Relationships and break-ups

Understanding Relationships and Break-ups in Polish

This lesson focuses on vocabulary and expressions related to relationships and break-ups, tailored for B1 learners of Polish. It covers common terms used to describe different types of relationships, feelings involved in them, and ways to talk about ending a relationship sensitively and clearly.

Key Vocabulary

• związek – relationship
• partner/partnerka – partner (male/female)
• miłość – love
• przyjaźń – friendship
• kłótnia – argument
• rozstanie – break-up
• życie razem – living together
• zauroczenie – infatuation

Expressions Useful for Discussing Relationships

Learn how to describe your feelings and experiences, such as:

• Jesteśmy razem od dwóch lat. (We have been together for two years.)
• Byliśmy w związku na odległość. (We were in a long-distance relationship.)
• Mieliśmy poważną kłótnię. (We had a serious argument.)
• Zdecydowaliśmy się na rozstanie. (We decided to break up.)

Grammar Highlight: Verbs Used in Relationships

Pay particular attention to verbs like kochać (to love), lubić (to like), rozstać się (to break up), and their conjugations in past and present tenses, as these are frequently used to describe relationship dynamics.

Comparing English and Polish Expressions

While English often uses auxiliary verbs to express feelings (e.g., "I am in love"), Polish tends to use simple verb forms such as kochać. Additionally, some words like związek (relationship) carry a broader meaning than their English equivalents, covering friendships and partnerships in various contexts.

Useful phrases to keep in mind:

• Być w związku corresponds to "to be in a relationship," but Polish lacks a direct continuous tense equivalent, relying on the perfective or imperfective verb aspect instead.
• Rozstać się is a reflexive verb, highlighting the mutual or reciprocal nature of break-ups, which is a nuance not always obvious in English.