In Polish sometimes you can hear interlocutors using names of vegetables instead of rude words or for teasing. At first glance, this may seem strange, but certain characteristics are hidden behind such expressions.
URA-Inform reports this.
1. A rude person is burak.
The word «burak», which translates as «beetroot», has a negative meaning in colloquial Polish. It is used to describe people who behave rudely and in an ill-mannered manner.
2. Stinginess in the form of cebulak.
Onions or «cebulak» in Poland symbolize overly frugal people. This expression is often used to emphasize the stinginess of the interlocutor.
3. Narrow-mindedness in the word ziemniak.
Potatoes, or “ziemniak”, are also not without significance. They can be used as a joke to describe a person who seems slow or unintelligent.
4. An exception is kalafior.
Not all vegetables in Polish speech have a negative connotation. For example, “kalafior” (cauliflower) is used to describe a curly-haired person. In this case, the word is rather neutral.
Such expressions illustrate the richness of Polish colloquial speech, but it is important to remember the context. If you are called a vegetable, it is better to clarify what exactly was meant.
As linguists note, knowledge of such cultural features helps to better understand the nuances of the language and avoid misunderstandings. «Talking to foreigners is always an opportunity to learn something new. Don't be shy about asking if the meaning of a word is unclear to you,» experts advise.
We also wrote about how to overcome social fears and find new friends: practical advice and the opinion of psychologists.
