The social media era

The Social Media Era: Understanding Polish Vocabulary and Expressions

This lesson focuses on B1-level Polish language learners exploring vocabulary and expressions related to the modern social media landscape. You'll learn practical words and phrases that are commonly used when discussing social media platforms, digital communication, and online interactions.

Key Vocabulary and Concepts

• Media społecznościowe – social media
• profil – profile
• obserwować kogoś – to follow someone
• udostępniać – to share (content)
• komentarz – comment
• polubienie – like (as in social media 'like')
• wirusowy – viral
• feed – feed or timeline

Exploring Usage and Expressions

You will encounter expressions such as "dodaj zdjęcie" (add a photo), "napisz komentarz" (write a comment), and "masz dużo obserwujących" (you have many followers). Mastering these helps you talk about both your own and others' online activity naturally.

Grammar and Language Notes

The lesson also covers common verb forms used in social media contexts, such as the imperative for commands (udostępnij – share!), and the differences in verb prefixes like zalajkować (to like) versus polubić (to like or to grow fond of), which adds nuance to your conversations.

Comparing English and Polish Social Media Terms

While many Polish social media terms are loanwords or calques from English, there are subtle differences to note. For example, profil corresponds directly to "profile," but Polish uses obserwować for "to follow," unlike English. Additionally, the word polubienie is a noun meaning "a like," whereas English often uses the verb "to like" as an action without a direct noun equivalent in casual speech.

This lesson helps you build confidence in discussing social media topics in Polish with clear, relevant vocabulary and phrases tailored for everyday use.