Neither the end nor the beginning of the year, i.e. the moment when most of us enjoy doing nothing, is the time free of language dilemmas for the students of Polish. How to extend New Year greetings and wishes in Polish? What year is it? I’m having a sylwester or Sylwester (New Year’s Eve party)?
DO SIEGO ROKU – WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku is the phrase we hear most often at the end of December and beginning of January. Although it is not too easy to pronounce, foreigners diligently learn these exact words, and forms, in the classes of Polish. Students also ask what the expressions Do siego roku means, since they can often see it displayed in public places during the holiday season. The expression is derived from ... the Proto-Slavic language, in which the word siego was the Genitive form of the pronoun ś/si, the equivalent of today’s pronoun ten. Do siego roku means the same as do tego roku (until this year), i.e. this year that is coming. The expression used to be one of the wishes, greetings, extended on Christmas Eve.
The party we have on New Year’s Eve is called sylwester. It takes its name after the nameday of Sylwester, which is on 31st December. If we know a man whose name is Sylwester and he was kind enough to invite us to his nameday party, we can say either: Idę na sylwestra (small letter here, since it’s the name of the party), or do Sylwestra (capital letter here, since it’s a proper name).
ROK DWUTYSIĘCZNY OR DWA TYSIĄCE PIĘTNASTY? (YEAR 2015)
And then, what year is it? There is only one correct answer: dwa tysiące piętnasty. Remember that when learning Polish this year. All the best!
more in our FB profile
