Learn Hardcore Polish: Niech dzieci spróbują zupy, a później sałatki. - Let the children try the soup, and then the salad.

Niech introduces a third‑person imperative/jussive: “Let …” or “Have … do ….” So Niech dzieci spróbują… means “Let the children try…,” a directive/suggestion aimed at someone who can make it happen. It’s milder than a blunt command and is common in instructions. You also see it with polite forms: Niech pan/pani spróbuje… “Please try (sir/ma’am) …”

If I’m speaking directly to the children, would I still say Niech dzieci…?

More natural is the second‑person plural imperative: Spróbujcie zupy, a później sałatki. Using Niech dzieci… is what you’d say to another adult (or to the room in general) about the children.

Why spróbują and not próbują?

Spróbują comes from the perfective verb spróbować “to try (once), to taste,” and perfective is used for a single, complete act—exactly what “try (a bit)” implies. Próbują (imperfective) would emphasize ongoing or habitual “are trying,” which doesn’t fit well with a one‑off instruction introduced by Niech.

What form is spróbują exactly?

It’s 3rd person plural “present-form” of a perfective verb (for perfectives, those forms refer to the future). With Niech, this 3rd‑person form functions like an imperative: “Let them try.”

Why are zupy and sałatki in those forms? Aren’t they plural?

They look plural, but here they’re genitive singular. The verb spróbować governs the genitive: spróbować czego? “to try/taste what?” Hence zupy (from zupa) and sałatki (from sałatka). This genitive is often called “partitive” because you’re sampling some of the soup/salad, not eating the whole thing.

Can I say spróbują zupę/sałatkę (accusative) instead?

In standard Polish, no—stick with genitive after spróbować. Accusative here is heard colloquially in some regions, but it’s safer (and more correct) to use genitive: spróbują zupy/sałatki.

Why is the verb missing in the second part a później sałatki?

It’s an ellipsis. The second clause repeats the understood predicate: “(let them try) the salad later.” Because the omitted verb is still spróbują, the noun keeps the genitive: sałatki.

Why a instead of i for “and”?

Both can translate as “and,” but a often marks a contrast or a next step in a sequence. Here it neatly signals “and then.” I would be acceptable, just a bit more neutral.

Is później the same as potem? Could I say najpierw?

Później ≈ “later,” potem ≈ “then/after that.” In this sentence they’re interchangeable: … a potem sałatki is fine.
To emphasize order, you can add najpierw “first”: Najpierw (niech) dzieci spróbują zupy, a później/potem sałatki.

Do I need the comma before a?

Yes. In Polish, a comma is used before a linking coordinate clauses—even if the second is elliptical: …, a później sałatki.

What case is dzieci, and why not dziecka?

Dzieci is the nominative plural of dziecko “child” (it’s irregular). It’s the subject of the verb. Dziecka is genitive singular and doesn’t fit here.

Any quick pronunciation tips for tricky parts?

Niech: final ch is a voiceless velar fricative , like German “Bach.”
Spróbują: ó sounds like English “oo”; the ending -ją has a nasal vowel—roughly “yon.”
Później: the ź is a soft “zh,” and ń is palatal “ny.”
A rough guide: “Nyehkh DYEH-chee sproh-BOO-yon ZOO-pih, a POOZH-nyeh sah-WAHT-kee.”

How would I make it negative: “Don’t let the children try the soup”?

Use niech + negation:

One-time/specific prohibition (perfective): Niech dzieci nie spróbują zupy.
General/ongoing prohibition (imperfective): Niech dzieci nie próbują zupy. Both are possible; pick based on nuance.