Problem z zapinaniem kajdanek na planie serialu

What does “smieszek” mean in Polish?

Asked what she shares with the cop she plays on TV, an actress laughs: «Ja jestem takim śmieszkiem na co dzień» (“I’m a bit of a joker day to day”). A śmieszek is someone always cracking jokes, a wisecracker or class clown.

It’s built from śmiech (“laughter”) plus the diminutive -ek, so almost “a little laugher.” Tone decides the colour: said warmly it’s endearing, said sharply (“nie rób ze mnie śmieszka”) it means “don’t make a fool of me.” Here it’s pure affection, the cast joker on a police-drama set who can’t stop giggling.