Questions & Answers about Nie, cena to 22 złote i 99 groszy.
Why do we say złote after 22, but groszy after 99?
In Polish, the noun ending changes based on the last number you say. Numbers ending in 2, 3, and 4 (like dwa in 22) take the standard plural form, which is złote. Numbers ending in 5 through 9, plus 0 (like dziewięć in 99), take a different form called the genitive plural, which gives us groszy.
How do you actually say 22 and 99 in Polish?
22 is dwadzieścia dwa and 99 is dziewięćdziesiąt dziewięć. Just like in English, you combine the tens word and the ones word without adding an extra connecting word between them.
Why does this sentence use to instead of jest for the word "is"?
When equating one thing with another (like "the price" = "22 zlotys"), Polish commonly uses to. It acts almost like an equals sign. Using to is often simpler for beginners because it doesn't force the second part of the sentence to change its grammatical case.
Is the word złote an adjective?
Yes, originally! The Polish currency is literally named after the word for "golden". Because it comes from an adjective, it changes forms slightly differently than a regular noun. Złoty is the singular "golden", and złote is the plural used for amounts ending in 2, 3, or 4.