THE MUSEUM OF FAMILY HISTORY
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER
 presents

Guide to Pronunciation
AS TOLD BY THE NATIVE SPEAKER

Poland
Language: Polish

 

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To the non-native speaker, the proper pronunciation of words in a foreign language may be a daunting task. Many of us can remember traveling to a foreign country and trying unsuccessfully to communicate with others in their native tongue. Here, an effort has been made to aid those interested in learning the correct pronunciation of various town and city names, as spoken by those native to that particular country. These lists will be augmented and new lists will be added over time.

The list below contains the names of two hundred and twenty towns located in today's Poland. Each name is spoken once, and then is repeated two seconds later.

These pronunciations have been placed within sound "clips" (wav files) according to the first letter of the town name. You will have to listen to each clip from the beginning, but may be able to pause, go forwards or backwards, or play it again, depending on your computer's media player. You can choose to repeat the town name each time after the speaker says the name.

The particular towns and cities listed below have been chosen because their names appear within this museum's website. Left-click onto the head letters to begin each clip, e.g. the letter "A" to hear the pronunciation of the towns beginning with the letter "A." Good luck!

 
 

CONSONANTS

 
LETTER PRONUNCIATION       SYMBOL
C like ts in cats ts
C', CI soft C ch
CH like h in happy h
CZ like ch in chip ch
DZ like ds in beds dz
DZ. like j in jam j
DZ', DZI soft DZ dzh
G like g in go g
J like y in yes y
N' soft N ny
L w in win w
R rolled r r
S like s in sit s
S' soft S sy
SZ like s in ship sh
W like v in vine v
Z., RZ like s in pleasure zh
Z', ZI soft Z zy
B, D, F,
H, K, L, M,
 N, P, T, Z
pronounced as
in English
VOWELS
LETTER PRONUNCIATION        SYMBOL
A like u in cult ah
E like e in let eh
I like i in fit i
O like o in cot o
U, Ó like oo in foot oo
A, like awn in dawn awn
E, like en in den en

Consonant and vowel tables shown above adapted in
part from: www.cusd.claremont.edu/~tkroll/EastEur/lpol.html

 
 
Instructions for optimal viewing of this pronunciation guide:

For those who use Windows Media Player to hear their audio files: You can minimize the full-size Media Player display so that you still have control of the play functions and not have the Media Player display (that may fill up most of your screen) obstruct your view of the table of towns below. You can switch from this "full mode" to "skin mode" by clicking on the diagonal arrow and line at the very bottom right of your full-screen display on Media Player. This will minimize the appearance of the Media Player.

 

A

B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 
A H M S
Andrzejewo Hrubieszów Majdan Królewski Sandomierz
Augustów Maków Mazowiecki Sanok
  I Michałowo Sędziszów
B Izbica Lubelski Miechów Sejny
Baranów Międzyrzec Podlaski Serock
Będzin J Mielec Siedlce
Bełchatów Janów Lubelski Milejczyce Siemiatycze
Biała Podlaska Janów Sokolski Mława Sieniawa
Białobrzegi Jasionówka Myszyniec Sierpc
Białystok Jedlicze Skaryszew
Bielsk Podlaski Jedwabne N Skarżysko-Kamienna
Bieżuń Jelienewo Narew Skierniewice
Biłgoraj Jósefów Nasielsk Śniadowo
Bochnia   Nowogród Sochaczew
Boćki K Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki Sokółka
Bogusze Kalisz Nowy Sącz Sokołów Małopolski
Brańsk Kałuszyn Nowy Targ Sokołów Podlaski
Brok Karczew Nur Sosnowiec
Brześć Kujawski Kazimierz Dolny Staszów
Brzeziny Kielce O Stawiski
Brzozów Kleczew Opatów Stoczek
Bychawa Kleszczele Opoczno Suchowola
  Kłodawa Orla Suraż
C Knyszyn Ostrołęka Suwałki
Chęciny Kock Ostrów Lubelski Szczebrzeszyn
Chełm Kolbuszowa Ostrów Mazowiecka Szczuczyn
Chmielnik Kolno Ostrów Wielkopolski Sztabin
Choroszcz Koło Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski Szydłowiec
Chorzele Końskie Ożarów
Chrzanów Konstantynów Ozorków T
Ciechanów Kosów Lacki Tarnobrzeg
Ciechanowiec Kraków P Tarnów
Częstochowa Kraśnik Pabianice Tomaszów Lubelski
Czyżew Krasnosielc Piątnica Tomaszów Mazowiecki
  Krosno Pilica Trzcianne
D Krynki Pińczów Trzebinia
Dąbie Krzeszów Piotrków Trybunalski Tyczyn
Dąbrowa Tarnowska Kutno Płock Tykocin
Dębica Kuźnica Płońsk Tyszowce
Dęblin Połaniec
Długosiodło L Przasnysz U
Dobrzyń nad Wisłą Łapy Przemyśl Ulanów
Drobin Łask Przeworsk Uniejów
Drohiczyn Leżajsk Puławy Ustrzyki Dolne
Dubno Lipno Pułtusk
Dworzysk Łódź W
Działoszyce Łomża R Wąchock
Dzików Stary   Łomżyca Raciąż Warka
  Łosice Radom Warszawa
E Łowicz Radomyśl Wielki Węgrów
Elbląg Lubaczów Radymno Wiślica
Lubień Kujawski Radziejów Wisznice
F Lublin Radziłów Wizna
Frampol Lubraniec Rajgród Wodzisław
  Łuków Raniżów Wysocinek
G Różan Wysokie Mazowieckie
Gać Rudnik Wyszków
Gdańsk Rutki
Gdynia Rymanów Z
Głogów Rypin Zabłudów
Goniadz Rzeszów Zagłębie
Gorlice Zambrów
Gostynin Zamość
Goworowo Zaręby Kościelne
Grabów

Zawalów
Grajewo Zawiercie
Grodzisk Mazowiecki Zduńska Wola
Grybów Zgierz
  Żmigród
  Żołynia
  Żuromin
  Żyrardów
 
 

 

 

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