Comments on: Who’s Who in the Family

By: Kuba

Kuba — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:13:26 +0000

Just found your site. Enjoy seeing Polish words.
Is there a place to start or just jump in where ever it seems correct?

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:17:19 +0000

Szwagier is used a lot more loosely amongst many people. Some would include very (mutually, in regards to husband and wife) close a szwagier despite not sharing an blood or relatives.

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:22:31 +0000

Ouch! Agnieszka, yes I know, I even managed to dig up a word for that “father of my son-in-law” bit – it’s “swak”

Mchl, these days everybody says “wujek” and “ciocia” regardless of whose grandpa’s brother’s sister’s whatnot they are.

Russ, you’re absolutely right! And then there are “brat cioteczny, siostra cioteczna” etc… To me, they’re all cousins.

By: russ

russ — Sat, 23 May 2009 21:15:24 +0000

It seems definitely easier in English. I’ve had lots of Poles to whom I was teaching English who knew the English words well but couldn’t remember all of the Polish ones for niece and nephew and in-laws.

By: Agnieszka

Agnieszka — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:22:53 +0000

There is also an old word for mother of husband, but nobody use it anymore. She was called “świekra”. And similary for husband’s father there was a word “świekr” or “świekier”. Now they all are “teściowie”…