Polskie przesądy
Polish Superstitions
A black cat, a knock on unpainted wood, no handshakes over the threshold — Tom catalogues the superstitions his Polish friends swear they don't believe.
You will practice: Culture-frame constructions: wypada/nie wypada, przynosi pecha/szczęście, and the ritual odpukać w niemalowane drewno.
Words to know
Skim these before you read — they carry the story. Tap the star to add one to your saved words.
- przesądsuperstition
- pechbad luck
- szczęścieluck, happiness
- odpukaćto knock (on wood)
- drewnowood
- prógthreshold
- witać sięto greet each other
- kominiarzchimney sweep
- guzikbutton
- wierzyćto believe
- na wszelki wypadekjust in case
Did you get it?
3 quick questions — no grades, just a comprehension check.
1. What must you never do across the threshold?
2. What do you do when you see a chimney sweep?
3. Do Ola and Michał believe in the superstitions?
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.