Mikołaj Kopernik
Nicolaus Copernicus
Poland's Renaissance genius: born in gingerbread-famous Toruń, the astronomer and canon who watched the stars from his tower in Frombork and, in 'On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres', proved the Earth orbits the Sun — sparking a scientific revolution.
You will practice: Past-tense biography (urodził się, studiował, udowodnił), the instrumental of profession (pracował jako kanonik) and after być (osiągnięciem było), and za pomocą + genitive for means.
Words to know
Skim these before you read — they carry the story. Tap the star to add one to your saved words.
- astronomastronomer
- matematykmathematician
- lekarzphysician, doctor
- wstrzymaćto halt, to stop
- ZiemiaEarth
- miastotown, city
- piernikgingerbread
- wykształcenieeducation
- wieżatower
- niebosky
- gwiazdastar
- osiągnięcieachievement
- wszechświatuniverse
- krążyćto orbit, to revolve
- odkryciediscovery
- rewolucjarevolution
Did you get it?
5 quick questions — no grades, just a comprehension check.
1. According to the Polish saying, what did Copernicus do?
2. What is Toruń, his birthplace, known for today?
3. Where did he observe the stars?
4. What did people believe before his discovery?
5. What did Copernicus prove in his great work?
Too hard? Pick an easier text in the Polish reading library. Understanding most of a text without translations is the goal — struggling through is not.