Mężczyzna podszedł do mnie i poprosił o ogień. (Question)

Sentence Discussions Polish
#1

Some help please … The English translation is given as ‘A man came up to me and asked for a match’? I’ve seen ‘ogień’ used for ‘fire’ but never ‘a match’. Can it mean ‘a match’. Or would a better translation be ‘A man came up to me and asked for a light’? Thanks!

#2

I think you’re right – “asked for a light” would be a more fitting translation here.

“Poprosić o ogień” is an equivalent of “ask for a light”, and it doesn’t necessarily have to refer to a match (a lighter is a more probable interpretation).

1 Like
#3

Thanks, I’ll report it next time I see it.