Language

In England the majority of conversations are, naturally, about the weather. The Poles, having more predictable weather – almost uniformly snowless – need another topic of conversation. Being foreign (and therefore more than half mad) they can perhaps be forgiven for having made the eccentric, and to us incomprehensible, choice of insects. First-time travellers to Poland will find that a few minutes spent before departure in mastering the words for the commoner insects will be amply repaid on arrival. How satisfying to be able effortlessly to charm ones hosts with amiable pleasantries about grasshoppers, silkworms, maggots and wasps! It is considered the epitome of politeness, when being shown ones room, to comment favourably on the small number of bedbugs. You may even be rewarded for your courtesy by being moved to a better room, though this is no longer standard practice. Important note: in refined Polish society, it would be unforgivable to utter the word for “flea” without a simultaneous leap into the air. If you are uncertain whether the company you are keeping is refined, it is best to be on the safe side.

The pedantic reader should know that we are aware that not all the items on this list are, strictly speaking, insects; he (or indeed she) should however beware of pointing this out to a Polish Highlander, who is likely to have strong views on the matter.

English	Polish	glow-worm	robaczek świętojański
insect	owad	gnat	komar
ant	mrówka	grasshopper	konik polny
bedbug	pluskwa	hornet	szerszeń
bee	pszczoła	ladybird	biedronka
beetle	chrząszcz, źuk	larva, maggot	larwa
black beetle	karaluch	locust	szarańcza
bumblebee	bąk	louse	wesz
butterfly	motyl	midge	muszka
caterpillar	gąsienica	mosquito	moskit
clothes moth	mól	moth	ćma
Colorado beetle	stonka ziemnaczana	silkworm	jedwabnik
cricket	swierszcz	spider	pająk
dragonfly	waźka	spider's web	pajęczyna
flea	pchła	wasp	osa
fly	mucha	woodworm	kornik

Note on pronunciation: Some of these words are hard to say, especially the first one for "beetle", and the one for "flea" - that's "ch" as in "loch", and the "l" with a slash through it sounds like our "w". Go for it! Above all, make sure you get "bumblebee" right. It's pronounced "bonk", and nothing else will do.

Polish Vocabulary Sheet 1- Entomology