Episode 04 · Powtórka — A Morning at Pani Basia's

Welcome back to Kazimierz. Over the last few days, you've survived a lot.

You've learned that Polish sounds aren't out to get you. You've figured out how to say hello and goodbye, and you even swapped names and phone numbers with Kuba.

Today, it's about putting those pieces together. Tom is standing outside Pani Basia's café. He doesn't just want a coffee. He wants to be a regular.

He takes a deep breath and pushes the door open. The bell rings.

Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz?

Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz? — Good morning, love! How are you? · jen DO-bri ko-HA-nyeh yak shyeng mash

Listen to that welcome! She didn't just give him a dry hello. She said, Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz?

Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz? — Good morning, love! How are you? · jen DO-bri ko-HA-nyeh yak shyeng mash

You know Dzień dobry. But kochanie is special. It literally means 'darling' or 'love'. When a warm, older lady like Pani Basia uses it, she's treating you like family.

And then she asks, Jak się masz? That's the classic 'How are you?'. Say the whole thing with me. Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz?

Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz? — Good morning, love! How are you? · jen DO-bri ko-HA-nyeh yak shyeng mash

Let's try just the second half, nice and slow. Jak się masz? ... Once more. Jak się masz?

Tom is a little stunned by the warmth, but he remembers his practice with Kuba yesterday.

Mam na imię Tom. A pani?

Mam na imię Tom. A pani? — My name's Tom. And you? (polite) · mam na EE-myeh Tom a PAH-nee

That was perfect! Yesterday, with a guy his own age, Tom asked, A ty? 'And you?' But this is Pani Basia.

Mam na imię Tom. A pani? — My name's Tom. And you? (polite) · mam na EE-myeh Tom a PAH-nee

To show respect to a woman you don't know well, or someone older, you say, A pani? Literally, 'And madam?'. It's polite, and she'll love it.

Try it. Imagine you're introducing yourself to the owner. Say: Mam na imię Tom. A pani?

Mam na imię Tom. A pani? — My name's Tom. And you? (polite) · mam na EE-myeh Tom a PAH-nee

Again, a little smoother. Mam na imię Tom. A pani?

Mam na imię Tom. A pani? — My name's Tom. And you? (polite) · mam na EE-myeh Tom a PAH-nee

Let's pause. We've got two great phrases so far. First, the warm greeting: Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz? Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz? Good morning, love, how are you? And the polite introduction: Mam na imię Tom. A pani? Mam na imię Tom. A pani? My name's Tom, and you?

Jestem Basia. Miło mi.

Jestem Basia. Miło mi. — I'm Basia. Nice to meet you. · YES-tem BA-sha MEE-wo mee

She accepts the respect, but she introduces herself just as Basia, keeping it friendly. And then she gives us the magic phrase: Miło mi.

Jestem Basia. Miło mi. — I'm Basia. Nice to meet you. · YES-tem BA-sha MEE-wo mee

Miło mi means 'Nice to meet you'. It literally translates to 'pleasant to me'. The trick here is the Polish L with a slash. It sounds exactly like an English W. Miło. Try it. Miło mi.

Let's put her whole sentence together. Jestem Basia. Miło mi. ... Beautiful.

Jestem Basia. Miło mi. — I'm Basia. Nice to meet you. · YES-tem BA-sha MEE-wo mee

Just then, the door chimes again. It's Kuba, adjusting his denim jacket, looking like he needs caffeine desperately.

Cześć Kuba! Pani Basiu... dwie herbaty, proszę.

To są dwie herbaty — już robię!

To są dwie herbaty — już robię! — That's two teas — coming right up! · to song dvyeh her-BA-tih yoozh RO-byeh

Tom used the numbers he learned yesterday to order! Dwie means two, for feminine things like tea. And Pani Basia confirms it: To są dwie herbaty.

To są dwie herbaty — już robię! — That's two teas — coming right up! · to song dvyeh her-BA-tih yoozh RO-byeh

Then she adds a fantastic phrase you will hear in every café and restaurant in Poland: już robię. It literally means 'already I am making it', but it's used exactly like 'coming right up!'

Try saying the whole confirmation with me. To są dwie herbaty — już robię!

To są dwie herbaty — już robię! — That's two teas — coming right up! · to song dvyeh her-BA-tih yoozh RO-byeh

One more time, with her cheerful energy. To są dwie herbaty — już robię!

To są dwie herbaty — już robię! — That's two teas — coming right up! · to song dvyeh her-BA-tih yoozh RO-byeh

Tom takes the tray. He didn't just point and mumble today. He walked in, greeted the owner, introduced himself politely, and ordered for a friend.

Dziękuję, pani Basiu.

She waves him off with a smile. The café isn't just a building anymore. It's a place where someone knows his name.

Let's review everything we put together today. Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz? Dzień dobry, kochanie! Jak się masz? Good morning, love, how are you? Mam na imię Tom. A pani? Mam na imię Tom. A pani? My name's Tom, and you? Jestem Basia. Miło mi. Jestem Basia. Miło mi. I'm Basia, nice to meet you. And finally: To są dwie herbaty — już robię! To są dwie herbaty — już robię! That's two teas, coming right up!

Amazing work. You are officially settling into Kazimierz. Join us every Tuesday and Friday for a new episode. See you next time!