Movies and genres

Introduction to Movies and Genres in Polish

This lesson focuses on expanding your Polish vocabulary related to movies and their genres. At the B1 intermediate level, you will learn how to describe different types of films and discuss your preferences using practical and commonly used expressions.

Key Vocabulary: Movie Genres

Understanding how to name and describe movie genres is essential for everyday conversations about entertainment. Here are some important Polish film genres with their English equivalents:

• komedia – comedy
• dramat – drama
• kryminalny – crime
• horror – horror
• przygodowy – adventure
• science fiction – science fiction (sci-fi)
• animowany – animated

Useful Expressions to Discuss Movies

Practice these phrases to express opinions and preferences, or to ask about movies:

• Lubię komedie, bo są zabawne. – I like comedies because they are funny.
• Jaki jest twój ulubiony gatunek filmowy? – What is your favorite movie genre?
• Oglądałem świetny film przygodowy wczoraj. – I watched a great adventure movie yesterday.
• Nie przepadam za horrorami, są dla mnie za straszne. – I don’t like horror movies; they are too scary for me.

Grammatical and Cultural Notes

Unlike English, Polish adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. For example, komedia is feminine, so the adjective must match, as in komedia zabawna (a funny comedy). Movie genres in Polish often function as adjectives modifying the word film (film), such as film kryminalny (crime film). Also, Polish tends to use the noun film more commonly than the English "movie."

The word gatunek means "genre," and the phrase gatunek filmowy translates to "film genre." This term might seem unfamiliar at B1 level but is useful for discussing media categories.