They hail from all corners of Poland, from Krakow to Gdansk and they're the driving force behind loft conversions and basement extensions all across the land. Polish builders are every home improver's friend. So, if you're about to embark on a spot of domestic betterment, and your workman is from Warsaw, be aware that a touch of linguistic charm will get you a long way. Deliver a few stumbling phrases in plasterer Przamek's mother tongue, and you'll see the quality of the job improve overnight. To help you on your way, here are some handy phrases with their phonetic pronunciation (for the correct Polish spelling, click here ).

1. Would you like some tea / coffee / something to drink?

Hchowbi pun herbutte / kahveh / tsosh doh peechah? (open but short “u” and "a")

2. How long will it take?

Yuk dwoogo to zuymieh? ("to" with "o", as in "hot")

3. How much will it cost?

Eeleh to bendjeh koshtovuch?

4. What time will you be arriving / leaving?

O ktoorey godjeenyeh pun psheeyjeh / veeyjeh?

5. Please take your boots off.

Prosheh djontsh booty.

6. Please be careful of this painting / chandelier / cream sofa.

Prosheh oovajach nah ten obruzz / ten jirandol / toh kanapeh kremovoh.

7. Please protect this area from dust.

Prosheh too zakrich pjed koorjem ee piwem.

8. Please use this loo.

Prosheh oojivach toh oobikatsyeh.

9. Thank you.

Jenkooyeh.

In the unlikely case that your construction expert is not a multi-tasking whiz:

10. Can you recommend a good plumber / electrician / tiler / plasterer / kitchen installer?

Chi mojeh pun polechich dobrego hidrowlikuh / elektrikuh / glazoornikuh / tinkajuh / monterah kooknyee?

And finally, for those really keen to impress:

11. My husband is away. Would you like to stay to breakfast?

Monj viyekow. Hchowby pun zostach na shnyadanyeh?

Pronunciation hints:

• The emphasis is always on the penultimate syllable – if you try speaking English like this you will sound like a Pole speaking English.

• Spelling is completely phonetic, so once you know what a letter or group of letters sounds like, it is always the same.

• Vowels are open and short, "ah, eh, ee, o, oo". "y" is a short “i”, like in "it".

• "sz" and "cz" are like "sh" and "ch" in English.

• "s" and "c" with acute accents on them are similar, but softened, like "ti" in "action".

• "l" with a line through the stem is essentially an English "w". "w" is pronounced like "v" (there is no written "v" in Polish).

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