Ślub i wesele
Polish splits a wedding into the vows and the party — and the party can blockade the road, run past midnight and come back for a second day.
wieczór panieński
phrase · noun, masculine
- EN
- a hen night, a bachelorette party
- RU
- девичник
Na wieczór panieński pojechały do Gdańska.
They went to Gdańsk for the hen night.
From panna, a maiden. The groom's version is the wieczór kawalerski, from kawaler, a bachelor — the same root that gives kawalerka, the one-room flat.
związek
noun · masculine
- EN
- relationship; union; compound
- RU
- отношения; союз
Jesteśmy w związku od trzech lat.
We have been together for three years.
Być w związku is to be in a relationship. RU связь is a connection, never a couple. The same word is a trade union, związek zawodowy, and a chemical compound.
oświadczyć się
verb · reflexive, perfective, + dat.
- EN
- to propose (marriage)
- RU
- сделать предложение
Oświadczył się jej na moście w Krakowie.
He proposed to her on a bridge in Kraków.
One reflexive verb where RU needs three words, and it takes the dative: oświadczyć się komuś. Drop the się and oświadczyć is to declare something, to the tax office for instance.
narzeczony
noun · masculine
- EN
- fiance
- RU
- жених (до дня свадьбы)
Mój narzeczony nie lubi tańczyć.
My fiance does not like dancing.
Declines like an adjective; the feminine is narzeczona. RU жених serves until the wedding night; Polish retires narzeczony on the day itself, when he becomes pan młody.
obrączka
noun · feminine
- EN
- wedding ring
- RU
- обручальное кольцо
Obrączki nosi się w Polsce na prawej ręce.
In Poland wedding rings are worn on the right hand.
The plain band only, right hand, same as in Russia. A ring with a stone is a pierścionek — the engagement one is pierścionek zaręczynowy — and a signet ring is a pierścień.
ślub
noun · masculine
- EN
- wedding ceremony, marriage vows
- RU
- бракосочетание, венчание
Biorą ślub w czerwcu, w urzędzie.
They are getting married in June, at the registry office.
The ceremony only, never the party. Brać ślub works for both sexes where RU splits жениться and выйти замуж; ślub konkordatowy is one church ceremony that counts for the state too.
brama weselna
phrase · noun, feminine
- EN
- a wedding blockade (the road block for the bridal car)
- RU
- свадебный выкуп на дороге
Sąsiedzi zrobili bramę weselną i świadek musiał płacić wódką.
The neighbours blocked the road and the best man had to pay in vodka.
Village neighbours stretch a rope across the road and let the bridal car pass only after a ransom, traditionally vodka. Still common outside cities; carry a few bottles in the boot.
wesele
noun · neuter
- EN
- wedding reception, wedding party
- RU
- свадебное застолье
Wesele trwało do szóstej rano.
The wedding party went on until six in the morning.
The party, which is what most Poles mean by the wedding. RU веселье is mere fun; the whole event, vows plus party, has no single Polish word — you say ślub i wesele.
oczepiny
noun · plural
- EN
- the midnight bridal ceremony and wedding games
- RU
- обряд снятия фаты
O północy zaczęły się oczepiny i rzucanie welonu.
At midnight came the unveiling and the throwing of the veil.
From czepiec, the married woman's cap that once replaced the veil at midnight. Today it is mostly games: the veil thrown to the single women, the tie to the single men. Customs vary by region and family.
poprawiny
noun · plural
- EN
- day-two wedding party
- RU
- второй день свадьбы
Na poprawiny przyszła tylko rodzina i sąsiedzi.
Only family and neighbours came for day two.
From poprawić, to fix or top up: the next day, often at the same venue, finishing the food and the vodka. Not every wedding has poprawiny, and the guest list is often smaller than on the day itself.
Drill these ten · earlier morning · later morning
Drill these ten