Questions & Answers about Cześć! Ja tu mieszkam.
Doesn't cześć also mean 'bye'?
Yes, it does! Cześć is a very common informal greeting that can be used both when you meet someone ('hi') and when you leave ('bye'). You will know which one it is from the context.
I thought Polish drops pronouns like 'I'. Why is ja used here?
You are right, Polish usually drops pronouns because the verb ending (like the -m in mieszkam) already tells us who is doing the action. Adding ja here puts extra focus or emphasis on the speaker, kind of like saying 'As for me, I live here' or 'I am the one who lives here.'
What is the difference between tu and tutaj?
There is no real difference in meaning! Both mean 'here.' Tu is just a shorter version of tutaj and is very common in everyday, casual speech.
How does the word mieszkam show that I am the one living here?
In Polish, verb endings change depending on who is doing the action. The dictionary form of the verb 'to live' is mieszkać. The -m ending on mieszkam is what specifically makes it mean 'I live.'