Linguistic pitfalls in English-Polish translations

Tricky Polish False Friends: Avoiding Common Language Traps

Navigating the complexities of Polish translations can be an intricate and demanding task, particularly when one encounters the phenomenon known as false friends. These are words that, at first glance, seem to be similar in both English and Polish due to their appearance or sound, yet they carry entirely different meanings in each language. Such linguistic traps can easily lead to misunderstandings and miscommunications if not approached with high expertise and care.

This is precisely where the invaluable role of professional translators comes into play. These experts possess a profound and nuanced understanding of English and Polish, allowing them to meticulously ensure that your intended message is conveyed with precision and clarity. By doing so, they adeptly avoid the numerous pitfalls associated with false friends, which could otherwise compromise the integrity of the communication.

In this discussion, we delve into some of the most prevalent examples of these deceptive words and phrases, illustrating how the skills and knowledge of seasoned translators can guide you safely through these common language traps, ensuring that your communication remains effective and accurate.

1. Actually vs. Aktualnie

False Friend Alert: “Aktualnie” may look like “actually,” but it means “currently”.

• The correct Polish word for "actually": właściwie
• Example:
  • English: “Actually, I don't like coffee.”
  • Polish: “Właściwie, nie lubię kawy.”
  • Wrong: “Aktualnie, nie lubię kawy” (means: "Currently, I don't like coffee.")

2. Facet vs. Facet

In English, a “facet” is an “aspect” of something. In Polish, “facet” is slang for a “guy” or “man”.

• Example:
  • English: “This is just one facet of the problem.”
  • Polish: “To tylko jeden aspekt problemu.”
  • Wrong: “To tylko jeden facet problemu.” (means: "This is just one guy of the problem.")

3. Hazard vs. Hazard

In English, “hazard” means “danger” or “risk”. In Polish, “hazard” refers to gambling.

• Example:
  • English: “The hazard of smoking.”
  • Polish: “Niebezpieczeństwo palenia.”
  • Wrong: “Hazard palenia.” (means: "The gambling of smoking.")

4. Criminal vs. Kryminał

In English, a “criminal” is a “person who commits a crime”. In Polish, “kryminał” refers to a crime novel or crime story.

• Example:
  • English: “He is a criminal.”
  • Polish: “On jest przestępcą.”
  • Wrong: “On jest kryminałem.” (means: "He is a crime novel.")

5. Pension vs. Pensja

In English, a “pension” refers to retirement income. In Polish, “pensja” means a salary.

• Example:
  • English: “She receives a pension.”
  • Polish: “Ona otrzymuje emeryturę.”
  • Wrong: “Ona otrzymuje pensję.” (means: "She receives a salary.")

6. More False Friends to Watch Out For

• Library – biblioteka (not bookstore, which is księgarnia)
• Sensible – rozsądny (not sensitive, which is wrażliwy)
• Eventual – ostateczny (not possible, which is ewentualny)
• Fabric – tkanina (not factory, which is fabryka)
• Lecture – wykład (not reading, which is lektura)

False friends are one of the trickiest challenges when learning Polish. They can lead to funny, confusing, or embarrassing mistakes, so understanding these words and their proper meanings is essential.

Understanding these language traps can help you communicate more clearly and confidently in Polish. If you need professional help with Polish translations, our experienced team at POZENA Multilingual is ready to assist you. Avoid the pitfalls and get trusted translations; contact us for a free professional quote.