No matter where and what kind of Polish course you are attending, sooner or later you will need to learn the names of the months. Their unusual and complicated names have become a legend. It is not surprising that for many foreigners the names of the months in Polish are quite a challenge. And that’s not about the way they’re pronounced, although we must admit that is not easy, either.
THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS AND THEIR CONNECTION WITH NATURE
As you probably know, the Polish language likes to be original. Unlike most European languages, in which the names of the months derive from Roman traditions and the Julian calendar, Polish months owe their names to nature and agricultural work performed in particular seasons of the year.
Accordingly, the first month is not called „januar“ or „January“, but „styczeń“, and the etymology of the word still arouses strong emotions among linguists. Some link it with TYKI (long sticks used on farms), others believe the word is derived from „STYKANIE SIĘ“ (to connect, merge), which means the moment when the new year meets (connects with) the old one.
TWO FOREIGNERS :)
Luty (February) takes its name after an old adjective that meant severe and freezing cold.
Marzec (March) is the first „foreigner“ among the twelve months. The same as in many other languages, it was named after the Roman god of war, Mars.
Kwiecień (April) is a month when flowers start to bloom (kwitnąć – to bloom).
Maj (May) is the second of the „strangers“, the month named after the Roman goddess Maia. It’s probably the only month, which is really easy to pronounce.
Czerwiec (June) owes its name to insects that were collected in the sixth month of the year. They were called „czerwie“ (maggots) and purple dye was extracted from them.
Lipiec (July) was named after LIPY (linden trees), the trees that are beautiful when in bloom, but disliked by people allergic to them.
Sierpień (August) comes from „sierp“ (sickle) which was a tool used for harvesting crops.
Wrzesień (September) was named after „wrzosy“ (heather), bushes with violet flowers when in bloom. It’s enough to go for a walk in the forest in September to see meadows of heather.
Październik (October) takes its name after „paździerz“. It’s hard to understand the origin of the word even for the Polish, because it is connected with flax production. Paździerz was the part of the plant that was discarded as unnecessary.
Listopad (November) – after leaves (liście) that fall off trees.
Grudzień (December) – after „gruda“, which means frozen ground.
DIFFICULT, BUT ...
As you can see, the names of the months in Polish may be difficult, but they are meaningful, the etymology of the words allows us to learn how people used to live and work in the distant past, when the words were created.
