FAMILY, LIFESTYLE AND LEISURE TIME

Periods of life

Childhood

I get on with my younger brother quite well but I wish he would come up to school age. Although he is not an infant anymore, he is still a toddler who cannot play football or surf the Net. He is a two-year-old child who has to grow up to be a good company for his older brother.

Adolescence

The life of a teenager is not easy. Youth is wonderful but as long as I am under age I have to obey my parents’ decisions. I try to discuss my future with them but they keep on saying I am still a minor and I do not know what is good for me. When I get angry they claim it is because of the difficult time of puberty.

Being an adult

My older sister is in her twenties and she has already set up a family. She gave birth to a baby girl last week. She was extremely irritable during her pregnancy so we are glad that the difficult time is over. My mum is happy to be a grandmother. She is in her prime and she looks extremely young for her age. She has never shown any signs of mid-life crisis. It is a pity she has not reached retirement age yet as she cannot help my sister take care of the baby. I am seventeen so I believe I am responsible and mature enough to babysit for my sister when she wants to go out with her husband?

PERIODS OF LIFE – OKRESY ŻYCIA

Childhood – dzieciństwo

newborn baby – noworodek
baby – niemowlak
infant – niemowlak, małe dziecko
infancy – okres niemowlęcy, wczesne dzieciństwo
toddler – dziecko dopiero uczące się chodzić, szkrab, malec
two-year-old child – dwulatek
child – dziecko
kid – dzieciak (potocznie)
to grow – rosnąć
to come up to school age – dojść do wieku szkolnego

Adolescence – wiek dojrzewania

teenager/ adolescent – nastolatek
puberty – dojrzewanie
to be under age – być osobą niepełnoletnim
youth – młodość
to grow up – dorastać
to mature – dojrzewać
juvenile – młodociany
minor – nieletni

Being an adult – dorosłość

mature – dojrzały
maturity – dojrzałość
adult, grown-up – dorosły
to reach majority – osiągnąć pełnoletność
to be of age – być osobą pełnoletnią
to come of age – osiągnąć pełnoletność
to set up a family – założyć rodzinę
to get pregnant – zajść w ciążę
pregnancy – ciąża
to expect a baby – spodziewać się dziecka
to give birth to a baby girl – urodzić córeczkę
to bring up a child – wychowywać dziecko
to be in one’s prime – być w kwiecie wieku
mid-life crisis – kryzys wieku średniego
to get old – starzeć się
to look young for one’s age – wyglądać młodo jak na swój wiek
to reach retirement age – osiągnąć wiek emerytalny
old age pensioner, retired person, senior citizen – emeryt
to be in one’s twenties, thirties etc. – być w wieku 20, 30 lat

She is in her early forties. – Ona ma około 40-43 lat.
He is in his mid fifties. – On ma około 54 – 56 lat.
They are in their late teens. – Oni mają około 17 – 19 lat.

FAMILY MEMBERS

I have a very big family. We meet once a year to celebrate my grandma’s birthday. All my relations: aunts, uncles and cousins sit together at a long table. Everybody tries to be kind and polite even if they do not like one another. My father finds it difficult not to quarrel with his brother-in law so he usually takes his seat between my great grandfather and my brother in order to be as far from his opponent as possible. Mum always has a headache because her nieces and nephews are extremely noisy but she never complains as she does not want to spoil the good atmosphere of a family meeting. She is a godmother of one of the four-years-old twins and she always buys beautiful presents for him.

FAMILY MEMBERS – CZŁONKOWIE RODZINY

parents – rodzice
mother – matka
mum – mama
stepmother – macocha
stepsister – córka ojczyma, macochy
father – ojciec
dad – tata
stepfather – ojczym
stepbrother – syn ojczyma, macochy
stepson, stepsister – pasierb, pasierbica
daughter – córka
son – syn
grandparents – dziadkowie
grandmother/ grandma – babcia
grandfather/ grandpa – dziadek
grandchild – wnuk/ wnuczka
great-grandmother – prababka
great-grandfather – pradziadek
sister – siostra
half-sister – siostra przyrodnia
brother – brat
half-brother – brat przyrodni
twin – bliźniak
twin brother/ sister – brat bliźniak, siostra bliźniaczka
only child – jedynak
aunt – ciotka
uncle – wujek
niece – siostrzenica, bratanica
nephew – siostrzeniec, bratanek
cousin – kuzyn
daughter-in-law – synowa
son-in-law – zięć
mother-in-law – teściowa
father-in-law – teść
sister-in-law – szwagierka
brother-in-law – szwagier
godmother – matka chrzestna
godfather – ojciec chrzestny
godchild – chrześniak
relations, relatives – krewni
close relation – bliski krewny
close family – bliska rodzina
distant relation – daleki krewny
orphan – sierota
the family tree – drzewo genealogiczne
a family reunion – zjazd rodzinny
motherhood – macierzyństwo
fatherhood – ojcostwo

EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES

In the morning

I hate mornings. Mum wakes me at half past six but I usually stay in bed half an hour longer. I get up at seven o’clock so I have to hurry up to be at school on time. I wash, clean my teeth and comb my hair. Then I get dressed and drink two cups of coffee. I do not have time to have a decent breakfast because I have to leave the house at half past seven.

in the morning – rano

to wake up – obudzić się
to get up – wstawać
to go to the loo – iść do toalety
to have a wash – myć się
to brush one’s teeth – czyścić zęby
to comb, to brush one’s hair – czesać się, szczotkować włosy
to have a shave – golić się
to get dressed – ubrać się
to have breakfast – jeść śniadanie
to drink coffee – pić kawę
to leave the house – wyjść z domu
to go to school – iść do szkoły

Housework

My parents say I should study a lot so I have very few chores to do at home. I make the bed, tidy my room and water the plants. My sister has to wash up, dust and do some ironing. The rest is done by my parents. Mum cleans up the flat, cooks and does the washing. Dad does the shopping on his way home from work.

housework – prace domowe

to clean up a flat – posprzątać mieszkanie
to clean – sprzątać, czyścić
to tidy (up) – sprzątać, porządkować
to sweep (the floor) – zamiatać (podłogę)
to dust (the shelves) – ścierać kurz (z półek)
to polish (silver) – polerować (srebra)
to scrub (the floor) – szorować (podłogę)
to vacuum, to hoover – odkurzać
to air (the room) – wietrzyć (pokój)
to make the bed – pościelić łóżko
to wash up – myć naczynia
to cook – gotować
to do the shopping – robić zakupy
to wash, to do the laundry – prać
to iron (a shirt) – prasować (koszulę)
to water the plants – podlewać kwiaty

In the afternoon/ evening

I have not much free time during the week. I come back home at five o’clock. I have dinner and rest for half an hour before I start doing my homework. Then I walk my dog, watch TV or read a book. I hardly ever go out as I have to get up really early. I have a bath or take a shower at 10 p.m. and go to bed half an hour later. I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.

in the afternoon/ evening – po południu/ wieczorem

to have dinner – zjeść obiad
to do one’s homework – odrobić pracę domową
to rest – odpoczywać
to have/ to take a nap – zdrzemnąć się
to walk the dog – wyprowadzić psa
to do the gardening – pracować w ogrodzie
to have a bath – kąpać się
to take a shower – wziąć prysznic
to wash one’s hair – myć włosy
to undress – rozebrać się
to set the alarm clock – nastawić budzik
to go to bed – iść spać
to fall asleep – zasnąć

LEISURE

Mark, I have two tickets to the theatre for Saturday evening and I hope you will go with me. I think you spend too much time at home. Your mum says you play computer games or surf the Internet all days. You should go out more often and do some sports. What about going swimming or roller-skating on Sunday? We could also play chess and listen to my new CDs after that.

Hobby

I really need a new hobby. I used to collect stamps, postcards and coins but I got bored with it and I gave my collection to my younger brother. I am interested in art so I considered collecting works of art and antiques but it turned out to be too expensive. I also wanted to take up painting or drawing but I am not talented enough to be any good at it. Mum advises me to start knitting, embroidery or sewing as it is a useful hobby which requires a lot of patience. However, this idea does not seem appealing to me. I think I will try DIY or modelling although it is said to be a rather unusual hobby for girls.

leisure – wolny czas

to read books, magazines, newspapers – czytać książki, czasopisma, gazety
to watch TV – oglądać telewizję
to watch a video – oglądać film na wideo
to go to the cinema – iść do kina
to go to the theatre – iść do teatru
to listen to music – słuchać muzyki
to listen to the radio – słuchać radia
to go to a club – iść do klubu
to go to a disco – iść na dyskotekę
to play computer games – grać w gry komputerowe
to surf the Internet – surfować po internecie
to play cards – grać w karty
to play chess – grać w szachy
to do sport – uprawiać sport
to go swimming – uprawiać pływanie
roller-skating – jazda na rolkach

hobby – hobby

painting – malowanie
drawing – rysowanie
photography – fotografowanie
dancing – taniec
pottery – ceramika
DIY (do-it-yourself) – majsterkowanie
modelling – modelarstwo
knitting – robienie na drutach
embroidery – haftowanie
sewing – szycie
to collect – zbierać, kolekcjonować
- stamps – znaczki
- postcards – widokówki
- coins – monety
- car models – modele samochodów
- autographs – autografy
- ornaments – bibeloty
- antiques – antyki
- works of art – dzieła sztuki

HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

Family celebrations

We have had a lot of family celebrations this year. In January my baby brother was christened. Two weeks later my seven-year-old niece had her Holy Communion. Then all my family gathered to celebrate my grandma’s ninetieth birthday. In February my parents had their wedding anniversary and it is our family tradition to spend it in the mountains.

family celebrations – uroczystości rodzinne

christening, baptism – chrzest
birthday – urodziny
Holy Communion – Pierwsza Komunia Święta
wedding anniversary – rocznica ślubu
to celebrate – obchodzić, świętować
tradition – tradycja
custom – zwyczaj, obrzęd

Wedding

My cousin Mary is finally getting married in May. It has been the longest engagement I have ever heard of. Mary’s fiancé proposed to her three years ago. She accepted his proposal but they decided to wait with the wedding until they graduate from university.

I went to a wedding last Saturday. My brother was getting married and he asked me to be his best man. The bride looked beautiful in her silk wedding dress and a long veil. The groom looked very handsome too. The ceremony took place in a small, wooden church. The atmosphere was great and the moment of exchanging wedding rings was really touching. After the church ceremony everybody was invited to the reception. First the bride threw her wedding bouquet but I did not manage to catch it. Then we danced, drank and ate until the newlyweds set off for their honeymoon.

wedding – ślub

fiancée – narzeczona
fiancé – narzeczony
to propose to sb – oświadczyć się
proposal – oświadczyny
engagement – zaręczyny
engaged – zaręczony
to get married – pobrać się
marriage – małżeństwo
bride – panna młoda
(bride) groom – pan młody
newlyweds – nowożeńcy
wife – żona
husband – mąż
bridesmaid – druhna
best man – dróżba
wedding dress – suknia ślubna
wedding bouquet – bukiet ślubny
veil – welon
wedding ring – obrączka
wedding reception – przyjęcie weselne
honeymoon – miesiąc miodowy
separation – separacja
divorce – rozwód
divorced – rozwiedziony
an ex-wife – była żona
to get custody of one’s child – otrzymać prawo opieki nad dzieckiem (po rozwodzie)
to remarry – ponownie zawrzeć związek małżeński

Church holidays

The most important Church holiday is Easter. The preparation for this event is called Lent which starts with Ash Wednesday. However, the most popular holidays are Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Everybody in Poland celebrates also All Saints and All Souls Days. It is the time of contemplation and memorising those who are no longer with us. Other important religious holidays in Poland are Corpus Christi and Assumption Day.

church holidays – święta kościelne

Palm Sunday – Niedziela Palmowa
Epiphany – Trzech Króli
Ash Wednesday – środa popielcowa (Popielec)
Whitsun, Pentecost – Zielone Świątki
Corpus Christi – Boże Ciało
Assumption Day – Wniebowzięcie
All Saints Day – Wszystkich Świętych
All Souls Day – Zaduszki
New Year’s Eve – wieczór sylwestrowy
New Year – Nowy Rok
Advent – adwent
Shrove Tuesday – wtorek przed Wielkim Postem
Lent – Wielki Post

Christmas

Traditional Polish Christmas dishes

Christmas is the most popular family holiday in Poland, Britain and many other countries all over the world. The most important rituals are celebrated on Christmas Eve. When the first star appears, people take seats at the table, leaving an empty place for an unexpected guest. Before they start eating, they share the holy wafer. The number of courses is strictly established, but it varies in different regions of Poland. The most popular dishes are: beetroot soup, ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and cabbage, noodles with poppy seed, carp and herring. Dessert consists of poppyseed cake, gingerbread and cheesecake.
After the Christmas Eve Supper everybody is allowed to unwrap presents, which are placed under the Christmas tree. Later, the family gather around the tree and sing the carols.
In Britain people also sing carols and get presents. On Christmas Eve children hang up a Christmas stocking on the fireplace or at the foot of their bed for Santa Claus to fill. All gifts are opened in the morning on Christmas Day.

Christmas – Boże Narodzenie

Christmas Eve – Wigilia Bożego Naradzenia
Christmas Day – pierwszy dzień świąt Bożego Narodzenia
Boxing Day – drugi dzień świąt Bożego Narodzenia
Christmas tree – choinka
to decorate the Christmas tree – przystroić choinkę
to share a wafer – dzielić się opłatkiem
to leave an empty chair for an absent family member – pozostawić puste miejsce przy stole wigilijnym dla nieobecnych krewnych
to sing carols – śpiewać kolędy
Christmas Eve midnight mass – pasterka
to send/ receive Christmas cards – wysyłać/ otrzymywać kartki świąteczne
Santa Claus, Father Christmas – Święty Mikołaj
reindeer – renifer
fairy lights – kolorowe światełka na choinkę
to kiss under the mistletoe – pocałować się pod jemiołą
to unwrap a present – rozpakować prezent
nativity play – jasełka
to hang up Christmas stocking – powiesić długą skarpetę na prezenty
to build a snowman – ulepić bałwana
to put up Christmas decorations – udekorować dom z okazji Bożego Narodzenia
Christmas Eve supper – wieczerza wigilijna
twelve courses – dwanaście potraw

Traditional Polish Christmas dishes – tradycyjne polskie

potrawy wigilijne

beetroot soup – czerwony barszcz
mushroom soup – zupa grzybowa
carp – karp
herring – śledź
ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and cabbage – uszka z grzybami i kapustą
poppyseed cake – makowiec
cheesecake – sernik
gingerbread – piernik
boiled wheat with poppy seeds and honey – kutia

Easter

I spent last Easter in the mountains. We went there on Good Friday and stayed till Monday afternoon. It was really great to observe local customs and traditions there. On Saturday morning we prepared a basket. We put painted eggs, some bread, salt, Easter lamb and Easter Bunny into it and went to church to have the food blessed.

Easter – Wielkanoc

Good Friday – Wielki Piątek
Easter Sunday – Niedziela Wielkanocna
Resurrection – Zmartwychwstanie
to paint eggs – malować jajka
to bless food – poświęcić potrawy
Easter lamb – baranek wielkanocny
Easter Bunny – zajączek wielkanocny
Easter Egg – czekoladowe jajko wielkanocne

LIFESTYLE

In my opinion people have forgotten how to enjoy life. They lead a hectic lifestyle as work has become a priority for them. They are overworked, suffer from stress and have not enough time to rest and relax. I think they should adopt a healthier lifestyle, start thinking positively and find more time for family and entertainment. If they are more optimistic, they will not lose a feeling of happiness in their lives.

lifestyle – styl życia

priority – priorytet, pierwszeństwo
to be socially active – być aktywnym społecznie
to live too fast – żyć za szybko
to lead a hectic lifestyle – żyć w szalonym tempie, być zabieganym
to suffer from stress – cierpieć z powodu stresu
to adopt a healthy lifestyle – przyjąć zdrowy tryb życia
to enjoy life – cieszyć się życiem
to think positively – myśleć pozytywnie
optimist – optymista
feeling of happiness – uczucie szczęścia
to be a born pessimist – być urodzonym pesymistą
healthy lifestyle – zdrowy tryb życia
well-balanced diet – wyważona dieta

Career

A lot of people who desperately want to satisfy the needs of their families spend more and more time at work. They do not notice the moment when they become workaholics and their career turns out to be more important than their family. Although they are overworked and worn out, they say they do not need a holiday. A stressful lifestyle they lead can easily ruin their family lives.

career – kariera

to satisfy one’s needs – zaspokajać swoje potrzeby
to be promoted – awansować
to share responsibilities with sb – dzielić z kimś obowiązki
workaholic – pracoholik
exhausted – wyczerpany
overworked – przepracowany
totally worn out – skrajnie wyczerpany
to cope with sth – poradzić sobie
stressful lifestyle – stresujący styl życia

Fame

The life of a celebrity is not always as glamorous as we tend to imagine. The cost of fame is sometimes very high. Famous people are in the spot light all the time so they have to give up privacy and they live under constant pressure. Nosy paparazzi make their lives so difficult that they start to wish they were ordinary people again.

fame – sława

to give up privacy – zrezygnować z prywatności
to live under pressure – żyć pod napięciem
celebrity – znana osobistość, sława
ordinary people – zwykli ludzie
glamorous – olśniewający
to be recognised – być rozpoznawanym
privileges – przywileje
to be in the spotlight – być w centrum uwagi
tabloid – brukowiec
nosy – wścibski
sensational – sensacyjny

CONFLICTS & PROBLEMS

Generation gap

The problem of generation gap is as old as the hills and it results from the inability of the younger and the older generation to understand each other. It is especially strong during the period of adolescence when teenagers want to be more independent and look for their own identity. Nevertheless, they are not self-sufficient and their parents want to influence their choices. As long as they are under age, they need their parents’ consent. Teenagers would like to be equal partners and begin to rebel against limits set by their parents. They start to answer back to adults, fly into a rage easily, quarrel a lot and in extreme cases run away from home.

generation gap – konflikt pokoleń

one’s own identity – własna tożsamość
independence – niezależność
self-sufficient – samowystarczalny
to make choices – dokonywać wyborów
values – wartości
inability – niemożność
to fly into a rage – wpaść we wściekłość
support – wsparcie
relationship – stosunki
an equal partner – równy partner
to run away from home – uciec z domu
discussion – dyskusja
family row – kłótnia rodzinna
to quarrel – kłócić się
argument – kłótnia, sprzeczka
to argue – kłócić się, sprzeczać
to fall out with sb – poróżnić się z kimś
to go one’s separate ways – rozstać się, iść każdy w swoją stronę
rebel – buntownik
to rebel against sth – buntować się przeciwko czemuś
to get on well with one’s parents – dobrze żyć z rodzicami
parents’ consent – zgoda rodziców
to set limits – ustalić granice
to scold sb, to tell sb off – besztać kogoś, okrzyczeć
to answer sb back – odzywać się niegrzecznie do kogoś, odszczekiwać się
rebellion – bunt
rebellious, disobedient – nieposłuszny
to get on sb’s nerves – grać komuś na nerwach

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a tragedy not only for an addict but also for his family. It is a shameful and embarrassing addiction which can ruin family life. Alcohol abuse has disastrous results for the health. It damages one’s liver, brain and heart and it has extremely bad psychological effect. It is extraordinarily difficult to give up drinking without a professional help. Fortunately, there exist anti-alcohol centres and self-help groups in every bigger city. Before an alcohol addict becomes an absolute teetotaller he should undergo therapy and work hard on his character.

alcoholism – alkoholizm

alcoholic – alkoholik, alkoholiczka
to be addicted to sth – być uzależnionym od czegoś
addict – osoba uzależniona
alcohol abuse – nadużywanie alkoholu
weakness – słabość
treatment – leczenie
disastrous results – zgubne, katastrofalne skutki
to damage one’s liver – uszkodzić wątrobę
shameful – haniebny
embarrassing – krępujący, wprawiający w zakłopotanie
to give up drinking – rzucić picie
self-help group – grupa samopomocy
anti-alcohol centre – centrum antyalkoholowe
teetotaller – abstynent
to undergo therapy – poddać się terapii

Domestic violence

We are planning to organise a wild-scale campaign against domestic violence. We want to defend battered wives and mistreated children who rarely report the acts of violence to the police. They keep it secret because of fear and shame. Children from the families where cruelty and humiliation take place suffer from trauma all their lives. It is high time someone spoke for the rights of the abused and ill-treated. There is a great difference between smacking a child and beating him up.

domestic violence – przemoc w rodzinie

acts of violence – akty przemocy
maltreatment – maltretowanie
to beat sb up – pobić kogoś
to ill-treat, mistreat – źle traktować, znęcać się
to abuse sb – prześladować kogoś, maltretować, także: wykorzystywać seksualnie
cruelty – okrucieństwo
fear – strach
shame – wstyd
humiliation – poniżenie
punish – karać
smack – dać klapsa
bruises – siniaki
dignity – godność
to report sth to the police – zgłosić coś na policję
defend – bronić
battered wife – maltretowana żona
trauma – stres, uraz

Divorce

A divorce is always a painful experience both for adults who decide to split up and for children who observe their family disintegrate. There are a lot of cases when one of the couple neglects his or her family or commits adultery. His or her partner finds it difficult to put up with this situation and files for divorce. The matters get worse when the custody battle starts. The children suffer because only one parent is awarded custody of them. The other one can usually see them from time to time and he or she has to pay alimony.

divorce – rozwód

disintegrate – rozpadać się
to split up – rozstać się, zerwać
to demand a divorce – żądać rozwodu
to file for divorce – złożyć pozew o rozwód
unfaithful – niewierny
unfaithfulness – niewierność
affair – romans
to commit adultery – dopuścić się zdrady pozamałżeńskiej
to neglect one’s family – zaniedbywać rodzinę
to abandon sb – porzucić, opuścić kogoś
in court – w sądzie
legal reason – powód prawny
family duties – obowiązki rodzinne
painful experience – bolesne doświadczenie
to suffer – cierpieć
to put up with sth – wytrzymywać, znosić coś
to pay alimony – płacić alimenty
to be awarded custody of children – otrzymać prawo opieki nad dziećmi
custody battle – walka o prawo opieki nad dzieckiem

Adoption

It is really sad that there are so many children in orphanages waiting for adoption. The situation seems a bit ‘better’ when the mother puts the baby up for adoption soon after the delivery. In such case it is easier to find foster parents for the infant so that he or she will not suffer from emotional deprivation in the future. There are a lot of childless couples who want to become adoptive parents. Nevertheless, the procedure is long and complicated. Before somebody becomes a legal guardian, the court has to give its decision and parents have to relinquish their parental rights.

adoption – adopcja

legal guardian – prawny opiekun
childless couple – bezdzietna para
to put the baby up for adoption – oddać dziecko do adopcji
to abandon a child – porzucić dziecko
orphan – sierota
orphanage – sierociniec
foster parents – rodzice zastępczy
adoptive parents – rodzice adopcyjni
emotional deprivation – niedostatek uczuć
disabled child – dziecko niepełnosprawne
retarded, mentally handicapped – upośledzone
to relinquish one’s parental rights – zrzec się praw rodzicielskich