"Dziewczynka i chłopiec"

Translation: A girl and a boy

[Ben10593]

You don't HAVE to have an article here in english when it is not part of a sentence.

[TexpoKOALA]

If you wonder, "Why does the word 'dziewczynka' and 'chlopiec' needs an 'a' even if there is no 'a' in the sentence?"
Well, Polish doesn't HAVE articles. Basically, 'dziewczynka' means A GIRL and 'chlopiec' means A BOY.

Let's look at the following sentence:
Mezczyzna pije wode.
Translation: A man is drinking water.
In this case the word 'water' doesn't add an article because of English grammar (uncountable)

I hope this helps to many Duolingo users that have a problem! <3

[idacalgal]

Shouldn't Dziewczyna be valid here too? Both mean girl, one just isn't diminutive.

[Jellei]

Of course, "dziewczyna" should have worked, it's accepted.

[spokospoko]

Why do I need 'a' here?

[Jellei]

Well... if it was just one noun phrase (dziewczynka) we would definitely accept it without an article. here... I'm not so sure, but ok, it's not a sentence, after all. Will be allowed now.

[Chickenosis]

I think because it's singular

[spokospoko]

But why do I need an article at all?

[Chickenosis]

Because that's how the English language is?

[spokospoko]

If they're being used in a sentence, generally yes. But just standing by themselves (as they are here), not necessarily.

[AndreasRii]

'The girl and a boy' was my only correct option... So the noun in its own can be definite or indefinite?

[Jellei]

The main answer is "a girl and a boy", but all variants seem acceptable. As Polish doesn't use articles, in most sentences (and this is just a phrase, so even less context) both versions would be correct.

[Your_Lunch]

Is there any techniques I can use to remember the word 'girl'?

[Your_Lunch]

Are* sorry for inccorect grammar.

[Peppercorn11]

Well, I used the word 'view' to remember the sound of the 'dziew' part.

[Jellei]

I don't really see a similarity between those... not in sound :|

[JanetOsbor2]

is there any way of getting Duo to recognise an accidental key stroke (return / send) and let you go back?

[Jellei]

I don't think there is.

[Lena451378]

Zakochana para

[DominicGenett]

Is there any difference between Dziewczynka and Dziewczyna?

[Jellei]

Age. "dziewczynka" is a young girl, and "dziewczyna" is an older one, up to a young woman. "dziewczyna" in a proper context also means "girlfriend".

There is no set age border between those, it's subjective, but personally I'd say it's somewhere between 8 and 13.