Stan igła
The language of OLX and Otomoto: the stock phrases, the euphemisms, the buyer's first message and the German who supposedly wept.
stan igła
phrase · colloquial
- EN
- mint condition, like new
- RU
- в идеальном состоянии, как новый
Sprzedam rower, stan igła, używany dwa razy.
Bike for sale, mint condition, used twice.
Igła is a needle — sharp and flawless. Stan igła claims excellent condition, even for something used. The more exclamation marks after it, the more you should see it in person.
nówka sztuka
phrase · colloquial
- EN
- brand new
- RU
- новьё, совсем новый
Telefon to nówka sztuka, jeszcze w folii.
The phone is brand new, still in its plastic wrapping.
The full stock phrase is nówka sztuka nieśmigana — brand new, never taken for a spin. Nówka is slang for a brand-new item; sztuka is a piece, as when counting.
Niemiec płakał, jak sprzedawał
phrase · colloquial, ironic
- EN
- 'the German cried when he sold it' (the used-car stock phrase)
- RU
- 'немец плакал, когда продавал' (штамп продавцов б/у машин)
Golf z 2009, bezwypadkowy, Niemiec płakał, jak sprzedawał.
2009 Golf, accident-free, the German cried when he sold it.
The used-car trade's famous line: the previous owner loved it so much he wept. Now mostly quoted as a joke — about any car that sounds too good to be true.
aktualne
adjective · neuter, colloquial
- EN
- still available?
- RU
- ещё актуально?
Dzień dobry, ogłoszenie aktualne?
Hello, is this still available?
Short for czy ogłoszenie jest aktualne? — and often the entire message a seller gets. The answer is aktualne or już nieaktualne.
ostatnia cena
phrase · noun, feminine
- EN
- your best price?
- RU
- последняя цена?
Ostatnia cena? Mogę przyjechać dziś.
What's your best price? I can come today.
The haggler's opener, identical to Russian. The seller's reply is cena do negocjacji — Russian торг уместен — or, if tired of you, cena ostateczna.
cofnięty licznik
phrase · noun, masculine
- EN
- a clocked odometer, a rolled-back mileage
- RU
- скрученный пробег
Sto tysięcy przebiegu? Na pewno cofnięty licznik.
A hundred thousand kilometres? The mileage has definitely been clocked.
Russian twists the mileage back, Polish rolls the counter back: cofnąć, to reverse. A specific criminal offence in Poland since May 2019, and still the first suspicion about any cheap import.
garażowany
adjective
- EN
- garage-kept
- RU
- гаражного хранения
Auto garażowane, jeździła nim starsza pani do kościoła.
Garage-kept car, an old lady drove it to church.
The listing stock phrase that pairs with the old lady who only drove to church on Sundays. A real plus for rust — and the second most quoted line after the weeping German.
do lekkiej poprawki
phrase · euphemism
- EN
- needs minor work (often: a wreck)
- RU
- требует небольшого ремонта (часто — хлам)
Sprzedam mieszkanie do lekkiej poprawki.
Flat for sale, needs a little work.
The listing euphemism: lekka poprawka can mean new paint — or new everything. Do remontu is the honest version; do generalnego remontu means bring a skip.
sprowadzony
adjective
- EN
- imported (of a used car)
- RU
- пригнанный, привезённый (об авто)
Samochód sprowadzony z Niemiec, opłacony.
Car imported from Germany, all fees paid.
Sprowadzony z Niemiec is the most common origin in Polish used-car ads, which is where the weeping German comes from. Opłacony means the import charges are paid — not that the car is already registered.
bezwypadkowy
adjective
- EN
- accident-free (of a car)
- RU
- небитый, без ДТП
Samochód bezwypadkowy, serwisowany w ASO.
Accident-free car, serviced at an authorised service centre.
Where Russian says небитый, Polish builds one word: bez + wypadek + -owy. Its companion in every ad is serwisowany w ASO, the authorised service station — and the buyer's reply, co do bezwypadkowości: zobaczymy.
Drill these ten · earlier morning · later morning
Drill these ten