" The phrase dzien dobry (jeyn DOB-ry) can mean either "good morning" or "good afternoon." It is also used as a basic greeting, particularly if you are saying hello to people you don't know, or who are older than you. When greeting friends or people your own age, you can also use czesc (tch-esh-ch), which is a more informal way to say hello. " Jak sie masz (yahk sheng mah-sh) is the Polish phrase that means "how are you?" If someone asks you this question, respond "dziekuje, dobrze," (jenkoo-yeng dob-zhe), which means "fine, thank you." If the other person asks how you are first, you may say "bardzo dobrze, dziekuje. A Ty?" This means "fine, thank you. And you?" This is the informal way to say this. If you're speaking to someone who is older than you, or who is an authority figure, you would say "A Pan" (if speaking to a man) or "A Pani" (if speaking to a woman). If you want to have a conversation with someone, you likely want them to know your name. Introduce yourself with your first name, followed by your surname. In informal situations, such as if you're talking to someone your name, you can simply use your first name. When someone tells you their name, you might say "bardzo mi mio," which means "pleased to meet you." Especially if you have strong pronunciation, a native speaker may start using words or phrases you don't understand. If you say "Nie mowie dobrze po polsku," you are saying "I don't speak Polish well." You might also find the need to say "nie rozumiem," which means "I don't understand." You can also say "mow wolniej," which means "please speak more slowly." The person you're speaking to may become frustrated and want to speak to you in English or some other language. If you want to continue practicing your Polish, you might say "ze mna mozna rozmawiac po polsku," which means "speak to me in Polish." " Proze (PRO-she) means "please," while dziekuje (jenkoo-yeah) means "thank you." As in any language, being polite to native speakers, especially as you are learning the language, can help ease any misunderstandings. If someone thanks you for something, you can either use "prosze" or say "nie ma za co." The latter phrase is more informal, so should only be used when talking to people your own age or younger. In Polish, the same word, "przepraszam," means both "sorry" or "excuse me."
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Greet people by saying "Dzien dobry! Follow up by asking "Jak sie masz? Introduce yourself in Polish with "Nazywam sie" (my name is). Let the person know that you don't speak much Polish. Mind your manners by saying "prosze" and "dziekuje.

Remember that you're an adult, too. Dealing with older family members, such as your partner's parents, can make you feel like a child again, but it shouldn't. If you feel like you're being harassed or judged negatively, it's your right to stand up for yourself. Being assertive doesn't have to mean being disrespectful. You can stand up for yourself while still being respectful and kind. For instance, you can assertively say, "I know you don't understand my culture, but it's important for me and Henry to celebrate this holiday. I respect your beliefs, and I'd appreciate it if you did the same for me." If you're having trouble with a particular person, try bringing up the issue with them yourself. Taking the initiative to solve the problem will show your maturity, and they may respect you more for speaking up. It's much better to talk through problems when they happen than to let them go unaddressed for years. Say, "When you talk over me like that Josie, it makes me feel like I don't have a voice. I'd really appreciate it if you let me finish talking before sharing your opinion." If your partner's family frequently offers you unsolicited advice or criticism, prepare a few noncommittal responses to redirect the conversation. Practice these responses before you need to use them. This will help you stay calm and collected in the moment. If you're talking to someone older, a good way to handle unsolicited advice is to respond politely with something like, "How interesting!" or "What a neat story!" For instance, if your partner's mother tells you that you should feed your kids differently, ask her how she fed her children when they were growing up. Other good go-to responses include "That's interesting, I'll have to try it sometime" and "Thanks for the advice, but we've decided to do it this way." If you really can't resolve your conflicts with your partner's family, the best course of action might be to limit your contact with them. Skipping family events may be the best way to maintain peace and avoid straining your relationship with your partner. However, if you don't want to skip family events, then you can also set a time limit for how long you will be there. Limiting contact is probably a good idea if your partner's family is outright abusive or disrespectful to you. People who act like this are unlikely to change their behavior.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Be confident and assertive. Talk with your partner's family. Deflect unwanted advice or comments. Consider limiting your contact with your partner's family.