Writing e-mails and letters

Writing E-mails and Letters in Polish

This lesson focuses on practical skills for composing both formal and informal emails and letters in Polish at the B1 level. You will learn key vocabulary, useful phrases, and structural elements that are essential to communicate clearly and appropriately in different contexts.

Key Topics Covered

• Formal and Informal Greetings and Closings: Understanding how to start and end correspondence properly, e.g., Szanowny Panie (Dear Sir), Cześć (Hi).
• Useful Phrases for Introductions: How to open your message politely, such as Chciałbym/chciałabym zapytać o... (I would like to ask about...) or Piszę do Państwa w związku z... (I am writing to you regarding...).
• Common Expressions to Request Information or Clarify: Phrases like Proszę o przesłanie... (Please send...) and Chciałbym uzyskać więcej informacji na temat... (I would like to get more information about...).
• Expressing Thanks and Apologies: Polite ways to close a message, e.g., Dziękuję za pomoc (Thank you for your help) or Przepraszam za opóźnienie (Sorry for the delay).
• Structuring a Message: Organizing paragraphs clearly and logically to improve readability.

Important Vocabulary Examples

• Załącznik – attachment
• Adresat – recipient
• Temat – subject (of the email)
• Prośba – request
• Odpowiedź – response

Notable Differences Between English and Polish Correspondence

In Polish formal letters, titles and family names are commonly used, for example, Szanowny Panie Kowalski (Dear Mr. Kowalski), whereas English may sometimes allow first names in business emails. Also, Polish greetings tend to be more formal and include honorific forms depending on the recipient’s status. Additionally, Polish often uses noun cases which influence word endings in the text, making it important to note the correct case after prepositions or verbs.

For example, the English phrase "Dear Sir or Madam" translates to Szanowni Państwo in Polish, which is plural and formal. Similarly, "Best regards" can be translated as Z poważaniem in formal contexts and Pozdrawiam in informal ones.

This lesson will help you master these forms and enhance your writing skills in Polish, preparing you for everyday professional and personal communication.