Mixing It Up In Polish (Big Time)

I had previously posted this in three parts, but recently decided to consolidate it into one post and add some more words to it, as well as alphabetize the list by the first entry.  I did that because I was having a hard time figuring out whether I had already included words, so alphabetizing them and having them in one list will make it easier to determine whether I have already considered any given words.  From now on I will just add words to this post when I have identified more easily confused words.

When you are learning Polish, there are a whole lot of words that can be easily confused with each other.  For an English speaker, this is compounded because all the words are tongue twisters anyway.  You have no idea how many times I repeated the words "coś zjeść" (something to eat) over and over again before I could finally say them somewhat reliably.

Plus, when you learn new words that are similar to other words you knew, it can suddenly create a minefield of confusion.

Here are some words that I have gotten mixed up about at one time or another:

bezbronny – defenseless, unprotected
nieuchronny – inevitable

chwała – glory
chwila – moment, while

czeluść – abyss, depths
czułość – sensitivity, tenderness, sentimentality

cześć – reverence, worship (also used as "hello" or "goodbye" informally)
część – portion, part, section, piece
sześć – six

dokonany – accomplished, executed
pokonany – defeated

dowód – evidence, proof
powód – reason, cause, ground, motive

flet – flute
flota – fleet

gałka -- knob, ball (like an eyeball), scoop (as in ice cream)
pałka -- club (cudgel)

grzywka – fringe (hair)
grzywna – fine
grzywa – mane

kaczka – duck
paczka – package
taczka – wheelbarrow
teczka – briefcase, folder

komar – mosquito, gnat
konar – bough, branch

koparka – excavator
kopiarka – photocopier

kosa – scythe
koza – goat

kotlina – basin, hollow
kotwica – anchor

lawina – avalanche
macica – womb

leżak – deckchair
lizak – lollipop

lina – rope, cable, line
linia – line, route

łaska – favor, grace, mercy, generosity
łuska – (fish) scale, husk, (ammunition) shell

mąka – flour (I picture myself going into a sklep spożywczy [grocery store] and asking for a kilo of wheat torture, please)
męka – torture, torment

nadludzki – superhuman
przeludnienie – overpopulation

nadmiernie – excessively
niezmiernie – extremely, immensely, very

nawias – bracket, parenthesis
zawias – hinge

niezniszczalny – indestructible
znieczulenie – anesthesia

oparty – based, grounded, founded
uparty – stubborn, obstinate

opór – opposition, resistance
upór – obstinacy, stubbornness, determination

odprawa – briefing, clearance, gratuity, rebuff
oprawa – frame, rim, cover, binding (book)

pochodzenie – origin, descent
pogodzenie – reconciliation, resignation

początkowy – initial, preliminary, elementary
porządkowy – serial, ordinal

podeszwa – sole
poszewka – pillowcase

pokrywka – lid, cover
pokrzywa – stinging nettle

poprawienie – improvement, correction, revision
uprawnienie – entitlement, right, authorization

poszewka – pillowcase
soczewka – lens

potwierdzenie – confirmation, corroboration
stwierdzenie – statement, assertion

poważanie – respect, esteem, deference
poważnie – seriously, gravely, with dignity

powtórnie – once again, one more time
powtórzenie – repetition

pozbawiony – deprived
rozbawiony – amused

pozór – pretense, appearance
pożar – blaze, conflagration

przyczyna – cause, reason
przyzwoity – decent, proper

przygoda – adventure
przyroda – nature

ręcznik – towel
rzecznik – spokesman
rzeźnik - butcher

szczepionka – vaccine
szczypiorek – chive

skazany – condemned, doomed
wskazany – advisable

spinacz – paper clip
szpinak – spinach
wspinacz – climber

sporny – controversial, debatable
spójny – coherent

stały – solid, constant, permanent, direct (current)
trwały – permanent, durable, enduring, lasting (probably both these words mean pretty much the same thing except for maybe the “direct current” [prąd stały] connotation; I've seen both “stały związek” and “trwały związek” for “steady relationship”)

ścierka – dishcloth
ścieżka – path

świt – dawn, daybreak
świta – suite, retinue, entourage

trujący – poisonous, toxic
trwający – lasting

uderzenie – blow, stroke, hit
zdarzenie – event, occurrence
zderzenie – collision, crash

uległy – submissive, docile, compliant
upadły – bankrupt, fallen

ułożony – arranged, well-mannered
złożony – complex, composite, compound

uwieńczony – crowned, adorned with wreaths
uwięziony – trapped, stuck, imprisoned

wadliwy – defective, faulty
wątpliwy – questionable, doubtful

wezwanie – call, summons
wyznanie – confession, admission, religion
wyzwanie – challenge
zerwanie – rupture
zeznanie – testimony

władanie – reign, possession
włamanie – burglary

właśnie – just, exactly
własny – (someone's) own

wpływ – influence, impact
wstyd – shame, disgrace

wygląd – appearance, looks
wzgląd – regard, consideration, respect

wykaz – list, statement
wyraz – expression, word

zabarwienie – tinge, tint
zbawienie – rescue, deliverance, salvation, redemption

zabieg – procedure, treatment, operation
zasięg – range, reach

zbocze – slope
zboże – corn, cereal, grain

Other potentially confusing items:

Phrases with "północ" can be confusing because the word can either mean "north" or "midnight":

na północy – in the north
na północ – to the north
z północy – from the north

o północy – at midnight

"Południe" can mean either "south" or "noon" as well:

na południe – to the south
na południu – in the south
z południa – from the south

po południu – in the afternoon
w południe – at midday

There are also a whole bunch of words that have to do with thinking and/or mental processes that either contain "-myśl" or "-mysł" (where the accented mark switches between the "s" and the "l".  There are just so many that it makes my head swim.

Also I have mixed up a lot of words that start with "przy"- and "prze-".

I'd be interested in hearing what words you have gotten mixed up with other words in any languages you were studying.

Przeciw: Opposition

I bet y'all have been waiting with bated breath for my next post (probably not, but ya never know), seeing as how I haven't put anything new on here in a while.  I've been kinda busy showing up for the craziness lately at the Texas Capitol.  Maybe that has nothing to do with learning Polish, and shouldn't be in a Polish learning blog.  Au contraire; I beg to differ.  I studied Polish on several occasions while I was there, even while I was chanting along with the crowd.  And, besides, it's my blog, so I can write what I want.  Ha ha.

But I digress, let's get back to the topic at hand.  I want to talk about "przeciw,"  which, in general, has to do with stuff that is opposite, contrary to, or against something.  A fitting topic to talk about in relation to thousands of screaming protestors who shut this mother down.  Yippie-ki-yay.

"Przeciw" or "przeciwko" means "against."  It is a preposition, and takes the dative case.  It also forms a prefix for a ton of compound words in Polish.  I'm not going to go into all the words that are involved here, because there are a whole lot of them.  Just turn to your friendly neighborhood Polish dictionary for further guidance on this subject.  But I will talk about a few of the derivative words that are used most frequently.

"Przeciwny" means "opposite" or "contrary."  "Przeciwnie" is an adverb that means "on/to the contrary."  And "przeciwieństwo" is a noun that means "opposition" or "contrast." "Przeciwnik" refers to an "adversary" or "opponent" (another noun).

"Sprzeciw" is a noun that means "opposition" or "objection."  "Naprzeciw" is a preposition meaning "opposite" or "across from."  It takes the genitive.

"Sprzeciwiać/sprzeciwić się" means "to oppose, to stand against."

Some examples of how to stand tough against those who keep us in shackles:

powstawać przeciw - to rise against
protestować przeciw - to protest against
walczyć przeciwko - to fight against
głosować przeciwko - to vote against
w przeciwieństwie do - in contrast to
przeciwdziałać - to work against, to counteract

More Phrases For Reinforcement

I did a previous post on phrasal reinforcement, or reinforcing the meanings of individual words by using them in conjunction with other words to create a unit of meaning that helps to illustrate their usage.  Here are some more noun phrases (usually adjective/noun or noun/noun) for thine edification.

słusznego wzrostu - of considerable height
zdrowy rozsądek - common sense
konferencja prasowa - press conference
działanie uboczne - side effect
wieża obserwacyjna - watchtower
rozstrzygający głos - decisive vote
odkryty teren - open space
handel zagraniczny - foreign commerce
pigułka antykoncepcyjna - contraceptive pill
przyciąganie ziemskie - gravity
kamień nerkowy - kidney stone
barszcz czerwony - red borscht
pracownik umysłowy - while-collar worker
zespół rockowy - rock group
psotne dziecko - mischievous child
ślepa uliczka - dead end
deficyt budżetowy - budget deficit

Seize The Moment: Chwytać

"-chwyt" has to do with "grasping" or "seizing."

chwytać, chwycić - to snatch, to seize, to grab

Examples:

chwytać okazję - to seize the opportunity
chwytać powietrzę - catch (one's) breath
w mig chwytać o co chodzi - to be quick on the draw

Some derivative words:

chwyt - grip, grasp (noun)
chwytacz - safety catch, arrester (noun)
chwytliwy - catching; quick, agile (adejective)

Examples:

chwyt wiertła - drill shank
chwyt pistoletu - pistol grip

podchwytywać, podchwycić - to pick up, to take up; to join

Examples:

podchwytywać śpiew - to join in the singing
podchwytywać rozmowę - to join in the conversation

Some derivative words:

podchwyt - snatch, grab (noun)
podchwytliwy - trick (often used with "podchwytliwe pytanie" [trick question]) (adjective)

przechwytywać, przechwycić - to intercept, to grab, to seize

schwytać, schwycić - to apprehend, to capture

uchwycić - to grasp, to seize, to capture

Some derivative words:

uchwyt - handle, grip (noun)
uchwytny - noticeable, perceptible (adjective)

Examples:

W razie niebezpieczeństwa, mocno pociągnąć za uchwyt - In case of emergency, pull the handle firmly
ledwie uchwytny - barely noticeable

zachwycać się, zachwycić się - to be delighted, to be enchanted

Some derivative words:

zachwyt - delight, fascination, enchantment (noun)
zachwycający - delightful (noun)
zachwycenie - rapture (noun)
zachwycony - enchanted, delighted (adjective)
zachwycająco - delightfully, admirably (adverb)

Join The Club: Łączyć

"-łącz" has to do with "joining" or "switching."  The main verb is "łączyć, połączyć" though the most common verbs used with this root probably have the "w-" and "wy-" prefixes and relate to turning things on or off.

łączyć, połączyć - to join, to merge, to unite

Examples:

łączyć siły - to join forces
łączyć przyjemne z pożytecznym - to mix business with pleasure

The reflexive form is:

łączyć się, połączyć się - to be joined, to be united, to merge, to come together; to connect (e.g. - phone)

Some derivative words:

łącze - link, connection (noun)
łączenie - connection; junction; liaison (noun)
łącznik - liaison; hyphen; connector; tie (music) (noun)
łączliwość - connectivity (noun)
łącznica - switchboard (noun)
łączność - contact, unity (noun)

łączny - connective; total (adjective)
łączący - subjunctive (grammar); connecting, joining (adj)
łącznie - including, inclusively, cumulatively (adverb)

Examples:

kwota łączna - total amount
tkanka łączna - connective tissue
tryb łączący - subjunctive mood (grammar)
łącznie ze mną - including me
doprowadzać łącze internetowe - to provide internet access

dołączać, dołączyć - to join, to link; to enclose, to append, to attach

Examples:

dołączyć do grupy... - join the ranks of...
dołączać do szeregu - fall in (military)

The reflexive form is:

dołączać się, dołączyć się - to join (in)

odłączać, odłączyć - to disconnect, to detach, to disassociate

podłączać, podłączyć - to connect / -am -asz, -czę -czysz

połączyć - to connect, to link

połączenie - connection, link; combination (noun)

Examples:

połączenie autobusowe - bus connection
połączenie kolejowe - train connection
połączenie lotnicze - airplane connection
połączenie telefoniczne - telephone connection

przełączać, przełączyć - to switch over

przełączać na inny kanał - to switch over to another channel

przełącznik - switch (noun)

przyłączać, przyłączyć - to attach; to connect

przyłączać do (+ genitive) - to attach to...

rozłączać, rozłączyć - to uncouple, to separate, to sever

włączać, włączyć - to include; to turn on

Examples:

włączyć sprzęgło - to apply the clutch
włączyć radio - to turn on the radio
włączyć zasilanie - to turn the power on
włącz światło - turn on the light (imperative)

Some derivative words:

włączony - on, in operation (adjective)
włącznie / inclusive (of), including (adverb)

Examples:

telewizor nie jest włączony - the TV is not on
zostawić włączone światło - leave the light on
włącznie z psem - including the dog
z podatkiem włącznie - including tax

wyłączać, wyłączyć / to exclude; to switch off, to turn off

Examples:

wyłączyć sprzęgło - to disengage the clutch
komputer się wyłącza - the computer turns itself off
nie wyłączając nikogo - excluding nobody

Some derivative words:

wyłącznie - exclusively, solely (adverb)
wyłącznik - switch (electric) / Gsg: -a (noun)
wyłączony - excluded; off (adjective)
wyłączność - exclusive right (noun)

załączać, załączyć - to enclose, to connect, to attach

załącznik, załączenie - (email) attachment, enclosure (noun)

złączyć - to fuse, to link, to unite

Some derivative words:

złącze - joint, connection; bond (noun)
złączka - junction, connector (noun)

Examples:

złącze kulkowe - ball joint
złączka rurowa - pipe junction

Phrasal Reinforcement

I have found that once one experiences an initial exposure to a word, that word's meaning is often reinforced with its use in a two- or three-word (or sometimes longer) phrase containing the word. This is also one reason why I try to give examples with some of these reinforcing phrases in my blog posts.  These phrases are the bread and butter of language and assist in demonstrating how words fit together to provide meaning as well as show the various cases in Polish that are used in different situations (though some phrases will undoubtedly modify their case when used in a different sentence placement).

I'll provide some examples of reinforcing phrases so you can see how they reinforce word meanings and so you can improve your learning of Polish words.

Probably some of the most common reinforcing phrases are noun phrases (I call these "noun phrases" because they are clauses where the unit functions as a noun) consisting of an adjective and a noun, or a noun with a prepositional clause functioning as an adjective phrase.

For example: once you know that "koszt" means "cost" and "utrzymanie" means "maintenance" or "livelihood", then both of these words are reinforced by the noun phrase "koszty utrzymania" or
"cost of living."

bujna wyobraźnia - vivid imagination
szkoda słów - waste of breath
wzięty lekarz - popular (in demand) doctor
język nowożytny - modern language
płatek ucha - earlobe
odruch ssania - sucking reflex
szafka na buty - shoe cabinet
lęk wysokości - fear of heights
pracownik umysłowy - while-collar worker
członek załogi - crew member
produkcja prądu - energy production
przywódca opozycji - opposition leader
dostawy wojenne - war provisions
skrajna nędza - dire poverty

There are also many other useful reinforcing phrases.

Verb phrases (the unit functions as a verb) frequently consist of a verb and a direct or indirect object:

odebrać telefon - to pick up the phone
przegrać z kimś - to lose against somebody
podpisać kontrakt - to sign a contract
pójść na marne - to go to waste
zmarnować okazję - to miss an opportunity
robić pomiary - to take measurements, to survey
umierać na raka - to die of cancer
spoglądać po sobie - to glance at each other
wziąć zamach - to take a swing

Adjectival phrases (the unit functions as an adjective) usually consist of an adverb or adjective modifying an adjective:

śmiertelnie znudzony - bored to death
politycznie poprawny - politically correct

Adverbial phrases (the unit functions as an adverb) can have varied constructions, but often are adjective/adverb or adverb/adverb:

mimo że, mimo iż - even though, despite the fact that

Prepositional clauses (the unit often functions as an adjective or adverb, or as an interrogative or declarative phrase) consisting of preposition/noun or preposition/adjective/noun are fairly common, and are also useful for reinforcement:

od miesiąca - for a month
ze strachu - out of fear
na wypadek - in case of
ponad cztery godziny - more than four hours
po drodze, w drodze - on the way
w jakim sensie? - in what sense?
w poprzednich latach - in previous years
na bezludnej wyspie - on a deserted island
bez trudu - effortlessly
od tej pory - from that time
z niewiadomych przyczyn - for no obvious reason

Short, complete sentences are also illustrative of interplay between word meanings.  Often these consist of subject and verb (possibly also with an object), but can have a number of variations:

oszukał mnie - he deceived me
to wystarczy - that will do
w czym kłopot? - what's the problem?

Idiomatic clauses or sentences are usually best considered as a single, self-contained unit of meaning.  They are good for learning poetic or metaphoric constructs of the language, whereby the meaning of the words on their face can be spun into literary fabric to reach the enhanced meaning of the phrase as a whole:

kiedy bądź - any time
poza tym - besides, otherwise
co ty na to - what do you think/say
nie ma sprawy - no problem
nie waż się - don't you dare
w sumie - all in all, altogether
mijać się z prawdą - to be untruthful
nie kojarzę - I don't get it (I don't associate)
puszczać coś mimo uszu - to let something pass (literal translation: to let go of something without ears)
każdy orze, jak może - you do what you can (literal translation: each [person] plows as he/she may)
gdzie Rzym, a gdzie Krym? - what does that have to do with anything? (literal: where is Rome? and where is Crimea?)
z deszczu pod rynnę - out of the frying pan and into the fire (literal: from the rain under the gutter)
co ty na to, żeby wilk był syty i owca cała? - what would you say if you could have your cake and eat it too? (literal: what do you say if the wolf is full and the sheep whole?)

Shaping: Kształt

"Kształt" means "shape" or "form."  This root manifests itself in derivative words in this fashion.

Declension:
(singular then plural)

Nominative - kształt, kształty
Genitive - kształtu, kształtów
Dative - kształtowi, kształtom
Accusative - kształt, kształty
Instrumental - kształtem, kształtami
Locative - kształcie, kształtach
Vocative - kształcie, kształty

Examples:

kształt ucha - shape of the ear
kształt ogólny - general shape
kształt fali - waveform
nabrać kształtu/przybrać kształt - to take shape
na kształt - in the shape of
w kształcie czegoś - in the shape of something

Some derivative words:

kształcić - to teach, to train
kształtować/ukształtować - to shape, to mold, to model; to take shapekształcenie - education, training

przekształcać - to transform, to evolve
wykształcać - to develop, to form
wykształcić - to educate
zniekształcać, zniekształcić - to distort, to deform

całokształt - totality, whole
kształtny - shapely, well-proportioned
przekształcenie - transformation, restructuring
samokształcenie - self-education, self-instruction (adjective is samokształceniowy)
ukształtowanie - shape, figure, formation; geography, relief
ukształtowany - shaped
wykształcenie - education
wykształcony - educated
zniekształcenie - distortion, deformity
zniekształcony - distorted, deformed

Fingers And Toes

Let's look at some words relating to fingers and toes.

palec - finger; toe

"Palec" is probably used most often to mean "finger" but can also mean "toe" (sort of like "dedo" in Spanish or "doigt" in French).

Here are the declensions for "palec."  The first value is singular and the second is plural.

nominative - palec, palce
genitive - palca, palców
dative - palcowi, palcom
accusative - palec, palce
instrumental - palcem, palcami
locative - palcu, palcach
vocative - palcu, palce

Here are all the fingers described:

kciuk - thumb
palec wskazujący - index finger
palec środkowy - middle finger
palec serdeczny - ring finger
mały palec - little finger

Examples:

odcisk palca - fingerprint
trzymać za kogoś kciuki - keep one’s fingers crossed for someone
wytykać kogoś palcami - to point the finger at somebody
Moje palce są zimne jak lód - My fingers are cold as ice
pstrykać palcami - to snap one's fingers
wskazywać palcem - to point
liczyć na palcach - to count (off) on one's fingers
mieć lepkie palce - to have sticky fingers

Some derivative words:

palcować - to finger (verb)
palcowanie - fingering (noun)
palcówka - musical finger exercise, fingerfucking (vulgar) (noun)
palczak - fingerling (noun)

Let's not forget the toes.  Even though "toe" uses the same word, it can be differentiated by adding "u nogi (stopy)" or looking at the context.

Examples:

duży palec (u nogi) - big toe
mały palec (u nogi/stopy) - little toe
stawać na palcach - to stand on one's toes
wspinać się na palce -to stand on one's toes
stąpać/chodzić na palcach - to walk on tiptoe

And also:

paznokieć - fingernail, toenail

Here are the declensions for "paznokieć."  Once again, the first value is singular and the second is plural.

nominative - paznokieć, paznokcie
genitive - paznokcia, paznokci
dative - paznokciowi, paznokciom
accusative - paznokieć, paznokcie
instrumental - paznokciem, paznokciami
locative - paznokciu, paznokciach
vocative - paznokciu, paznokcie

Examples:

obcinać paznokcie - to cut one's nails
obgryzać paznokcie - to chew one's nails
piłować paznokcie - to file one's nails
paznokieć u nogi - toenail

There also exists the word "paznokciowy" (adjective meaning "pertaining to a finger/toe nail"), where one can see the relation to the word "kciuk" ("thumb").

Music, Mood and Backgrounds: Strój

"Strój" as a root seems kind of synesthetic.  It dances back and forth between different ambient sensory domains.

"Strój" in itself, as a noun, means "dress, attire" or, in the musical sense "tune" or "key."  It is also the second person singular imperative form of verb "stroić," which means "to dress up" or "to tune."

Examples:

strój ludowy - national costume
strój kąpielowy - swimsuit
strój plażowy - beach clothes
strój sportowy - athletic wear
strój wieczorowy - evening wear
strój wizitowy - formal wear
strój żałobny - funeral clothes

Other derivative words:

strojnie - smartly, stylishly (as in "smartly dressed" - "strojnie ubrany")
strojnisia - fashion victim, stylish dresser
strojniś - clotheshorse
strojny - dressy, chic
strojowy - tuning (as in "widełki strojowe" - "tuning fork")

"Nastrój" means "mood, state of mind" or "atmosphere, ambiance" but the verb "nastrajać/nastroić" means "to tune" as in tuning an instrument, tuning a radio, etc.  It also can mean "to adjust."  "Nastrój" is also an imperative form (second person singular) of this verb.  So here the implication is that your mind is "tuned" in a certain way?  I wonder if there is some sort of color implied to complete the synesthesia here?  I find interesting the interplay in the Polish language between music and mood.  But "-strój" as a root seems to imply some kind of background that sets the scene for the particular environment, as you can see in these other words:

Examples:

uroczysty nastrój - solemn mood
w dobrym nastroju - in a good mood
w złym nastroju - in a bad mood

Other derivative words:

nastrojowy - romantic
nastrojowość - romantic atmosphere

"Ustrój" means "system."  The verb "ustrajać/ustroic" means "decorate, adorn."  So I suppose the imperative form "ustrój" implies that your ideological framework is somehow "adorned" with a practical application?

Examples:

ustrój polityczny - political system
ustrój biologiczny - biological system

Other derivative words:

ustrojowy - systemic (the adjective form of "ustrój)
ustrojstwo - contraption, gadget

"Wystrój" means "decoration" or "décor."  It is also an imperative form (second person singular) of the verb "wystroić," which means "to get dressed up/spiffed up." "Wystrojony" is an adjective meaning "dressed up."

Today's Study Card--May 8, 2013

Most days I make myself a "study card."  Sometimes I make more than one.  Sometimes I do a separate one for verbs because verbs seem to be about ten times harder than other words for me to learn.  I'll write the study words for the day on the card, fold the card in half, and use it as a flash card, trying to guess the English translations of the Polish words first, then trying to guess the Polish translations of the English words, while covering up the words below with my fingers (or the words above if I am going up).  I might go randomly instead of in order, but my goal is to learn the words the best I can.

So this is today's study card, or at least the first one of the day.  Usually these are the words I am having the hardest time with from my Anki study deck.  For some reason, these all seem to be adjectives and adverbs today.  That's not always the case; they can be any part of speech.  Nouns seem to be the easiest to learn, as a general rule.  Maybe that's because an object can be pictured.  But even abstract nouns are easier than verbs.  Verbs seem to be the hardest.  Usually I will make separate cards for just verbs.

I always "learn" the words and then find that a month later I will have forgotten some of them.  So that's where spaced repetition comes in, to put them at the proper spacing.  All of these words are words that I supposedly "learned" previously.  But I suspect the problem is not one of memory storage, it is one of memory retrieval, because often the stuff I am searching for will just suddenly pop into my head.

Then at some point I try to collect the cards from the past week or two, go over them again, and pick out the hardest words that I am still having trouble with and put them on new cards.

Polish Noun Declension

Earlier I did a post about Polish Verb Conjugation and where to find resources to assist with conjugating Polish verbs.  Now I'd like to talk a little about where to find resources to decline Polish nouns, and also touch on adjectives and pronouns as well, since they must be declined as well.

Wikibooks has a series that shows some tables with example nouns and their declensions.  There are three different pages, one for each gender:

• Masculine Noun Declension
• Feminine Noun Declension
• Neuter Noun Declension

There is also a page on Wikibooks that talks about the general rules for Polish noun cases. 

Wiktionary has a more comprehensive list of Polish nouns, many of which have declension tables (you must click on the "show" link under "declension" to show the table; not all of them have this feature).  Each noun is listed alphabetically but you can jump to different letters using the alphabetical links near the top of the page.  There is also a brief and so far incomplete discussion of declension rules on Wiktionary at http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Polish_nouns.

You can also find links to a couple of excellent grammar books in .pdf form on the Web.  The first is Oscar Swan's excellent "Polish Grammar In A Nutshell."  The general rules for nouns are in Chapter 3 and there are some tables of sample noun declensions on pages 24-28.  The next one is "A Consise Polish Grammar" by Ronald F. Feldstein and it talks about nouns in Chapter 3.  General rules for declension are on pages 41-56.  Both of these books also have information on declining adjectives and pronouns as well. Of course, page numbers and/or chapters that I have mentioned here may changed if the books are revised at some point.

There is a .pdf file of a much more comprehensive grammar, also by Oscar Swan, "A Contemporary Polish Grammar."  This deals with most topics in much more detail than the other two grammar books previously mentioned.  Chapters 3, 4 and 5 have extensive discussions of noun declension for feminine, masculine and neuter nouns respectively and also have some fairly inclusive tables of declension.  Chapters 6 and 7 talk about declining adjectives and pronouns.

There is also a good survey of noun declension on Grzegorz Jagodziński's excellent grammar site (the main link in English is here). There are links that show patterns and tables for various types of nouns, as well as adjectives and pronouns.

A brief table of the rules of declension (with no example nouns declined) can also be found (in Polish) at http://www.hamlet.edu.pl/uczen/?id=koncowki.  There is another brief but somewhat confusing declension table at http://www.polish-translators.com/deklinacja.html which is in both Polish and English.

There is some talk (also in Polish) about the rules for different noun cases on the Polish Wikipedia site at http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deklinacja_(j%C4%99zykoznawstwo). 

Finally, I also have made a set of flash cards called "Polish Nouns Declined" that I have developed for Anki (wow, they have recently really revamped their main page!).  You have to download the software, which is free and open-source, and then go to the list of shared decks within the software program.  (I also have created a deck for "Polish Verbs Conjugated" and have made contributions to Per Eriksson's "Polish-English" deck as well [though the Polish-English deck I am currently using has about 50% more material than the one on the site].  All of these shared flash card decks are completely free.)

Doubtless other resources are out there as well but this list should assist you in finding a good deal of information on declining nouns, adjectives and pronouns.

Where You Be At?

The title, of course, will be relevant to this blog post in two ways.  The first thing I want to do is talk about how there is a preconception out there that children learn languages easier than adults.  There doesn't necessarily seem to be a lot of evidence for this, and studies seem to show that adults can learn languages more rapidly and in a more comprehensive fashion than children.  But the myth persists.  Maybe because as an adult, you really have to rewire your brain and think in a different way, and that seems really hard.  I can relate to that.  Learning a new language is not an easy task, and it takes persistence.  It is easy to become discouraged if you are not focused.  But if you just plug away at it, as an adult you will definitely see better results the more you use your new language.  And I've heard adults complain that they constantly make grammatical mistakes.  Well, ain't no native-speaking adult ever be making no grammatical mistakes, right? (There's where I sneak in the spirit of the blog post title for the first time)

But now, I want to turn to actual places you be at.  Say, the four corners of the earth:

północ - north (also means midnight)
południe - south (also means noon, midday, or afternoon)
wschód - east (also means sunrise)
zachód - west (also means sunset)

But there's more places you might be at:

północny wschód - northeast
północny zachód - northwest
południowy wschód - southeast
południowy zachód - southwest

Here are the adjective forms:

północny - northern
południowy - southern
wschodni - eastern
zachodni - western

północno-wschodni - northeastern
północno-zachodni - northwestern
południowo-wschodni - southeastern
południowo-zachodni - southwestern

And some adverbial clauses:

na północy - in the north
na południu - in the south
na wschodzie - in the east
na zachodzie - in the west

na północnym wschodzie, w północno-wschodniej - in the northeast
na północnym zachodzie, w północno-zachodniej - in the northwest
na południowym wschodzie, w południowo-wschodniej - in the southeast
na południowym zachodzie, w południowo-zachodniej - in the southwest

na północ (od) - to the north (of)
na południe (od) - to the south (of)
na wschód (od) - to the east (of)
na zachód (od) - to the west (of)

na północny wschód (od) - to the northeast (of)
na północny zachód (od) - to the northwest (of)
na południowy zachód (od) - to the southwest (of)
na południowy wschód (od) - to the southeast (of)

z północy - from the north
z południa - from the south
ze wschodu - from the east
z zachodu - from the west

z północnego wschodu - from the northeast
z północnego zachodu - from the northwest
z południowego wschodu - from the southeast
z południowego zachodu - from the southwest

A couple of verbs:

wschodzić, wzejść - to rise (about the sun or the moon)
zachodzić, zajść - to set

Here are some places using some of these forms:

półkula północna - northern hemisphere
półkula południowa - southern hemisphere
Biegun północny - the North Pole
Biegun południowy - the South Pole
koło podbiegunowe północne - the Arctic Circle
koło podbiegunowe południowe - the Antarctic Circle
owoce południowe - tropical fruit

Remember that "północ" can mean "midnight" and "południe" can mean "noon" or "midday" also:

o północy - at midnight
przed północą - before midnight
po północy - after midnight
w południe - at midday
przedpołudnie - morning (literally "forenoon"; not the usual word for morning which is "rano" or "ranek")
przed południem - before noon
po południu - in the afternoon, after noon

Put 'N Lay: -kładać (-kłaść), -łożyć

-kładać (-kłaść), -łożyć:

These roots have to do with "putting" or "laying."

The main verb is:

kłaść, położyć - to put, to lay

The two forms of this verb are very different from each other. It doesn't seem intuitive that "kłaść" and "położyć" would be two aspects of what is basically the same verb, but they are. I'm not sure if this is an example of suppletion or just a modification of the root where the "a" is changed to an "o", the "d" is changed to a "ż", and the "k" is dropped. The words at the end of this post tend to argue for the latter construction. Most other verbs using this root use the same prefix in both forms, but use the "-kładać" form for the imperfective aspect.

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

kłaść rękę na (+ locative) - to put one's hand on...

kłaść kogoś spać - to put somebody to bed

kłaść na coś nacisk - place emphasis on something

kłaść/położyć czemuś kres - to put an end to something

położyć coś na półkę - to put something on a shelf

kłaść się - to lie down, go to bed (this is the reflexive form, is a synonym for "iść spać")

Example: kłaść się spać - to go to sleep

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

kładka - footbridge (noun)

położenie - location, position (noun)

półka - shelf (noun)

Examples: półka na bagaż - baggage rack

półka na książki - bookshelf

położony - located, situated (adjective)

dokładać, dołożyć - to add, to throw in

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

dokładać komuś pracy - to give somebody additional work

dokładać do ognia - to add to the fire

dołożyć wszelkich starań, żeby... - to make every effort to...

dołożyć do czegoś - to lose money on something [to have to pay extra money for something]

Dołożyła masła do zupy - She added butter to the soup

dołóż więcej masła - add more butter

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

dokładny - precise, accurate (adjective)

dokładnie - precisely, exactly (adverb)

na dokładkę - in addition, for good measure (adverb)

dokładność - accuracy, precision (noun)

dokładka - second helping (noun)

nakładać, nałożyć - to put, to place, to set; to put on; to apply; to inflict

nakładać się - to overlap, to superimpose (reflexive)

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

nakładać komuś na talerz - to give somebody a helping

nakładać rękawiczki - to pull on gloves

nakładać grzywnę - to impose a fine

nakładać sankcje na (+ accusative) - to impose sanctions against...

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

nakład - print run, circulation; outlay (of money, time, effort), expense (noun)

Examples: Nakład książki został wyczerpany - The book is out of print

ukazać się nakładem (+ genitive) - to be published by...

nakłady inwestycyjne - capital expenditure

nakład pracy - the amount of work involved

nakłady (plural of nakład) - expenditure

nakładca - publisher, printer (noun)

nakładka - covering; lap (noun)

nałożnica - concubine (noun)

okładać - to cover, to wrap; to batter, to thrash

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

okładka - cover, jacket [of books] (noun)

Examples: książka w miękkiej okładce - paperback

książka w twardej okładce - hardback

okład - compress, pack (noun)

okładkowy - cover (adjective)

obkładać, obłożyć - to cover, to wrap

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

obkładać kziążki - to put covers on books

obłożyć pole - to search the field

odkładać, odłożyć - to shift; to put away/aside; to lay down; to postpone; to accumulate

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

odkładać na bok - to set aside

odkładać na czarną godzinę - to save for a rainy day

odkładać na swe miejsce - to return, to replace

odłożyć słuchawkę - to hang up the phone

odłóż to - put it away

odłożony / delayed, postponed; earmarked (adjective)

podkładać, podłożyć - to put under; to plant (bomb)

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

podkładać coś pod spód - to put something under

podkładać bombę - to plant a bomb

podkładać komuś nogę - to trip somebody (up)

podkładać ogien pod (+ accusative) - to set fire to...

pokładać w kimś zaufanie - place confidence in somebody

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

podkładka - mat, pad; rest, support (noun)

pokład - layer; deck (noun)

na pokładzie - on board (adverb)

podłoże - basis, groundwork; ground, soil (noun)

przekładać, przełożyć - to put somewhere else; to shuffle; to delay; to translate

Example:

przełożyć karty - to cut/shuffle the deck

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

przekład - translation (noun)

przekładaniec - layer cake (noun)

przekładnia - transmission, gear (noun)

przekładnik - transformer (noun)

przekłamanie - distortion, misrepresentation (noun)

przekładalny - translatable (adjective)

przekładowy - translational (adjective)

przykładać, przyłożyć - to apply, to affix; to weigh down

przyłożyć się - to apply oneself (reflexive)

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

przykład - example (noun)

Examples: na przykład (n.p.) - for example

typowy przykład - typical example

brać z kogoś przykład - to follow somebody's example

dla przykładu - as an example

dawać dobry przykład - to set a good example

klasyczny przykład - classic example

stanowić przykład - to exemplify

służyć za przykład - to set an example

rozkładać, rozłożyć - to spread, to lay out; to stretch out; to unfold, to open

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

rozkład - timetable, schedule, curriculum, layout; break up; decay, decomposition

rozkład jazdy - (riding) timetable [for buses, trains, etc.]

składać, złożyć - to assemble, to compose; to submit, to hand in; to fold, to furl; to store, to gather

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

składać fałszywe zeznania - to offer false evidence

składać ofertę - to make an offer

składać zamówienie - to place an order

składać pieniądze - to save money

składać jaja - to lay eggs

składać życzenia - to wish

składać gratulację - to congratulate

składać/złożyć wizytę - to pay a visit

składać/złożyć hołd (+ dative) - to pay tribute/homage to...

tak się składa, że... - it so happens that...

złożyć broń - to lay down one's arms

złożyć podanie o coś - to submit an application for something

złożyć rezygnację - to tender one's resignation

złożyć oświadczenie - to make a statement

złożyć wniosek o (+ accusative) - to apply for...

złożyć zażalenie/skargę na/przeciwko - to make a complaint about/against

składać się - to consist of

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

skład - composition; lineup (sports); store (e.g. for food) (noun)

Examples: skład amunicji - ammunition depot

skład rządu - cabinet

część składowa - component

składka - collection, contribution (of money) (noun)

Examples: składka członkowska - membership fee

składka ubezpieczeniowa - insurance premium

składka na fundusz emerytalny - pension fund

składnia - syntax (grammar) (noun)

składnica - storehouse, warehouse (noun)

składnik - component, constituent, ingredient (noun)

składowisko odpadów - garbage dump (noun clause)

składany - collapsible, fold-up, foldaway, folding; self-assembled (adjective)

mieć na składzie - to have in stock (adverbial clause)

złoża - deposits (noun, plural)

Examples: złoża rudy - ore deposits

złoża węgla - coal deposits

złożony - complex, composite, compound (adjective)

układać, ułożyć - to lay down; to arrange, to compose, to make

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

układać do snu - to put to bed

układać coś według alfabetu - to arrange something in alphabetical order

układać parkiet - to lay a parquet floor

układać włosy - to do hair

układać się, ułożyć się - to negotiate, to shape (up); to lie down, to recline (reflexive)

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

układ - arrangement; configuration; system; layout; agreement (noun)

Examples: Układ Słoneczny - the Solar System

układ nerwowy - the nervous system

układ pokarmowy - the alimentary system

układ scalony - chip/integrated circuit

układ sił - balance of power

zbiorowy układ pracy - collective bargaining agreement

układ krążenia - the cardiovascular system

układ równań - set of equations

ułożenie - arrangement, composition (noun)

ułożony - arranged, well-mannered (adjective)

wkładać, włożyć - to insert, to put in; to put on (e.g. put on clothes)

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

wkładać w coś dużo pracy - to put a lot of work into something

wkładać w coś dużo wysiłku - to put a lot of effort into something

wkładać w coś serce - to put one’s heart in something

włożyć coś do (+ genitive) - to put something into...

włożyć coś do szuflady - to put somehing in a drawer

włożyć w coś wiele pracy - to put a lot of work into something

włożyć klucz do zamka - to insert a key into a keyhole

włożyć pierścień - to put on a ring

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

wkład - contribution; deposit (in bank); refill, cartridge (for printer); input (noun)

Examples: wkład pracy - work contribution

wkład do długopisu - ballpoint pen refill

wykładać, wyłożyć - to lay out; to display, to exhibit; to put, to lay [synonym for "kłaść"]; to lecture

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

wykład - lecture (noun)

wkładka - insert; insole (noun)

sala wykładowa - lecture hall (noun clause)

wykładowca - lecturer, reader (noun)

zakładać, założyć - to establish, to found; to put on (clothes); to install; to assume, suppose

Some examples of the uses of the verb are:

zakładać z góry - to presuppose

założyć rodzinę - to start a family

zakładać się, założyć się - to bet (reflexive)

Derivative uses in other parts of speech:

zakład - institution, establishment, company; bet, wager (noun)

Examples: zakład? - is it a bet?

Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (ZUS) - Social Insurance Institution

postawić zakład - place a bet

teren zakładu - factory premises

zakład wychowawczy - childcare center

zakład karny - penal institution

zakład fryzjerski - barber/hairdresser shop

zakładka - bookmark; fold, pleat (noun)

zakładnik, zakładniczka - hostage (noun)

Example: przetrzymywać zakładników - to hold prisoners

założenie - establishment, foundation; assumption, stipulation (noun)

Examples: założenia (plural of założenie) - guidelines

wychodzić z założenia, że... - to assume that...

przy założeniu, że... - assuming that...

założyciel, założycielka / founder, foundress (noun)

zakładając, że byłoby to możliwe / assuming it would be possible (example of adverbial participle)

Some miscellaneous uses of the roots:

Here the root is without the initial "k":

ład - order, orderliness (noun)

Examples: doprowadzić coś do ładu - to put something in order

dojść z kimś do ładu - to come to terms with somebody

bez ładu i składu - chaotically

mówić bez ładu i składu - to ramble, to speak incoherently

łóżko - bed (noun)

Examples: łóżko piętrowe - bunk beds

iść do łóżka - to go to bed

wstawać z łóżka - to get up out of bed

ścielić łóżko - to make the bed

Living and Using

Żyw- (or życ-)  has to do with "living."  But when you preface it with "u-" to make "używ-/użyc-," it has to do with "using."

There are a LOT of words using this root.  I don't think I'll be able to scratch the surface of the uses of this root, but I'll try to give an partial overview.

Żywy is an adjective meaning "alive, live, living" or "vivid" or "deep, sincere." The primary meaning is "alive" and the comparative (more alive) is "żywszy;" the superlative (most alive) is "najżywszy."  It is also pretty close to being the last word in a Polish dictionary.

Examples include:
żywe współczucie - deep sympathy
żywa istota - live being
żywy język - modern language
żywa kolory - bright colors
żywe mięso - raw meat
żywa gotówka - instantly available cash
żywy towar - slaves, victims of human trafficking (literally "living goods")
ledwo żywy - barely alive
dotykać do żywego - to hit a nerve

Other adjectives:

"Żywiołowy" can mean "natural" (as in "klęska żywiolowa" or "natural disaster") or "impulsive, spontaneous."
"Ożywiony" is "lively, vivacious, animate."

And some nouns:

"Życie" means "life."

życie nocne - night life
życie osobiste/prywatne - private life
życie seksualne - sexual life
przywracać komuś życie - to bring somebody back to life

"Dożywocie" is a noun meaning "life in prison."
"Żywiciel" is a noun meaning "host" in a biological sense. Or it can mean "breadwinner."

"Odżywka" is a noun meaning "nutrient."

odżywka do włosów - hair conditioner
odżywka dla niemowląt - baby food

"Odżywianie" means "nutrition, nourishment" or "diet."

odżywianie piersią - breast feeding
sztuczne odżywianie - artificial feeding

More nouns:

żywność - food, victuals
żywienie - nutrition, food
wyżywienie - board (as in "room and board")

nieżywotny - inanimate (as used in grammar)
żywotny - animate (as used in grammar)

żywot - life
barwny żywot - life full of adventure
pędzić marny żywot - to lead a miserable life

"Żywioł" is "element."

Adverbs:

Żywcem - alive
pogrzebany żywcem - buried alive
Żywnie - however one pleases

Verbs:

"Żyć/przeżyć" is the main verb here.  It means "to live" or " to experience."

"Żywić" is "to feed, to nourish" or "to support."
żywić urazę do - to bear a grudge against
żywić nadzieję, że - to hope that
żywić sympatię do - to like
żywić przekonanie, że - to be convinced that
żywić się czymś / feed on something

dożywać/dożyć - to live to
nażyć się - to enjoy life
ożywać/ożyć - to come to life; to come back (usually about memories)
odżywać/odżyć - to revive, to come back to life, to get a new lease on life
pożyć - to live for a while
pożywiać się/pożywić się - to feed on
przeżywać/przeżyć - to survive, to live through, to go through, to outlive

wyżyć - to survive, to last
wyżywić - to feed (add "się"- to subsist, to nourish)
wyżywać się/wyżyć się - "to take out on somebody" or "to find an outlet for one's energy."
zżywać się/zżyć się - to grow close, to become intimate; to grow accustomed to

zażywać/zażyć - to take (e.g. medicine); to enjoy
zażyć kąpieli - to take a bath
zażywać spokoju - to enjoy peace

zważyć/zważać - to weight

używać/użyć - to use ("używany" is "used, secondhand"--some examples include "używany samochód" - "used car," "używane ubrania" - "second-hand clothes," "nie używany" - "new (not used))."
nadużywać/nadużyć - to abuse; to misuse; to overuse
zużywać/zużyć - to use up, to consume, to spend

spożywać/spożyć - to consume ("spożywczy" is "food" or "groceries."  Examples include: "artykuly spożywcze" - "groceries," "sklep spożywczy" - "grocery store," "przemysł spożywczy" - "food industry.")

Protection and Security: "Chron-"

"Chron-" has to do with protection.

“Chronić/schronić” means “to protect, screen or shelter.” Add “się” to this verb and it means “to protect oneself” or “to seek refuge/shelter.” “Chroniony” is an adjective formed from this verb, meaning “protected.”  Nouns include “schronienie,” which is a “shelter” or a “refuge, “ while “schronisko” is also a “shelter” or a “hostel” or “cottage.”

“Ochraniać/ochronić” as well as “uchronić” means “to guard” or “to protect.”

“Ochronny” is an adjective meaning “protective.” Examples include “kask ochronny,” which means “hard hat,” “odzież ochronna,” or, alternatively, “ubranie ochronne,” meaning “protective clothing,” “filtr ochronny” means “sunscreen,” or “znak ochronny,” meaning “trademark.”

“Ochrona” is a noun meaning “protection/conservation” or “security.” “Ochrona przyrody” is “nature preservation,” “ochrona danych osobowych” is “protection of personal data/information,” and “ochrona osobista” is “personal bodyguard.”

“Ochroniarski” is a noun meaning “security” in the general sense, and “ochroniarz” can mean “bodyguard” but is also a word for “environmentalist.”

I've Got A Feeling: -czu...

Nouns that contain -czucie have to do with something about a "feeling."

The word "czucie" means "feeling."  "Odczucie" is an "impression," and "poczucie" is a "sense."  "Wyczucie" can also be a "sense" or an "intuition" but can also mean "tact."  "Uczucie" is a "sensation" or a "feeling, emotion, affection."  "Wspólczucie" is "sympathy, compassion."  "Samopoczucie means "state of being, frame of mind."

Odczucie:

odczucia zmysłowe - sensations

Poczucie:

poczucie humoru - sense of humor
poczucie czasu - sense of time

poczucie obowiązku - sense of duty 

poczucie winy - sense of guilt 

poczucie spełnienia - to (give/have) a sense of fulfillment

Samopoczucie:

dobre samopoczucie - comfort 

złe samopoczucie - discomfort 

mieć dobre samopoczucie - to be in a good frame of mind, to feel well 

Wyczucie:

wyczucie rytmu - sense of rhythm

robić coś na wyczucie - to do something by feel

wyczucie językowe - feel for a language

wyczucie czasu - sense of timing

z wyczuciem - tactfully

bez wyczucia - tactlessly 

Uczucie:

jakie to uczucie? - how does it feel?
mam uczucie, że... - I have a feeling that...
uczucie głodu - feeling of hunger
z uczuciem - with affection

Współczucie:

żywe współczucie - deep sympathy
godny współczucia - deserving of compassion

There are other noun endings as well:

"Czułość" means "tenderness, fondness, affection."
"Przeczulenie" is "hypersensitivity."

Verbs that utilize this root contain "-czuć" and/or "-czuwać" or "-czulać/czulić."

Some examples include:

czuć, poczuć - to feel, to smell (add "się" to have it apply to oneself)
odczuwać, odczuć - to experience, to feel
odczulać, odczulić - to desensitize
przeczuwać, przeczuć - to anticipate, to foresee
uczuć - to experience, to feel
uczulać, uczulić - to sensitize, to become allergic
wyczuwać, wyczuć - to intuit, to sense, to smell
współczuć - to feel sorry (for), to sympathize (with)
szczuć, poszczuć - to incite, to bait, to hound

Adjectives include:

czuciowy - sensory
czujny - vigilant, alert, watchful
czuły - tender, affectionate, sensitive
przeczulony - oversensitive, touchy
uczuciowy - emotional
uczulony, uczuleniowy - allergic
współczujący - compassionate
współczulny - sympathetic [in an anatomical sense] (as in "układ nerwowy współczulny" or "sympathetic nervous system")
wyczulony - sensitive, receptive
wyczuwalny - perceptible, noticeable