tense (masculine personal form, indicating the group includes men). The phrase “te straszne czasy” (those terrible times) uses accusative case as the direct object of “przeżyliśmy.”
Line 2 demonstrates my as an emphatic subject with the verb “pamiętamy” (we remember). The explicit use of my emphasizes that this particular group has the memories, as opposed to younger generations who don’t. The verb “wyglądała” (looked, appeared) is feminine singular past tense, agreeing with “wolność” (freedom - a feminine noun). This type of construction is common in Polish historical and memorial writing.
Line 3 uses my with “razem” (together), a powerful combination emphasizing collective action and solidarity. “Budowaliśmy” (we built/were building) is first-person plural past tense masculine personal. The phrase “nową Polskę” (new Poland) is in the accusative case as the direct object, with both adjective “nową” and noun “Polskę” properly declined.
Cultural Context: These lines reflect themes common in Polish post-war literature and memoirs. The emphasis on collective experience (using my), shared memory, and rebuilding after hardship are recurring motifs in Polish writing about the 20th century. Writers like Czesław Miłosz, Tadeusz Różewicz, and many others used the first-person plural to express collective trauma, memory, and hope. The explicit use of my in such contexts carries emotional weight and creates a sense of shared identity among those who experienced historical events.
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Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
21.16a My planujemy wyjazd do Krakowa w przyszłym miesiącu 21.16b My [mɨ] we planujemy [planuˈjɛmɨ] plan-1PL wyjazd [ˈvɨjazt] trip-ACC do [dɔ] to Krakowa [kraˈkɔva] Krakow-GEN w [v] in przyszłym [ˈpʂɨʂwɨm] next-LOC miesiącu [mjɛˈɕɔ̃t͡su] month-LOC
21.17a My chcemy zwiedzić Wawel i Stare Miasto 21.17b My [mɨ] we chcemy [ˈxt͡sɛmɨ] want-1PL zwiedzić [ˈzvjɛd͡ʑit͡ɕ] to-visit Wawel [ˈvavɛl] Wawel-ACC i [i] and Stare [ˈstarɛ] Old-ACC Miasto [ˈmjastɔ] City-ACC
21.18a My musimy zarezerwować hotel z wyprzedzeniem 21.18b My [mɨ] we musimy [muˈɕimɨ] must-1PL zarezerwować [zarɛzɛrˈvɔvat͡ɕ] to-reserve hotel [ˈxɔtɛl] hotel-ACC z [z] with wyprzedzeniem [vɨpʂɛˈd͡zɛɲɛm] advance-INST
21.19a My weźmiemy pociąg, bo to jest szybciej niż samochodem 21.19b My [mɨ] we weźmiemy [vɛʑˈmjɛmɨ] will-take-1PL pociąg [ˈpɔt͡ɕɔ̃k] train-ACC bo [bɔ] because to [tɔ] this jest [jɛst] is szybciej [ˈʂɨpt͡ɕɛj] faster niż [ɲiʂ] than samochodem [samɔˈxɔdɛm] car-INST
21.20a My zamierzamy spędzić tam cały weekend 21.20b My [mɨ] we zamierzamy [zamjɛˈʐamɨ] intend-1PL spędzić [ˈspɛɲd͡ʑit͡ɕ] to-spend tam [tam] there cały [ˈt͡sawɨ] whole-ACC weekend [ˈwikɛnt] weekend-ACC
21.21a My już szukaliśmy noclegów w internecie 21.21b My [mɨ] we już [juʂ] already szukaliśmy [ʂukaˈliɕmɨ] searched-1PL noclegów [nɔt͡sˈlɛguf] accommodations-GEN w [v] in internecie [intɛrˈɲɛt͡ɕɛ] internet-LOC
21.22a My mamy ochotę spróbować tradycyjnej kuchni krakowskiej 21.22b My [mɨ] we mamy [ˈmamɨ] have-1PL ochotę [ɔˈxɔtɛ] desire-ACC spróbować [ˈsprubɔvat͡ɕ] to-try tradycyjnej [tradɨˈt͡sɨjnɛj] traditional-GEN kuchni [ˈkuxɲi] cuisine-GEN krakowskiej [krakɔfskjɛj] Krakovian-GEN
21.23a My będziemy fotografować wszystkie zabytki 21.23b My [mɨ] we będziemy [ˈbɛɲd͡ʑɛmɨ] will-be-1PL fotografować [fɔtɔgraˈfɔvat͡ɕ] to-photograph wszystkie [ˈfʂɨstkjɛ] all-ACC zabytki [zaˈbɨtki] monuments-ACC
21.24a My zastanawiamy się, czy warto kupić Kraków Card 21.24b My [mɨ] we zastanawiamy się [zastanaˈvjamɨ ɕɛ] wonder-1PL-REFL czy [t͡ʂɨ] whether warto [ˈvartɔ] worth kupić [ˈkupit͡ɕ] to-buy Kraków [ˈkrakuf] Krakow Card [kart] Card-ACC
21.25a My chętnie odwiedzimy też kopalnie soli w Wieliczce 21.25b My [mɨ] we chętnie [ˈxɛɲtɲɛ] gladly odwiedzimy [ɔdvjɛˈd͡ʑimɨ] will-visit-1PL też [tɛʂ] also kopalnie [kɔˈpalɲɛ] mine-ACC soli [ˈsɔli] salt-GEN w [v] in Wieliczce [vjɛˈlit͡ʂt͡sɛ] Wieliczka-LOC
21.26a My musimy sprawdzić godziny otwarcia muzeów 21.26b My [mɨ] we musimy [muˈɕimɨ] must-1PL sprawdzić [ˈspravd͡ʑit͡ɕ] to-check godziny [gɔˈd͡ʑinɨ] hours-ACC otwarcia [ɔtˈfart͡ɕa] opening-GEN muzeów [muˈzɛuf] museums-GEN
21.27a My nie możemy zapomnieć o wygodnych butach do chodzenia 21.27b My [mɨ] we nie [ɲɛ] not możemy [mɔˈʐɛmɨ] can-1PL zapomnieć [zapɔmˈɲɛt͡ɕ] to-forget o [ɔ] about wygodnych [vɨˈgɔdnɨx] comfortable-LOC butach [ˈbutax] shoes-LOC do [dɔ] for chodzenia [xɔˈd͡zɛɲa] walking-GEN
21.28a My liczymy, że pogoda będzie sprzyjająca 21.28b My [mɨ] we liczymy [liˈt͡ʂɨmɨ] count-1PL że [ʐɛ] that pogoda [pɔˈgɔda] weather-NOM będzie [ˈbɛɲd͡ʑɛ] will-be sprzyjająca [spʂɨjaˈjɔ̃t͡sa] favorable-NOM
21.29a My spotkamy się z przyjaciółmi, którzy tam mieszkają 21.29b My [mɨ] we spotkamy się [spɔtˈkamɨ ɕɛ] will-meet-1PL-REFL z [z] with przyjaciółmi [pʂɨjaˈt͡ɕuwmi] friends-INST którzy [ˈktuʐɨ] who tam [tam] there mieszkają [mjɛʂˈkajɔ̃] live
21.30a My już nie możemy się doczekać tej podróży 21.30b My [mɨ] we już [juʂ] already nie [ɲɛ] not możemy [mɔˈʐɛmɨ] can-1PL się [ɕɛ] REFL doczekać [dɔˈt͡ʂɛkat͡ɕ] to-wait-for tej [tɛj] this-GEN podróży [pɔdˈruʐɨ] journey-GEN
Part B: Natural Sentences
21.16 My planujemy wyjazd do Krakowa w przyszłym miesiącu “We are planning a trip to Krakow next month”
21.17 My chcemy zwiedzić Wawel i Stare Miasto “We want to visit Wawel and the Old Town”
21.18 My musimy zarezerwować hotel z wyprzedzeniem “We must book a hotel in advance”
21.19 My weźmiemy pociąg, bo to jest szybciej niż samochodem “We’ll take the train because it’s faster than by car”
21.20 My zamierzamy spędzić tam cały weekend “We intend to spend the whole weekend there”
21.21 My już szukaliśmy noclegów w internecie “We’ve already been searching for accommodations online”
21.22 My mamy ochotę spróbować tradycyjnej kuchni krakowskiej “We feel like trying traditional Krakovian cuisine”
21.23 My będziemy fotografować wszystkie zabytki “We will photograph all the monuments”
21.24 My zastanawiamy się, czy warto kupić Kraków Card “We’re wondering whether it’s worth buying a Krakow Card”
21.25 My chętnie odwiedzimy też kopalnie soli w Wieliczce “We’ll gladly also visit the salt mine in Wieliczka”
21.26 My musimy sprawdzić godziny otwarcia muzeów “We must check the museums’ opening hours”
21.27 My nie możemy zapomnieć o wygodnych butach do chodzenia “We can’t forget about comfortable walking shoes”
21.28 My liczymy, że pogoda będzie sprzyjająca “We’re counting on the weather being favorable”
21.29 My spotkamy się z przyjaciółmi, którzy tam mieszkają “We’ll meet up with friends who live there”
21.30 My już nie możemy się doczekać tej podróży “We can’t wait for this trip anymore”
Part C: Polish Text Only
21.16 My planujemy wyjazd do Krakowa w przyszłym miesiącu
21.17 My chcemy zwiedzić Wawel i Stare Miasto
21.18 My musimy zarezerwować hotel z wyprzedzeniem
21.19 My weźmiemy pociąg, bo to jest szybciej niż samochodem
21.20 My zamierzamy spędzić tam cały weekend
21.21 My już szukaliśmy noclegów w internecie
21.22 My mamy ochotę spróbować tradycyjnej kuchni krakowskiej
21.23 My będziemy fotografować wszystkie zabytki
21.24 My zastanawiamy się, czy warto kupić Kraków Card
21.25 My chętnie odwiedzimy też kopalnie soli w Wieliczce
21.26 My musimy sprawdzić godziny otwarcia muzeów
21.27 My nie możemy zapomnieć o wygodnych butach do chodzenia
21.28 My liczymy, że pogoda będzie sprzyjająca
21.29 My spotkamy się z przyjaciółmi, którzy tam mieszkają
21.30 My już nie możemy się doczekać tej podróży
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This dialogue demonstrates several important aspects of using my in conversational Polish:
Consistent Use for Group Planning: Throughout this dialogue, my appears in almost every sentence because the speakers are explicitly discussing joint plans and shared intentions. In real conversation, some of these could omit my, but including it emphasizes the collaborative nature of the planning.
Modal Verbs with My: -
musimy (we must) - expressing obligation -
możemy (we can) - expressing ability or permission -
chcemy (we want) - expressing desire -
zamierzamy (we intend) - expressing intention
Each modal verb properly conjugated for first-person plural.
Reflexive Verbs: Several examples show reflexive verbs with my: -
zastanawiamy się (we wonder - literally: we wonder ourselves) -
spotkamy się (we’ll meet - reflexive) -
nie możemy się doczekać (we can’t wait - reflexive)
The reflexive particle się always follows the verb, never my.
Different Tense Usage: Present: planujemy, chcemy, musimy Past: szukaliśmy (we were searching) Future: weźmiemy, będziemy, odwiedzimy, spotkamy się
Instrumental Case: Note the instrumental case usage after certain prepositions: -
z wyprzedzeniem (with advance - INST) -
samochodem (by car - INST) -
z przyjaciółmi (with friends - INST)
Genitive Case: Used after many verbs and prepositions: -
do Krakowa (to Krakow - GEN after “do”) -
noclegów (accommodations - GEN after “szukać”) -
kuchni krakowskiej (Krakovian cuisine - GEN)
Natural Conversation Flow: This dialogue shows how Polish speakers naturally use my when planning together. The repetition of my creates cohesion and emphasizes the group nature of the activity, which is culturally appropriate for collaborative planning in Polish.
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The Distinctive Polish ‘y’ Sound [ɨ]
The Polish letter ‘y’ represents a sound that doesn’t exist in standard English, which makes my [mɨ] challenging for English speakers to pronounce correctly.
How to Produce [ɨ]: -
Start with the ‘i’ sound in “bit” [ɪ] -
Raise your tongue higher (more like ‘ee’ in “bee”) -
Pull your tongue back in your mouth (more central, less front) -
Keep your lips neutral (not spread like ‘ee’, not rounded like ‘oo’) -
The result should sound “muffled” compared to English ‘ee’
Common Mispronunciations: -
[maɪ] (like English “my”) - WRONG -
[mi] (like English “me”) - WRONG (this is Polish mi meaning “to me”) -
[mij] (adding a ‘y’ glide) - WRONG
Correct: [mɨ] - a single syllable with the central high vowel
Minimal Pairs for Practice: -
my [mɨ] (we) vs. mi [mi] (to me) -
ty [tɨ] (you-singular) vs. to [tɔ] (this) -
byliśmy [bɨˈliɕmɨ] (we were) vs. bili śmy [ˈbili ɕmɨ] (we beat - hypothetical)
Spelling Consistency
The pronoun my is always spelled with ‘y’, never with ‘i’. This distinguishes it from: -
mi [mi] (to me - dative case of “ja”) -
mię [mɲɛ] (me - archaic/poetic accusative)
Connected Speech
In rapid, natural Polish speech, my often becomes less prominent when it’s not emphasized: -
My idziemy [mɨ iˈd͡ʑɛmɨ] → [mɨ‿jˈd͡ʑɛmɨ] (the ‘i’ of “idziemy” becomes a glide) -
My też [mɨ tɛʂ] → [mɨ‿tɛʂ] (flows together smoothly)
Regional Pronunciation
Standard Polish pronunciation of my is [mɨ] throughout Poland. However: -
In some eastern dialects, it may sound slightly more like [mɪ] -
In casual Warsaw speech, it might be slightly more centralized -
These are subtle variations; [mɨ] is always understood and correct
Writing Systems
Polish uses the Latin alphabet with diacritical marks, but my uses neither. Always write: -
my (correct) -
NOT: mý, mÿ, mỳ (all incorrect)
Audio Practice Recommendations -
Listen to Polish news broadcasts for clear articulation -
Use online pronunciation dictionaries (Forvo, Polish dictionary sites) -
Watch Polish films with subtitles to hear my in natural context -
Practice with minimal pairs: my-mi, ty-to -
Record yourself and compare with native speakers
IPA Notation Review
Throughout this lesson, my is transcribed as [mɨ]: -
[m] = standard ‘m’ sound -
[ɨ] = high central unrounded vowel (the distinctive Polish ‘y’)
Mastering this pronunciation is essential for clear Polish communication, as confusing my (we) with mi (to me) can create misunderstandings.
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The Latinum Institute has been creating online language learning materials since 2006, pioneering the construed reading method for efficient language acquisition. This systematic approach, proven successful for Latin, Ancient Greek, and now modern languages, enables autodidact students to progress rapidly through frequency-ranked vocabulary.
Why This Method Works:
The construed interlinear format allows you to see the grammatical structure of Polish while simultaneously understanding the meaning. By focusing on the most frequent words (like my), you build a foundation for understanding authentic Polish much more quickly than traditional methods.
Course Structure:
This lesson is part of a 1000-word sequence based on actual frequency data from Polish language corpora. Each lesson focuses on one high-frequency word, providing 30 contextualized examples (15 basic + 15 in a specific genre). By lesson 100, you’ll have encountered the essential vocabulary for basic Polish communication and reading.
About Lesson 21:
The pronoun my is fundamental to Polish communication. Understanding when to use it explicitly versus when to rely on verb endings is a key aspect of developing natural-sounding Polish. The pro-drop nature of Polish makes it unique among languages English speakers typically learn, and mastering this concept opens the door to authentic Polish expression.
Reviews and Testimonials:
The Latinum Institute’s methodology has received consistent praise from language learners worldwide. Our approach has helped thousands of students achieve their language learning goals through systematic, self-directed study. See reviews at: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
Building on Previous Lessons:
If you’ve completed Lesson 20 (nie - not), you’ve already seen how Polish uses simple, consistent patterns for negation. Lesson 21 builds on this by introducing the first-person plural pronoun, which you’ll use frequently in combination with negation and other grammatical structures you’ve learned.
Next Steps:
After mastering my and understanding Polish pro-drop pronouns, you’ll be ready for other personal pronouns and more complex verb patterns. Each new lesson builds systematically on previous material, creating a robust understanding of Polish grammar through authentic usage.
Additional Resources:
While this course provides structured vocabulary acquisition through the Latinum method, we recommend supplementing with: -
Polish podcasts and radio for listening practice (e.g., Polskie Radio) -
Language exchange partners for speaking (iTalki, Tandem) -
Polish literature starting with graded readers -
Polish news websites for reading practice (Gazeta Wyborcza, Onet) -
Polish films and series (Netflix, YouTube)
Join the Learning Community:
Thousands of autodidact learners worldwide use the Latinum Institute method for self-directed language study. Whether you’re learning Polish for: -
Heritage and family connections -
Travel and cultural exploration -
Academic or professional purposes -
Personal intellectual challenge -
Access to Polish literature and culture
This systematic approach provides the foundation you need.
Course Philosophy:
The Latinum Institute believes in: -
Frequency-based selection - Learn the most useful words first -
Authentic examples - Real Polish, not simplified textbook language -
Grammatical transparency - See how the language actually works -
Self-paced progression - Learn at your own speed without pressure -
Practical communication - Usable language from the first lesson
About Polish Language and Culture:
Polish (język polski) is spoken by approximately 45 million people worldwide, primarily in Poland but also in significant diaspora communities in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and other countries. It’s a West Slavic language, sharing features with Czech and Slovak while maintaining its unique characteristics including: -
Seven grammatical cases (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, locative, vocative) -
Complex consonant clusters and distinctive pronunciation -
Rich literary tradition from medieval times to contemporary Nobel Prize winners -
Pro-drop nature allowing subject pronoun omission -
Gender agreement systems (masculine personal vs. non-masculine personal)
Learning Polish opens doors to: -
A rich literary tradition (Mickiewicz, Sienkiewicz, Miłosz, Szymborska, Tokarczuk) -
Vibrant contemporary culture (film, music, arts) -
Connection with Polish communities globally -
Understanding of Central European history and culture -
Access to Polish academic and professional opportunities
Thank you for choosing the Latinum Institute for your Polish language journey!
Continue building your skills one frequency-ranked word at a time, and you’ll be surprised how quickly you develop real Polish comprehension and communication ability.
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