Word

Today's word is "szkoła" (schko-wah). "School." Education in Poland starts at the age of 5-6 with Kindergarten ("zerówka"), then primary school ("szkoła podstawowa"). At the end of 6th grade, students take a mandatory exam that will determine the middle school ("gimnazjum") where they will be accepted. Students attend this school until the 9th grade, when they take another exam to determine the secondary school they will attend. Most common are three years in a high school ("liceum") or four years in a vocational school ("technikum"). Both end with a final examination ("matura") and may be followed by several forms of upper education, leading to B.A. ("licencjat") or B.S. ("inżynier"), Master's ("magister"), or Ph.D. ("doktor").

Today's word is "Kocham cię" (ko-ham-cheh). "I love you." Poland is a romantic nation and Polish is a romantic language. Polish king John III was not only a great warrior, but also a wonderful writer of beautiful love letters to his wife Mary, with whom he was totally in love. However, the words "I love you" are not thrown around haphazardly. They generally signify a more serious emotional involvement and are usually used when in a relationship.

Kocham cię. (ko-ham-cheh)
I love you.

Kochasz mnie? (ko-hash-mnyeh)
Do you love me?

Lubie cię. (loo-byeh-cheh)
I like you.

Daj mi buzi. (die-mee-boo-zhee)
Give me a kiss.