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Can I have a request for you all the native, fluent and competent speakers of English? Although I have been learning the language for 20 years now, I have lots of doubt with using many words. Collocations, phrasal verbs, idioms, everyday phrases - in fact, the more I use English, the more I feel that I don't know it. So, can I from time to time post a question to you onthe proper use of it? I would be grateful.
Just for a start, how do you call a person who is friendly, easy-going, in Polish "sympatyczny" (which is not exactly friendly, something like "likeable" - is there such a word?)Thank you in advance.

Zooba

Czesc Zooba
'Easygoing' would describe this person, but depending on the person hearing/reading the word they could interpret it as 'casual/rather too laid back/not too dependable/not looking at things as urgent'. 'Likeable' can suggest that you like them, but the reverse is not necessarily true.
I would use 'sociable, genial, convivial, warm, amiable' or in a colloquial way 'matey'.
I'm sure that this is information overload, but that is the trouble with English. I think of those possibles above, I would tend to use 'sociable'.
Pozdrawiam
Leslie (If Raytan is available, what would he use?) <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Zooba
Would 'towarzyski' describe my 'sociable'? And for 'warm' - I'm not sure about the Polish word from 'gorliwy' or 'ozywiony' and for 'convivial' again 'towarzyski' or 'wesoly'?
Leslie

Zooba,

I think Wordsmith Leslie has covered everything on your question, I just want to add that yes, please ask about English whenever you want. Leslie answers from the British English point of view, and I from the American English. We will agree often but not always!

BTW, I looked up "sympatyczny" in my Oxford/PWN Polish-English dictionary and it gave "sociable" as the English definition.

Nancy

Nancy
Even dictionaries cannot agree!! I have a Langenscheidt's Pocket English-Polish Dictionary so I looked it up after your reference, and 'sympatyczny' (which has the look of 'Sympatica' = one who gives sympathy)is shown as loveable, likeable, winning, congenial. Poor Zooba doesn't stand a chance between us!!!
Leslie

ooops, I goofed! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

It is "towarzyski" that is defined as "sociable." "Sympatyczny" is defined as "nice."

I would like to add my 3 pennies to the discussion by prividing a link to a web site carring for proper apostrophes use: Apostrophe Protection Society!
Check the examples of abuse provided on the site.
Here's a link:

http://www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk/

Also, anybody knows why
robin is a small red-breasted bird in US but
robin is large red-breasted bird in UK
and all according to this dictionary:
http://www.accomodata.co.uk/amlish.htm

Forza,
You get only two cents, not three pennies <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Re: Apostrophes: there is a very funny boook written about this:
Eats, Shoots and Leaves: Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation



American Robins and English robins are two very different birds. The early settlers in America called a common bird "robin" maybe because they missed the English bird. I think the English bird is the smaller one.




The original, English version is a pretty, friendly bird

Hello again LeslieRae. Now it looks like we are going into Spanish words too. (almost)

Simpatica--Spanish feminine--Ella esa simpatica.
Simpatico--Spanish masculine-El es simpatico.
Superlative is indicated by adding the word muy.
Ella esa muy simpatica.
El es muy simpatico.
In your version there is a "y" instead of "i" but I believe the pronunciation is the same.

Onion---Spanish--cebolla
Polish --cebula
This vegtable is spelled different in the two languages but, the pronunciation is the same except for accents.
<img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Forzapogon, et al in the forum. I have seen the Cock-Robin in England and I have seen the Robin Red Breast here in America and they are both the same birds. Perhaps they have different accents when they chirp. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />