Comments on: Dear Sir/Madam

By: prettylala

prettylala — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:25:17 +0000

I’m rather surprised by someone being surprised at the expression “Szanowna Pani” being used in an e-mail. Even though nowadays “Witam” has become very popular, it is still frowned upon when writing a formal e-mail. I would say that those who don’t understand the necessity of formality in certain situations, such as e-mailing a person you don’t know or you have addressed per “Pan/Pani” up till now, would use this “newer” expression.
Maybe it’s also the evolution of the language = informal becomes acceptable or it’s due to just about anyone being accepted into universities and using their informal regional language in their academic life and later moving to the large cities where they continue their habits (lets face it higher education isn’t what it used to be), most likely both had their share.

Also, “Szanowna Pani” + academic title or sometimes without, is used in e-mails from students to professors, obviously after you’ve become more familiar with the person you may use something less formal as a simple “Dzień Dobry”

If you’re talking to someone older (15years+) you may try to evade the subject until you hear “ty” or “Pani” from them, if the situation is formal, you should still use “Pan/Pani” if not (let’s say you meet someone at a language course) then I suggest going along with what they used, until you get know each other better. If it’s someone who looks 50-60 always use “Pan/Pani”.

I’d say in most cases the formal expressions are always safer especially when you don’t know who you’re dealing with.

By: Ferdinand Gajewski

Ferdinand Gajewski — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:11:30 +0000

PS Even the word “God,” in Polish, is preceded by “Pan.”

By: Ferdinand Gajewski

Ferdinand Gajewski — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:07:46 +0000

I too was horribly shocked years ago when someone in America whom I know well addressed me in Polish using the second person singular. It isn’t done. Mon dieu.

By: susana

susana — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:14:01 +0000

Hello everybody:
I am trying to findo some help. I would like to know how to get in touch with offices in Poland who can get me some documents. My grandma is from Poland and I live in Uruguay. Thank you

By: Of sir-ing and ma’am-ing « Sands of Change

Of sir-ing and ma’am-ing « Sands of Change — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:53:28 +0000

[...] Let me end with a quote from a Polish blogger, Anna: Polish is a very formal language. And people may take offense when they’re not addressed properly. A few months ago I was out with a group of friends and strangers, foreigners and Poles. I chatted with one lady in English, turned out she was Polish, so I switched to Polish. Because in English, I addressed her as “you”, I didn’t even think twice about using the same form in Polish – “ty”. She was my age and we were in a foreign country. Yet, her response was an icy stare and an even icier “Ja z tobą krów nie pasałam” (I didn’t tend cows with you) which is a nasty warning to a person talking to you (me in this case) that he/she has breached the magical Pan/Pani barrier. (More) [...]