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All You Need to Know About the Polish National Anthem

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Most countries have an official national song, also known as an anthem, sung or played during important occasions. These songs are usually different from tracks that people listen to for pleasure. The music often is a march or a hymn in style, while the lyrics often refer to feelings of patriotism and national pride.

Poland is no different, and the Poles have their own national anthem. From a learner’s point of view, the Polish national anthem is an interesting way of learning more about the country’s history and culture. The story of the anthem itself is interesting as well. Keep reading to find out more!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Lyrics
  2. History of the Dąbrowski’s Mazurka Polish National Anthem
  3. Occasions for Singing the Polish National Anthem
  4. Interesting Facts About the Polish Anthem
  5. Final Thoughts

1. Lyrics   

Musical Notes

The Polish anthem is known under the name Mazurek Dąbrowskiego (Dąbrowski’s mazurka). Mazurek (mazurka in English) is a type of dance. Mazurka is a musical form that originated in Poland, based on Polish folk dances, but in the nineteenth century, it became popular outside Poland, especially in Europe and the United States. It’s also worth noting that mazurek in Polish can refer to a Polish cake, typically made for Easter.

Going back to the anthem, it’s worth mentioning that not all Polish people may know its actual name. Because it’s often referred to by its first words Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła (literally: Poland hasn’t died yet), some people would provide that as an answer to the question about the anthem’s name. Here are the full Polish anthem lyrics, along with a translation: 

Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła, – Poland has not yet perished,

Kiedy my żyjemy. – So long as we still live.

Co nam obca przemoc wzięła, – What the foreign force has taken from us,

Szablą odbierzemy. – We shall with sabre retrieve. 

[Chorus] Marsz, marsz Dąbrowski, – March, march, Dąbrowski

Z ziemi włoskiej do Polski, – From Italy to Poland.

Za twoim przewodem – Under your command

Złączym się z narodem. – We shall rejoin the nation. [end of chorus]

Przejdziem Wisłę, przejdziem Wartę, – We’ll cross the Vistula, we’ll cross the Warta,

Będziem Polakami, – We shall be Polish.

Dał nam przykład Bonaparte, – Bonaparte has given us the example

Jak zwyciężać mamy. – Of how we should prevail.

[Chorus again]

Jak Czarniecki do Poznania  – Like Czarniecki to Poznań

Po szwedzkim zaborze, – After the Swedish annexation,

Dla ojczyzny ratowania – To save our homeland,

Wrócim się przez morze. – We shall return across the sea.

[Chorus again]

Już tam ojciec do swej Basi – A father, in tears,

Mówi zapłakany – Says to his Basia

„Słuchaj jeno, pono nasi, – Listen, our boys are said

Biją w tarabany”. – To be beating the tarabans.

[Chorus again]

You can listen to the anthem, as performed by Polish soldiers, here on the official channel of the Ministry of Defense:

Learning Polish by listening to songs and analyzing their lyrics is also a good way of polishing your Polish. You can find the top 5 tools for learning Polish, by clicking on the link. You can also learn more about famous Polish musicians thanks to our resources about Adam Makowicz, Frederic Chopin, and Karol Szymanowski.  

As you can see, the Polish national anthem lyrics are quite poetic. The feeling speaking through the song is that of defending the Polish territory from foreign forces. This has to do with the difficult history of Poland, which disappeared from maps in 1795 during the third partition of Poland. Polish territories and identity have been under threat numerous times throughout the country’s history, which is why the sentiment of protecting Polishness prevails in the national anthem. 

Interesting mentions include two Polish rivers, the Vistula and the Warta and the French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte. The lyrics also mention a saber as a weapon, giving you an idea about the age of this anthem. Last but not least, we have the mention of tarabans, which are drum-like, percussive instruments of Turkish origin that used to be played in Poland and Ukraine. 

If you’re interested in Polish history you should read the trilogy by Henryk Sienkiewicz. It’s a long commitment so before you do, check out our lesson about the movie based on a part of this book series, “Ogniem i mieczem.”  

2. History of the Dąbrowski’s Mazurka Polish National Anthem

Polish soldiers marching

The lyrics to the anthem were written during the third partition of Poland. It was created in Italy (Włochy), where the Polish Legions were then stationed. The idea was to increase the morale of people whose country no longer existed on the map. The song quickly became popular among soldiers. The author is a Polish poet and military activist, Józef Wybicki. The original lyrics were slightly different from the current version of the anthem. In 2021 there was a law drafted to introduce some changes, including swapping lines around, but so far, it hasn’t been passed. 

Interestingly enough, even today, we don’t know who created the music for the Polish national anthem. The composition first became the anthem unofficially and then became it officially in 1926. That, of course, means that there were other Polish national anthems before this one. Previous national anthems included Bogurodzica, Gaude Mater Polonia, and Rota, with Bogurodzica being the first Polish anthem. 

We told you how to say Italy two paragraphs back, but do you know how to say the names of other countries, including your own? Check out our lesson on world countries to learn all you need to know. 

3. Occasions for Singing the Polish National Anthem

A Polish Flag

The anthem is played and sung during Polish national holidays and meaningful anniversaries such as: 

  • Święto Niepodległości (Independence Day)
  • Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja (Constitution Day – celebrating the Constitution of 3 May 1791)
  • Narodowy Dzień Pamięci „Żołnierzy Wyklętych” (“Cursed Soldiers” National Remembrance Day – the anniversary of the execution of Polish officers)
  • Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Powstania Warszawskiego (Warsaw Uprising National Remembrance Day) and more

Sometimes the anthem is just played, and sometimes both played and sung. Apart from national Polish holidays, it’s also played during sports competitions, particularly international ones, such as football matches or the Olympics. 

The national anthem belongs to the group of Polish national symbols (symbole narodowe) stipulated in the Constitution (konstytucja). This means that it’s protected by law. The etiquette when the anthem is played is to stand up, take off any headgear a person is wearing and remain silent and respectful. Soldiers and other people wearing uniforms should salute. Being disrespectful to the national symbols can be penalized with a fine of 20 up to 5000 PLN.

4. Interesting Facts About the Polish Anthem

The Polish Emblem

The anthem is taught in Polish schools. Still, some Polish people make mistakes when singing it, and some don’t know all the lyrics. It’s particularly common to sing póki my żyjemy (until we live) instead of kiedy my żyjemy (when we live) in the second stanza. There have been reports of politicians and other famous people singing the anthem incorrectly by misplacing words or entirely not knowing some parts of it and humming to the music instead. Do you remember all the lyrics of your country’s anthem? Let us know the answer and where you’re from in the comments section. 

In 2002 during the FIFA World Cup, a famous Polish singer, Edyta Górniak sang the anthem in her own artistic interpretation. The footballers were unable to sing to her tune. Many people thought this was disrespectful and unnecessary. The performance is still well-remembered today. Some countries are more lenient or encouraging toward interpretations of the anthem, notably the USA. Poland remains quite conservative in that respect, as another controversy of this sort is quite recent. It was caused by a different Polish singer, Lidia Kopania, who also sang her own interpretation of the anthem during a boxing event in 2021. Yet again, the Polish public found it disrespectful, but the backlash was smaller, perhaps because the event was less prominent.

Speaking of sporting events, do you know what’s the most popular sport in Poland? Click on the link to familiarize yourself with our lesson on this topic. Before you check the answer, try to guess what it could be. 

5. Final Thoughts

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Today you’ve learned all you need to know about the Polish anthem. We hope that the history of the anthem was interesting for you and that you’ve gained more understanding of Polish history thanks to it. Anthems often tell us a lot about the cultural context of the country.

Knowing more about Polish culture will help you with the understanding of the language, but you need more to actually speak it. You can start or continue your Polish language journey with PolishPod101. It’s a platform with many, many, many recordings by native speakers that can help you improve your listening comprehension skills, vocabulary, and general Polish knowledge. Don’t dilly dally and join us at PolishPod101 today!

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Useful Polish Classroom Phrases

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Many people come to Poland to learn Polish or study. Regardless of the level of education you’re trying to obtain, Polish classroom phrases will come in handy. It’s also good to know them for cultural reasons, for instance, to understand better what’s happening in Polish movies or series. Of course, it’d also be very useful to know them for general Polish language learning.

The knowledge of the most common Polish phrases used in the classroom is also very helpful in understanding more about the country’s culture. The way that teachers and students interact allows you to better understand the levels of formality in the Polish language.

Please note that Polish is a gendered language, and genders will be marked in this blog post as follows:

  • m – masculine
  • f – feminine
  • n – neuter  

Without further ado, let’s discuss the most common Polish phrases used in the classroom!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Basic Classroom Greetings
  2. Understand Instructions from Teachers
  3. Ask for Clarification from Teachers and Classmates
  4. Explain Absence and Tardiness
  5. Talking About Favorite Subjects
  6. Check for School Supplies
  7. Final Thoughts

1. Basic Classroom Greetings

Two People Bowing while Greeting Someone

Greetings are a part of everyday life. When you live in Poland, the skill of saying hello no matter the time of day can come in very handy. In the classroom environment, there are certain special greetings you should memorize: 

  • Dzień dobry. – Good Day.

    You can simply say Good Day when entering the classroom. However, people, especially children, use a special greeting to show their respect for the teacher:

    Dzień dobry, Pani (Profesor). – Good Day, teacher. (literally: Mrs Professor)

    Dzień dobry, Panie Profesorze. – Good morning, teacher. (literally: Mr Professor)

    Dzień dobry, Panu. – Good morning, teacher.

    This form is also used at higher learning institutions. It’s worth noting that the required level of formality will depend on the personal preferences of a lecturer or rules at a given institution.
  • Cześć! / Siema! – Hi!

    Ex. Siema is a slang word for cześć.
    To say “hi” to fellow students, we use the expressions above. Both can also be used to say “bye.”
  • Co tam? – What’s up?

    We can also ask someone how they’re doing informally by using the above expression.

  • Do jutra! – See you tomorrow!

    Another informal expression used to say goodbye only. 

Now that you know how to say hello in different ways, you may also want to learn three ways to say “Bye” in Polish. All of them are basic Polish phrases.  

2. Understand Instructions from Teachers

A Student Confused After Hearing a Teacher’s Explanation

There are a number of instructions teachers use to communicate with their students. Traditionally, teachers in Poland require a fair amount of obedience. What can look harsh to an English speaker is related to the cultural straightforwardness of Polish, where words of politeness aren’t always used.

  • (A teraz) słuchajcie uważnie. – (And now) listen carefully. 

    A phrase often used by teachers before important details of a lesson come.

  • Proszę o ciszę! – Be quiet, please.

    Cisza! – Silence!

    Both phrases could be used by Polish teachers to regain control of a classroom where children or students are behaving badly.

  • To bardzo ważne. – It’s very important.

    Classroom phrases for teachers in Polish differ from teacher to teacher, but many like to underline the importance of something in this way.

  • Nie ma się z czego śmiać. – There’s nothing funny here.

    Polish children can laugh when uncalled for like any other children. That’s why Polish teachers will sometimes use this expression.

  • Wyciągamy karteczki. – We’re taking out pieces of paper.

    Polish classroom words and phrases also include the ones related to tests. Many tests in Polish schools are announced, and then they’re called klasówka. When teachers want to check whether students are learning systematically, they also prepare unannounced tests called kartkówka.
  • Any questions? – Czy są jakieś pytania?

    This isn’t a request per se, but it’s a phrase worth noting as teachers often ask them after concluding a topic or before finishing a lesson.

Classroom phrases for teachers in Polish, include the top 5 pet phrases. Check them out with our lesson. You can also learn more about learning strategies with the power of a good Polish teacher.  

3. Ask for Clarification from Teachers and Classmates

School Friends

If you’re a foreign student, you may not understand everything that a teacher or classmate asks from you. That’s why our Polish classroom phrases for students include asking for clarification from others: 

  • Nie rozumiem. – I don’t understand.

    Example:

    A: Jaka jest Pańska godność? – What is your name, Sir? (literally: What’s your dignity?)

    B: Nie rozumiem. – I don’t understand.
  • Czy może Pan/Pani powtórzyć? – Can you repeat that, Sir/Madam?

    Czy możesz powtórzyć? – Can you repeat that?

    Example:

    A: Jak leci? – How is it going?

    B: Nie rozumiem. Czy możesz powtórzyć? – I don’t understand. Can you repeat that?
  • Chciałam zgłosić nieprzygotowanie. – I wanted to say I’m not prepared.

    In Polish schools, some teachers ask children to answer questions orally and be graded while standing in front of the classroom. The questions usually revolve around what was discussed during the last few lessons. A student is allowed to tell the teacher that they’re not prepared a few times during the term. However, they need to say it before the teacher asks them to answer questions. When a student wants to express that, they use the phrase above.  
  • Mam pytanie. – I have a question.

    When you want to ask a question to a teacher you usually raise your hand to get their attention before you do that.

  • Co powiedział nauczyciel? – What did the teacher say? (when the teacher is a man)

    Co powiedziała nauczycielka? – What did the teacher say? (when the teacher is a woman)

    If you don’t understand what the teacher said, you can ask about that. Of course, there are slang words that children and teenagers use for teachers such as belfer (m) / belferka (f) or facet (m) / facetka (f).
These Polish words and phrases may come in handy during Polish lessons. To learn clarification phrases for other situations, visit our lesson “Can You Say It Again in Polish?”.

4. Explain Absence and Tardiness

A Person Giving an Explanation

Polish children, teenagers, and older students are great at coming up with excuses for their absence and tardiness. That’s something that students seem to have in common all around the world. Here are some Polish classroom words and phrases that can come in handy when you need an excuse yourself: 

  • Źle się czułem (m) / czułam (f). – I wasn’t feeling well.

    Example: Nie przyszłam na zajęcia, bo źle się czułam. – I didn’t come to class, because I was feeling unwell. (when the speaker is a woman)

    Nie przyszedłem na zajęcia, bo źle się czułem. – I didn’t come to class, because I was feeling unwell. (when the speaker is a man)
  • Przepraszam za spóźnienie, uciekł mi autobus. – Sorry I’m late. I’ve missed the bus.

    Przepraszam za spóźnienie, zaspałem (m) / zaspałam (f). – Sorry I’m late. I’ve overslept.

    Przepraszam za spóźnienie, straciłem (m) / straciłam (f) poczucie czasu. – Sorry I’m late. I’ve lost track of time.
  • Nie mam pracy domowej, bo zjadł mi ją pies. – I didn’t bring my homework, my dog ate it.

    Of course, some students would try this excuse. However, telling the teacher that one is unprepared is also an option to avoid consequences, as long as the student hasn’t used up their limit.

  • Przepraszam, nie zrobiłem (m) / zrobiłam (f) pracy domowej. –  I’m sorry, I didn’t do my homework.

  • Zapomniałem (m) / Zapomniałam (f) książki / zeszytu. – I’ve forgotten my book/notebook.

What excuses did you use at school, or were you too cool for school and played truant often? Let us know in the comments section. 

5. Talking About Favorite Subjects

A Stack of Books with Names of School Subjects

There are some people who simply don’t or didn’t like school. But even they usually had at least one favorite subject. The most common Polish phrases used in the classroom include those to speak about people’s preferences in that respect: 

  • matematyka – math

  • chemia – chemistry

    Ex. Jestem dobra z matematyki i chemii. – I’m good at math and chemistry.
  • fizyka – physics

    Ex. Nie rozumiem fizyki! – I don’t understand physics.

  • historia – history

    Historia nie jest trudna, ale jest dużo dat do zapamiętania. – History isn’t difficult, but there are many dates to remember.

  • (język) polski – Polish

    Polski jest fajny poza gramatyką. – Polish is cool, apart from the grammar.

  • (język) angielski – English

    Ex. Angielski jest łatwy. – English is easy.
  • geografia – geography

    Ex. Geografia Europy jest skomplikowana. – European geography is complicated.

  • biologia – biology

    Biologia nie jest obowiązkowa w mojej szkole. – Biology isn’t obligatory at my school.

  • WF (wychowanie fizyczne) – PE (physical education)

    Lubię sport, ale nie lubię WFu. – I like sports, but I don’t like PE.

  • Mój ulubiony przedmiot to [subject]. – My favorite subject is [subject].

    Ex. Mój ulubiony przedmiot to (język) polski. – My favorite subject is Polish.

  • Nie lubię [subject]. – I don’t like [subject].

    Ex. Nie lubię fizyki. – I don’t like physics.

  • Jestem dobry (m) / dobra (f) z [subject]. – I’m good at [subject].

    Jestem dobry z matmy. – I’m good at maths.

    Ex. Matma is a slang word for matematyka.

  • Jestem słaby (m) / słaba (f) z [subject]. – I’m bad at [subject].

    Ex. Jestem słaby z WFu – I’m bad at PE.

  • Mam dobre / złe oceny z [subject]. – I have good/bad grades in [subject].

    Ex. Mam złe oceny z geografii. – I have bad grades in geography.

If you’d like to learn more Polish vocabulary on this topic, here’s a lesson on talking about school subjects in Polish. You may also want to learn more about the education system in Poland

6. Check for School Supplies

A Backpack

It’s equally important to be able to speak about school supplies. Some of them are similar to the ones you can find in the office. Here’s a list of Polish classroom phrases for students:

  • zeszyt – textbook

  • książka – book

  • długopis – pen

  • pióro – fountain pen

  • ołówek – pencil

  • plecak – backpack

  • kalkulator – calculator

  • Zgubiłem (m) / Zgubiłam (f) mój (m) / moje (n) / moją (f) [supply]. – I’ve lost my [supply].

    Here the choice is between the form for a male and female speaker, and then the form of the word “my” has to be in agreement with the gender of the noun used.

    Ex. Zgubiłem mój długopis. – I’ve lost my pen. (said by a man)

    Zgubiłam moje pióro. – I’ve lost my fountain pen. (said by a woman)

    Zgubiłam moją książkę. – I’ve lost my book. (said by a woman)
  • Potrzebny mi nowy (m) / nowa (f) / nowe (n) [supply]. – I need a new [supply].

    Ex. Potrzebny mi nowy kalkulator. – I need a new calculator.

  • Widziałeś (m) / widziałaś (f) mój (m) / moje (n) / moją (f) [supply]? – Have you seen my [supply].

    Ex. Widziałaś mój plecak? – Have you seen my backpack? (When a woman is asked).

Note that our list of Polish words and phrases doesn’t have a name for uniform (mundurek szkolny). That’s because they’re not obligatory in Poland.

Do you know by now what’s in your school bag? If you still have doubts, review our lesson on this topic by clicking on the link and learning even more basic Polish phrases. 

7. Final Thoughts 

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about all the Polish classroom words and phrases. They’ll come in handy whether you’re taking a Polish course, attending a Polish school, or living in Poland. Perhaps it made you remember the times when you were at school yourself.

Knowing classroom phrases for teachers in Polish, as well as these for students, is just the beginning of the road. To truly speak the language, you should use a platform that has countless recordings from native speakers and a large Polish lessons database to help you learn Polish vocabulary and much more. PolishPod101 is exactly that kind of platform. Try it out today and learn Polish with us! 

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Must-Know Polish Restaurant Phrases 2022

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Polish food has its fans all over the world. That’s why when you’re in Poland, you’d almost certainly like to visit one of the Polish restaurants. Restaurants in Poland, of course, are not limited to serving Polish cuisine, and you’ll be able to find any type of food in this country.

In this blog post, you’ll learn what to say when entering a restaurant, how to behave during the meal, and everything about ordering. This is just a short summary of all the useful Polish restaurant phrases that you’ll get to know thanks to our article.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Basic Polish Phrases in a Restaurant Before Dining
  2. Ordering Food and Drinks
  3. Learn Polish Restaurant Phrases to Use During Dining
  4. Polish Restaurant Phrases for After Dining
  5. Final Thoughts

1. Basic Polish Phrases in a Restaurant Before Dining

A Table That’s Been Reserved

Polish people eat with forks, knives, and spoons. You can expect different cutlery in establishments serving different cuisines. For instance, a Japanese restaurant is likely to give you chopsticks. If you feel you don’t know the right vocabulary, check out our lesson on food utensils and tableware.

A traditional Polish meal is obiad which is a big, warm meal, translated as lunch or dinner. Both translations are slightly imprecise. It consists of pierwsze danie (first course), usually soup, drugie danie (main course, literally: second course) and deser (dessert).

Now that you know a bit more about Polish food, you’re ready to eat in a restaurant. However, before you can sit down and eat a meal, you have to get a table. Here’s an example of how to book it in Polish: 

Czy mógłbym/mogłabym zarezerwować stolik dla dwóch osób na sobotę, 7 maja o 5 po południu? – Can I get a table for two on Saturday, May 7th, at 5pm?

The first form of the verb móc, is used by male speakers and the second by female speakers. Of course, we rarely call a restaurant to provide all details immediately. More probably, it would be a phone conversation that would go along these lines: 

A: Dzień dobry! Czy mógłbym / mogłabym zarezerwować stolik? – Good Day. Can I book a table?

B: Oczywiście. Na kiedy? – Certainly. For when?

A: Na sobotę, 7 maja. – Saturday, the 7th of May.

B: Na którą godzinę? – What time?

A: Na 5 po południu. – 5 PM. 

B: Na ile osób? – For how many people?

A: Dla dwóch. – For two.

B: Na jakie nazwisko ma być rezerwacja? – Under what name should I make the booking?

A: Nowak. – Nowak. 

Bookings are usually necessary for more expensive restaurants and very popular places, particularly over the weekend on busy days such as public holidays. Especially if you want to visit a particular place and you’re in Poland for a short time, remember to make a booking to avoid disappointment.

Sometimes you’ll also arrive at a restaurant without making a booking. Here are some of the most common Polish restaurant phrases to use in such a situation:

  • Poproszę o stolik dla 4 osób. – A table for 4, please.

  • Czy są stoliki na zewnątrz? – Do you have tables outside?

  • Czy są stoliki dla palących? – Do you have any tables in the smoking section?

    Poland banned smoking in public spaces in 2010. This means that unless there’s an outside section in a restaurant, there won’t be any tables where smoking is allowed.  
  • Jak długo będziemy musieli czekać (na stolik)? – How long will we have to wait (for a table)?

Learn Polish restaurant phrases mentioned above to make your visit less stressful. A waiter or waitress should arrive at your table shortly after you sit down. If you need their attention, you can raise your hand slightly and smile. After you do it, they will arrive when they have a second. In busy establishments, you may have to be a bit patient.  

2. Ordering Food and Drinks

A Waiter Carrying Food

When you’re already at the table, it’s time to order. If you’re in a restaurant serving Polish cuisine, you should try one of the top 5 Polish dishes. You can also use the phrases below to learn how to order food in Polish: 

  • Czy mogę prosić (o) menu / kartę dań? – Can I have the menu, please?

  • Jakie jest Państwa najpopularniejsze danie? – What’s your most popular dish?

  • Jakie danie Pan / Pani poleca? – Which dish do you recommend, Sir/Madam?

  • Mam alergię na [product]. – I’m allergic to [product].

    Ex. Mam alergię na orzechy. Czy mogę zamówić sałatkę bez orzechów? – I’m allergic to tree nuts. Can I get a salad without nuts?

  • Czy macie Państwo dania wegetariańskie / wegańskie? – Do you have vegetarian/vegan dishes on the menu?

  • Czy macie Państwo dania bez glutenu? – Do you have any gluten-free dishes?

  • Czy jest piwo bezalkoholowe? – Do you have non-alcoholic beer?

  • Na deser poproszę (o) ciasto czekoladowe. – I’ll have chocolate cake for dessert.

Here are some more tips on choosing a meal in a Polish restaurant. You can also decide to order a dessert. Learn how to do it with our lesson on Reading a Dessert Menu. Polish cuisine is full of delicious cakes such as sękacz, szarlotka (apple pie), or makowiec (poppyseed roll) for you to try. You should be able to order them in a restaurant, or you can go directly to cukiernia (cake shop).   

Last but not least, we’ve also prepared a few sample dialogues that may come in handy when ordering food or drinks:

A: Coś do jedzenia? – Anything to eat?
B: Nie, dziękuję, tylko coś do picia. – No, thank you, I’ll just have a drink.

A: Poproszę o Heinekena. – I’ll have a Heineken, please.]
B: W butelce czy z nalewaka? – In a bottle or draft/on tap?

If you prefer to just have a drink, you don’t have to go to a restaurant. Instead, you can head to bar (bar) or pub (pub). There are also places called pijalnie, for instance, pijalnia wódki, where you can have a shot or two of vodka. For teetotallers and coffee enthusiasts, there’s always kawiarnia (coffee shop), where usually you can get a light meal, tea, and coffee. For more vocabulary on this topic, go to our lesson, “Let’s have a bite at a Polish café”.

By now, you should know how to order food in Polish. How much would it cost you to visit a restaurant in Poland? It depends on the restaurant, of course. You can see average prices by looking at the cost of living in a major Polish city, Gdynia.   

3. Learn Polish Restaurant Phrases to Use During Dining

A Waiter Taking an Order

The food has arrived, and you’re enjoying your meal… but there’s something that doesn’t allow you to fully enjoy yourself. Here are the most common Polish restaurant phrases for raising your concerns: 

  • Czy mogę prosić o [object]? – Can I have/get [object], please?

    Ex. Czy mogę prosić o więcej serwetek? – Can I get some more napkins?

    Czy mogę prosić o ketchup? –  Can I have the ketchup, please?
  • W moim nakryciu brakuje noża / widelca / łyżki. – I have no knife / fork / spoon.

  • To nie jest moje zamówienie. –  This isn’t what I’ve ordered.

  • Chciałbym / Chciałabym porozmawiać z menadżerem. –  Can I speak to the manager, please?

    The forms are for male and female speakers, respectively.

  • Zupa jest trochę za słona. –  The soup is a little salty.

  • Ryba jest surowa. –  The fish is raw.
  • Makaron jest niedogotowany. – The pasta is undercooked.

A Man Visibly Unhappy about His Food

For more tips on what to do when you’re unhappy about something at a restaurant, check out our lesson on making a complaint in Polish. Remember that complaining isn’t always easy, and it should be done in a polite manner. It’s rarely the waiter or waitress’s fault what the kitchen has prepared.  

4. Polish Restaurant Phrases for After Dining

A Man Calling a Waiter

Basic Polish restaurant phrases also include the ones needed for when you’re done eating. Here are some phrases that could be useful: 

  • Czy mogę prosić o rachunek? – Bill, please.

    For more vocabulary when asking for the bill, visit our lesson “Check, please”.

  • Czy można płacić kartą? – Do you take credit cards?

  • Czy możemy zapłacić osobno? – Can we pay separately?

  • Czy mogę to poprosić na wynos? – Can I have it as a take away please?

    Asking for a doggy bag is becoming more and more acceptable. Some people still don’t feel comfortable with it.  

A waiter or waitress often asks about the meal after you’ve eaten. Here’s a sample dialogue that could happen at this stage of your meal: 

A: Czy posiłek Państwu smakował? – How did you like your meal?
B: Był znakomity. – Everything was delicious.

What about tipping in Poland? It’s customary to tip 10%, and if you’re feeling generous, you should even tip 15% or more. You can add it to your card payment, but cash tips are always most welcome.  

5. Final Thoughts

Thanks to our article, you’ve learned basic Polish phrases for restaurant interactions. Now you know how to order food in Polish and other most common Polish restaurant phrases for various stages of your restaurant visit. Do you already know when you’ll be traveling to Poland to practice? Let us know in the comments section.

Can you say that you really speak Polish once you learn Polish restaurant phrases? Unfortunately not. There are so many words, phrases, and things to learn in this language! You can get access to a great platform that will help you speak Polish like a native. Join PolishPod101 and get access to all you need to master Polish! 

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish

How to Improve Your Polish Conversation Skills

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Conversation skills are arguably the most important skills in a language. What’s the point of speaking Polish, if you can’t communicate with Polish people? Naturally, some people study languages for specific purposes, such as being able to understand books, but most mortals simply want to communicate with others in their private and professional life. In this blog post, you’ll learn how to improve your Polish conversation skills.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Prepare Your Profile in Polish
  2. Learn Polish Language Reactions
  3. Learn Polish Filler Words
  4. Learn Common Questions and Answers
  5. Learn Conversation Starters
  6. How to Improve Polish Conversation Skills
  7. Final Thoughts

1. Prepare Your Profile in Polish 

A Blank Card

The best way of boosting your conversation skills in Polish is to prepare your profile in Polish. What’s a profile? It’s a cheat sheet with the most important details about you. By learning these details by heart, you’ll make your life easier, and you’ll gain confidence when meeting new Polish people.

Here are some important phrases you should include on your cheat sheet:

  • Your name and surname

    Jestem Anton. – I’m Anton.

    Mam na imię Anton. – My name is Anton.

    Nazywam się Anton Zaripov. – I’m Anton Zaripov.

    The last form is used for name and surname together.

Introducing yourself is important, but so is being able to ask someone else, “What’s your name?” in Polish.

  • Age

    Mam [x] lat. – I’m [x] years old.

    Please note that the forms change depending on the number of years as follows:

    1 rok – one year

    Ex. Mój syn ma rok/roczek. – the second form is diminutive

    2,3,4 lata – 2,3,4 years

    Ex. Moja córka ma 2/3/4 lata.

    5-21 lat – 5-21 years

    Ola ma 20 lat, a jej chłopak 21 lat. – Ola is 20 years old and her boyfriend 21 years old.

    After that, it’s the second number that influences the form, for instance:

    22 lata – 22 years

    BUT

    25 lat – 25 years

  • Country

    There are two main ways of talking about one’s country of origin in Polish:

    Pochodzę z [kraj]. – I come from Poland.

    Pochodzę z Włoch. – I come from Italy.

    Pochodzę z Maroka. – I come from Morocco.

    Jestem [narodowość]. – I’m [nationality].

    Jestem Włochem. – I’m Italian.

    Jestem Marokańczykiem. – I’m Moroccan.

  • Profession

    Jestem [zawód] – I’m [profession]

    In both examples below, the first form is for a male speaker, and the second one is for a female speaker.

    Jestem policjantem/policjantką. – I’m a police officer.

    Jestem dziennikarzem/dziennikarką. – I’m a journalist. 

Do you need more vocabulary for professions in Polish? Click on the link to check out a lesson about it on our platform.

  • Preferences

    Lubię chodzić do kina i restauracji. – I like going to the cinema and restaurants.

    Lubię czytać książki. – I like reading books. 

Now, you have all the elements you need to prepare a cheat sheet. You should write sentences that are true for you on a piece of paper and practice introducing yourself whenever you get the chance.

2. Learn Polish Language Reactions

A Surprised Toddler

Learning natural language reactions is a very important part of working on your Polish conversation skills. That’s because they make you sound much more natural when you speak. They also help you understand the emotional value of what’s being said better.

In the Polish language, you have many such expressions. Have a look at some of them below:

  • Expressing positive emotions

    Super! / Ekstra! / Rewelacja! – Awesome!

    A: Dostałem/Dostałam nową pracę. – I’ve got a new job. (the forms are male and female, respectively)
    B: Super! / Ekstra! / Rewelacja!

    (To) jest naprawdę super / ekstra! – “It’s really cool!”

    A: Patrz, jaki mam fajny nowy telefon. – Look at my new, cool phone.
    B: (On) jest naprawdę super / ekstra! – It’s really cool!

    Speaking of positive emotions, do you know how to say “Happy Anniversary!” in Polish?

  • Expressing negative reactions:

    Masakra! / Koszmar! – What a nightmare!

    A: Mój sąsiad ciągle słucha muzyki na cały regulator! – My neighbor always listens to music at full volume.
    B: Masakra! / Koszmar! – What a nightmare!

  • Expressing disbelief and/or surprise:

    Serio? / Naprawdę? / No co ty? – Really?

    A: Ten kurs kosztuje ponad 500 złotych! – This course costs more than 500 PLN!
    B: Serio? / Naprawdę? / No co ty? – Really?

    Nie żartuj! / Nie rób sobie jaj! / Bez jaj! – “You can’t be serious!”

    Please note that the first expression is neutral. The other two could be considered inappropriate by some people.

    A: Odwołali nasz lot. – They’ve canceled our flight.
    B: Nie żartuj. / Nie rób sobie jaj! / Bez jaj!

    O matko! / O jezu!  – “Oh my goodness!”

    These expressions are very popular but could be considered inappropriate by some people, including very religious people.

    A: Paweł miał wypadek. – Paweł’s had an accident.
    B: O matko! / O jezu!  – “Oh my goodness!”

    Wow! / Łał!  – Wow!

    A: A teraz zgadnij, ile ona ma lat. – Now, guess, how old she is.
    B: Nie wiem, 18? – I don’t know. 18?
    A: 25! – 25!
    B: Wow, wygląda na dużo młodszą. – Wow, she looks way younger.

You can find more useful expressions of this kind in our blog post about intermediate phrases.

3. Learn Polish Filler Words

A Person Lost in Thoughts

Filler words are another example of very natural phrases to learn to improve your conversation skills in Polish. Just think about you speaking in your native language. Filler words come to you when you don’t know what to say, you’re looking for the right word…or just because. We’ve written a whole article about filler words, and this is just a sample:

  •  Hm

    Hm… sam/sama nie wiem, co na ten temat myśleć. – Hmm…I don’t know what to think about it. (spoken by a male and female speaker, respectively)

    Hm… szczerze mówiąc, to się nad tym nie zastanawiałem/zastanawiałam. – Umm…Honestly, I’ve never thought about it. (said by a male and female speaker, respectively)

  • No – similar to “well”

    No dobra, niech już będzie. – Well, okay, let’s agree on this.

    No nie wiem, (no) skąd mam wiedzieć? – Well, I don’t know, how am I supposed to know?

    As you can see, “no” can be repeated. It doesn’t add any meaning, it’s just a mannerism.

  • Wiesz and no wiesz – you know

    Mamy teraz własny dom, wiesz? – We have our own house now, you know?

    No wiesz, to nie jest do końca prawda. – You know, it’s not entirely true.

  • Właśnie – “exactly”, “precisely”

    Właśnie o to mi chodzi! – This is precisely what I mean.

    Właśnie w tym rzecz. – That’s the thing.

  • Ten and no ten – a filler practically impossible to translate, used when a word is missing and a speaker is trying to buy time

    No i wtedy patrzę, a tam ten, Święty Mikołaj! – And then I look and I see there, what do you call him, Santa Claus.

    Kup w sklepie, no ten, klej. – Please buy some… glue in the shop. 

It’s not easy to learn the natural use of these phrases because they depend heavily on the context. How to improve Polish conversation skills when it comes to fillers? Listen to as much Polish as you can. It’s the only way to acquire these skills. You can start doing that with our lesson library.   

4. Learn Common Questions and Answers

A Person with Question Marks Around Their Head

Learning common questions and answers may be the best way to improve Polish conversation skills. Here are some examples to memorize: 

  • Skąd jesteś? – Where are you from?

    Skąd pochodzisz? – Where do you come from?

    Jestem / Pochodzę z Niemiec. – I am / come from Germany.

    Jestem / Pochodzę z Hiszpanii. – I am / come from Spain.

  • Ile masz lat? – How old are you?

    Mam 22 lata. – I’m 22 years old.

    Mam 51 lat. – I’m 51 years old.

  • Jak się masz? Co słychać? – How are you?

    U mnie wszystko okej / w porządku. – I’m all good.

    Bywało lepiej. – I’ve been better.

  • Jak nauczyłeś/nauczyłaś się (tak dobrze) mówić po angielsku? – How did you learn to speak (so well) in English?

    The first form is used by male speakers, and the second by female speakers.

    Na kursach językowych. – During language courses.

    Do you know how to ask the question “Do you speak Polish?” and similar? Head straight to our lesson to acquire this skill.

  • Czemu uczysz się włoskiego? – Why are you learning Italian?

    Dla przyjemności. – For pleasure.

    Włoski jest mi potrzebny do pracy. – I need Italian for work.

    Mój partner jest Włochem. – My partner is Italian.

These are only some sample dialogues that can help you with your Polish. Don’t ask yourself anymore, “How to improve your Polish speaking skills?”. Instead, visit our blog post full of such expressions. 

5. Learn Conversation Starters

Two People Chatting

When you meet new people and have to communicate in a new language, it can be very intimidating. Learning conversation starters is another way of boosting your conversation skills in Polish and avoiding the stress of not knowing what to say. Here are some useful conversation starters:

  • Jak poznałeś/poznałaś [name]? – How did you meet [name]?

    The first form is masculine, and the second feminine.

  • Czy było łatwo znaleźć to miejsce? – Was it easy for you to find this place?

  • Czym się zajmujesz (zawodowo)? – What do you do for a living?

  • Od jak dawna tu pracujesz/studiujesz? – How long have you been working/studying here? 

  • Wyglądasz super! Podoba mi się twoja fryzura / twój styl / twoje ubranie. – You look great! I like your hair/style/clothes.

  • Jaki jest twój ulubiony [rzeczownik rodzaju męskiego]? – What’s your favourite [masculine noun]?

    Jaki jest twój ulubiony film? – What’s your favorite movie?

    Jaka jest twoja ulubiona [rzeczownik rodzaju żeńskiego]? – What’s your favourite [feminine noun]?

    Jaka jest twoja ulubiona pora roku? – What’s your favourite season?

    Jakie jest twoje ulubione [rzeczownik rodzaju nijakiego]? – What’s your favourite [neuter noun]?

    Jakie jest twoje ulubione danie? – What’s your favourite dish?

    You can learn how to speak about likes and dislikes with our lesson “I like beer”. 

These are just some of the conversation starters that can help you with your Polish speaking skills. To get even more help in this respect, read our blog post (link) about Polish conversation starters. 

6. How to Improve Polish Conversation Skills

PolishPod101 Logo

The best way to improve Polish conversation skills is to practice the language whenever an opportunity presents itself and… to look for such opportunities when they don’t. Here are some tips that can help you further:

  • Join PolishPod101 and get access to countless listening resources and even to a private teacher on one of our subscription plans

  • Find language exchange partners online or in person

  • Talk to yourself by repeating new words and phrases

  • Find online communities, such as forums, to practice

  • Memorize words and phrases in context rather than on their own

7. Final Thoughts

Everyone would like to know the ​​best way to improve Polish conversation skills. We have shown you not one but many ways of doing it. Getting a cheat sheet and learning conversation starters, as well as other things such as fillers, will help you tremendously with your language skills.

Are you still asking yourself how to improve your Polish speaking skills? Consider joining PolishPod101! On our platform, you’ll find recordings and vocabulary to help you in real-life conversations. Our recordings are prepared by native speakers to help you learn the kind of Polish that’s really spoken in Poland.

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Learn Polish: Nationality-Related Phrases and Expressions

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Being able to speak about your nationality and the nationality of others is an important skill when you’re learning any language. After all, for many people this is the primary characteristic they identify with. How do Polish citizens speak about their Polish nationality? How to say your nationality in Polish? You’ll learn that today along with many words for nationalities and related phrases and expressions.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Top 15 Nationalities in Poland
  2. Asking About Nationalities
  3. How to Tell Someone Your Nationality
  4. Cities and Languages
  5. Final Thoughts

1. Top 15 Nationalities in Poland

A Polish Flag

In this section you’ll find out how to form the names of nationalities in Polish, who apart from Poles lives in and visits Poland and what are the Polish names of continents. 

A- Countries and Nationalities

Names of countries and nationalities are often connected in Polish, just like in many other languages. Let’s take Poland as an example: 

    – Polska – Poland

    – Polak – Pole (a holder of a Polish passport)

As you can see the two names are closely related. It’s important to note that adjectives can’t be used to describe nationality in Polish. For instance, in English we can say “He’s Polish”, but in Polish we can only say the equivalent of “He’s a Pole.”

    – On jest Polakiem. – meaning: “He’s Polish”, literal meaning: “He’s a Pole.”

Nationality forms are different for different genders and numbers. Here’s an example of people with a Polish citizenship: 

    – Singular: Polak – a male Pole

    – Singular: Polka – a female Pole

    – Plural: Polacy – male Poles

    – Plural: Polki – female Poles

Like in English we capitalize nationalities and country names. It’s important to note that there are many different suffixes that can be added to form nationalities in Polish. This is why it’s best to learn them by a mixture of memorisation techniques and exposing yourself to Polish by reading and listening in this language.  

The masculine form of an adjective from the word “Polska” is “polski”. This can be used as the name of the language or a descriptive adjective: 

    – Lubię (język) polski.  – I like (the) Polish (language).

    – To jest polski mężczyzna. – He’s a Polish man.

    – On ma polską narodowość. – He has a Polish nationality.

B- The List of Top Nationalities in Poland

Flags

Poland is a major tourist destination. There are also people of many nationalities who live in Poland short-term as well as permanent residents. You can find the full list here. Below are the most notable of these nationalities in Polish: 

COUNTRYMALE NATIONALITYFEMALE NATIONALITY
1. Germany – NiemcyNiemiecNiemka
2. UK – Wielka BrytaniaBrytyjczykBrytyjka
3. Netherlands – HolandiaHolenderHolenderka
4. Austria – AustriaAustriakAustriaczka
5. Italy – WłochyWłochWłoszka
6. France – FrancjaFrancuzFrancuzka
7. Sweden – SzwecjaSzwedSzwedka
8. Denmark – DaniaDuńczykDunka
9. Belgium – BelgiaBelgBelgijka
10. Spain – HiszpaniaHiszpanHiszpanka
11. Ireland – IrlandiaIrlandczykIrlandka
12. Finland – FinlandiaFinFinka
13. Portugal – PortugaliaPortugalczykPortugalka
14. Greece – GrecjaGrekGreczynka
15. Ukraine – UkrainaUkrainiecUkrainka

Do you remember by now how to say these nationalities in Polish? What is your nationality in Polish? Let us know in the comments section. You can learn even more with our lesson on nationality and world countries.

C- Continents in Polish

Apart from knowing nationalities, it’s also good to learn about the names of continents in Polish: 

  • Europa – Europe

    Do you know our lesson on the Polish movie Europa, Europa?

  • Afryka – Africa

  • Azja – Asia

  • Ameryka Północna – North America

  • Ameryka Południowa – South America

  • Australia – Australia

  • Antarktyka – Antarctica

Learn other essential vocabulary related to this topic with our lesson World Continents and Territories

2. Asking About Nationalities

A Map

When you meet new people in Poland, it’s nice to be able to ask them about their nationality in Polish. Here are a few ways of doing it in both formal and informal context: 

  • Skąd pochodzisz? – Where are you from? (informal)

  • Skąd Pan/Pani pochodzi? – Where are you from, Mr/Mrs? (formal)

  • Z jakiego kraju pochodzisz? – Which country are you from? (informal)
  • Z jakiego kraju Pan/Pani pochodzi? – Which country are you from, Mr/Mrs? (formal)

  • Jaka jest twoja narodowość? – What’s your nationality? (informal)

  • Jaka jest Pańska/Pani narodowość? – What’s your nationality, Mr/Mrs? (formal)

  • Jak jest twoja narodowość po polsku? – What is your nationality in Polish? / How to say your nationality in Polish (informal)

  • Jak jest Pana/Pani narodowość po polsku? – What is your nationality in Polish, Mr/Mrs? / How to say your nationality in Polish, Mr/Mrs? (formal)

You can learn even more with our lesson “Talking nationality in Polish”. 

3. How to Tell Someone Your Nationality

Globe

There’s a number of structures used for speaking about nationalities in Polish:  

  • To jest + nominative – This is…

    Ex. To jest Polak. – This is a Pole.

    To jest Anglik. – This is an Englishman.

This phrase would be used rarely. A much more common structure is the one below:

  • The verb “być” (to be) + instrumental

    Ex. On jest / Jestem Polakiem. – He’s/I’m a Pole.

    On jest / Jestem Anglikiem. – He’s/I’m an English person.

    Having trouble conjugating the verb “to be” or other verbs in Polish? Use cooljugator!

Let’s have a look at some other possibilities: 

  • Pochodzę z Polski/Anglii/USA. – I come from Poland/England/USA.

  • Urodziłem/Urodziłam się w Polsce, ale większość życia spędziłem/spędziłam we Włoszech. – I was born in Poland, but I’ve spent most of my life in Italy.

    The first form is for male speakers, the second for female speakers. Find out more vocabulary related to speaking about where you live and where you were born with our lesson “Where in Poland do you live?

  • Jestem Belgiem, ale mieszkam w Anglii. – I’m Belgian, but I live in England.

  • Jestem pół Włochem, pół Francuzem. – I’m half Italian, half French.

  • Mam dwa paszporty. – I have two passports.

4. Cities and Languages

Warsaw

Apart from being able to speak about your nationality in Polish, you should also know how to speak about where you live and what languages you speak.

COUNTRYCAPITALMALE NATIONALITYFEMALE NATIONALITYLANGUAGE
Poland – Polska, (the official name: Republic of Poland – Rzeczpospolita Polska)Warsaw – WarszawaPolakPolkapolski
Germany – NiemcyBerlin – BerlinNiemiecNiemkaniemiecki
UK – Wielka BrytaniaLondon – LondynBrytyjczykBrytyjkaangielski
Netherlands – HolandiaAmsterdam – AmsterdamHolenderHolenderkaholenderski/
niderlandzki
Austria – AustriaVienna – WiedeńAustriakAustriaczkaniemiecki
Italy – WłochyRome – RzymWłochWłoszkawłoski
France – FrancjaParis – ParyżFrancuzFrancuzkafrancuski
Sweden – SzwecjaStockholm – SztokholmSzwedSzwedkaszwedzki
Denmark – DaniaCopenhagen – KopenhagaDuńczykDunkaduński
Belgium – BelgiaBrussels – BrukselaBelgBelgijkafrancuski, holenderski, niemiecki
Spain – HiszpaniaMadrid – MadrytHiszpanHiszpankahiszpański
Ireland – IrlandiaDublin – DublinIrlandczykIrlandkairlandzki, angielski
Finland – FinlandiaHelsinki – HelsinkiFinFinkafiński
Portugal – PortugaliaLisbon – LizbonaPortugalczykPortugalkaportugalski
Greece – GrecjaAthens – AtenyGrekGreczynkagrecki
Ukraine – UkrainaKyiv – KijówUkrainiecUkrainkaukraiński

To learn more European city names in Polish check out this list. Meanwhile, here are a few examples of structures to make sentences with the details from the table above:

  • Jestem Hiszpanem. Mieszkam w Madrycie, w Hiszpanii i mówię po hiszpańsku. – I’m Spanish. I live in Madrid in Spain and I speak Spanish.

    Do you prefer living in the city or living in the countryside? Click on the links to learn useful vocabulary around these topics.

  • być + [nationality] in the instrumental case – to be [nationality]

    Ex. Jestem Finem. – I’m Finnish.

    Ona jest Greczynką. – She’s Greek.

    On jest Irlandczykiem. – He’s Irish.

  • mieszkać w + [place] in the locative case (true for both the city and the country) – to live in [place]

    Ex. Mieszkam w Lizbonie. – I live in Lisbon.

    Długo już mieszkasz w Kijowie? – Have you been living in Kyiv long?

    On chce mieszkać w Rzymie. – He wants to live in Rome.

  • mówić po + Polish with the suffix -u – to speak Polish

    Ex. Mówię po angielsku. – I speak English.

    Nie mówimy po francusku. – We don’t speak French.

    Mówicie po niemiecku? – Do you speak German?

  • znać + Polish in the accusative case – to know Polish

    Ex. Znam włoski. – I speak Italian.

    Ona zna biegle szwedzki. – She speaks Swedish fluently.

    Wszyscy mówimy po hiszpańsku. – We all speak Spanish.

Speaking of languages, do you know how to ask “Do you speak Polish?”. If you feel like your Polish isn’t good enough yet, when in Poland you may want to ask someone “Do you speak English?”. 

5. Final Thoughts

What is your nationality in Polish? You should be able to answer this question after reading this blog post. You’ve learnt today many nationalities, names of countries, capitals as well as names of languages. You’ve also acquired the structures used for speaking about these things in Polish. These skills will help you communicate in Polish and make friends in this language.

Unfortunately, this isn’t enough, if you really want to speak Polish and be able to communicate in this language freely. A good way of structuring your learning and making sure that you know a lot of vocabulary, is finding a place where you can find structured information. You’re lucky, because PolishPod101 is exactly this kind of platform.

You can use countless recordings and video lessons as well as numerous additional resources to learn with us. Lessons are divided by levels and cover all the most important topics you could think of. Your learning is structured thanks to pathways designed according to the needs of each level of Polish fluency. Don’t hesitate and join PolishPod101 today!

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Must-Know Advanced Polish Phrases

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An important step in mastering Polish is learning how to form and use more advanced Polish phrases. Of course, you can learn a lot from various sources as you read, listen to, and speak the language. However, studying a handy list of expressions is a much faster way of improving your language skills.

In this article, we’ll outline a few key categories of advanced Polish vocabulary: academic phrases, words you can use on your resume, smart phrases to use in the business world, advanced conversational phrases in Polish, and idiomatic expressions often used by native speakers. Learning all of this will help your Polish sound much more natural and enable you to make a better impression on people.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Useful Phrases for Academic Writing
  2. Power Phrases for Your Resume
  3. Smart Phrases for Business Meetings
  4. Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
  5. Final Thoughts

1. Useful Phrases for Academic Writing

A Graduation Cap

Are you thinking about studying in Poland? If so, you’re going to need a specific set of vocabulary in order to sound sophisticated and ace your academic/formal writing. We recommend you start by memorizing the advanced Polish phrases below. 

  • Po pierwsze… Po drugie… Po trzecie (Firstly… Secondly… Thirdly)

    Po pierwsze to ważny temat. Po drugie mało się o nim mówi. Po trzecie to wciąż tabu w naszej kulturze.
    Firstly, it’s an important topic. Secondly, it’s not discussed enough. Thirdly, it’s still a taboo in our culture.
  • Należy zwrócić uwagę, że… (It’s important to note that…)

    Należy zwrócić uwagę, że nie wszyscy Polacy zgadzają się z tą postawą. 
    It’s important to note that not all Polish people agree with this attitude.
  • Jak się okazuje… (As it turns out…)

    Jak się okazuje to nie do końca prawda. 
    As it turns out, it’s not entirely true.
  • Zakładając, że (Assuming that…)

    Zakładając, że autor ma rację jest to poważny zarzut. 
    Assuming that the author is right, it’s a serious accusation.
  • Według autora… (According to the author…)

    Według autora nie jest to najlepsze rozwiązanie. 
    According to the author, it’s not the best solution.
  • Warto podkreślić… (One should emphasize…)

    Warto podkreślić, że to tylko teoria. 
    One should emphasize that it’s only a theory.
  • Można powiedzieć, że… (One could say that…)

    Można powiedzieć, że ludzie reagują w takich sytuacjach impulsywnie. 
    One could say that people react impulsively in such situations.
  • Nie ulega wątpliwości, że… (Undoubtedly…)

    Nie ulega wątpliwości, że to nie jest idealne rozwiązanie. 
    Undoubtedly, it isn’t a perfect solution.
  • Wbrew zdaniu… (Contrary to…)

    Wbrew zdaniu wielu osób to nie do końca prawda. 
    Contrary to what many people believe, it isn’t entirely true.
  • Mogłoby się wydawać… (One could conclude that…)

    Mogłoby się wydawać, że to definitywnie zakończy dyskusję. 
    One could conclude that it’s the end of this discussion.
  • Prawdopodobnie… (Probably…)

    Prawdopodobnie nigdy nie dowiemy się prawdy. 
    Probably, we’ll never learn the truth.
  • Ogólnie rzecz biorąc… (Generally speaking…)

    Ogólnie rzecz biorąc, tendencje destrukcyjne nie biorą się znikąd. 
    Generally speaking, destructive tendencies don’t appear out of nowhere.
  • Badania wskazują, że… (Research suggests that…)

    Badania wskazują, że u większości osób nie ma tej cechy. 
    Research suggests that most people don’t have this trait.
  • Dla przykładu warto przywołać… (As an example, one could mention…)

    Dla przykładu warto przywołać badania doktora Nowaka.
    As an example, one could mention the research conducted by Dr. Nowak.
  • Większość pytanych… (The majority of respondents…)

    Większość pytanych niechętnie wypowiada się na ten temat. 
    The majority of respondents are reluctant to discuss this subject.

Naturally, this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the advanced Polish words and phrases used in academic writing. However, the ones mentioned above can be extremely helpful when it comes to expressing yourself and ordering your thoughts. To broaden your vocabulary on this topic, visit our lesson on common terms in academic writing. Are you out of ideas on how to practice writing? We have a lesson about that, too!

2. Power Phrases for Your Resume 

A Resume

There are also some advanced Polish words and phrases you’ll need to know if you want to succeed in business contexts. The first step is to make your resume shine. Below are several phrases you should consider upgrading your resume with:

  • umiejętność radzenia sobie w trudnych sytuacjach 
    the ability to work under pressure
  • umiejętność pracy pod presją czasu 
    the ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • dobra organizacja pracy 
    the ability to work in an organized manner
  • umiejętność pracy w zespole 
    being a team player
  • umiejętność zarządzania czasem 
    time management skills
  • wysoka kultura osobista 
    impeccable manner
  • nastawienie na rozwój i realizację celów 
    career-driven and goal-oriented
  • umiejętność rozwiązywania konfliktów 
    being a conflict-resolver
  • umiejętność przystosowywania się do zmian 
    high adaptability
  • zdolność szybkiej i efektywnej nauki 
    fast and effective learner
  • umiejętność samodzielnej pracy 
    the ability to work independently
  • umiejętność wyznaczania priorytetów 
    the ability to prioritize tasks
  • biegła znajomość MS Excel 
    advanced use of Excel
  • zdolność zarządzania projektami 
    project management skills
  • szeroka wiedza z zakresu [X] 
    broad knowledge on the topic of [X]
    For example:
    szeroka wiedza z zakresu bankowości internetowej 
    broad knowledge on the topic of internet banking

Phrases like those above usually end up on your resume as bullet points. You could also mention these characteristics during a Polish job interview!

3. Smart Phrases for Business Meetings

A Business Meeting

People working in Polish offices use a lot of anglicisms. In order to communicate at an advanced level, it’s necessary that you’re able to understand the way they’re pronounced in Polish. To get you started, here are several advanced Polish conversational phrases, expressions, and words often used during business meetings:

  • ASAP / do zrobienia na wczoraj (things to be done ASAP)

    Ten projekt musi być wykonany ASAP. / Ten projekt jest do zrobienia na wczoraj. 
    This project should be completed ASAP.
  • brif / brief (brief)

    Jaki jest brif/brief? 
    What’s the brief?
  • dedlajn / deadline (deadline)

    Jaki jest dedlajn/deadline? 
    What’s the deadline?
  • dreskod / dress code (dress code)

    Jaki jest dreskod/dresscode w twojej firmie? 
    What’s the dress code in your company?
  • fakap / poważny problem (a serious problem)

    Mamy fakap. / Mamy poważny problem. 
    There’s a serious problem.
  • feedback / informacje zwrotne (feedback)

    Mamy feedback/informacje zwrotne od klienta? 
    Do we have the feedback from the client?
  • kol / call (call)

    Nie mogę, mam wtedy kola/calla z klientem. 
    I can’t do it; I have a call with the client then.
  • ołpenspejs / openspace (open-space)

    Nie lubię pracować w ołpenspejsie/openspace. 
    I don’t like working in an open-space office.
  • risercz / research (research)

    Muszę zrobić risercz/research. 
    I need to do some research.
  • target (target)

    On nie wyrabia targetów. 
    He doesn’t meet the targets.

These advanced conversational phrases in Polish will help you understand others and express yourself in the way that Polish people actually speak in the workplace. Here are some additional lessons that you may find useful:

Don’t forget to brush up on your business meeting etiquette and learn how to dress for one before you go to meet your Polish clients!

4. Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage

Another key group of advanced Polish phrases for learners aspiring to reach fluency consists of idioms, sayings, and proverbs. Here’s a list of the most common ones:

  • Wszystko jest na jedno kopyto. 
    Everything is (done) in the same way.
    Literally: Everything is (done) according to the same hoof.
  • Żadna praca nie hańbi. 
    No work is shameful.
  • To wisienka na torcie. 
    It’s a cherry on top.
  • Lepiej późno niż wcale. 
    Better late than never.
  • Połamania nóg! 
    Break a leg!
  • Ogarnij się! [slang]
    Get your act together!
  • O wilku mowa. 
    Speaking of the devil.
  • Nie ma co płakać nad rozlanym mlekiem. 
    Don’t cry over spilt milk.
  • Cisza przed burzą
    The calm before the storm
  • Nie wywołuj wilka z lasu. 
    Let sleeping dogs lie.

You’ll sound much more natural once you start using these advanced conversational phrases in Polish. If you’d like to learn more of them, have a look at the following lessons on PolishPod101.com:

You can also look for advanced Polish phrases in books and articles you read as well as listen for them when talking with native speakers. 

5. Final Thoughts

PolishPod101’s Logo

There are countless advanced Polish words and phrases you can learn to improve your language skills. Our list is a great place to start as you begin improving your Polish and leveling up. Above all, knowing these phrases will help you feel much more confident in your everyday life.

Unfortunately, no matter how many advanced Polish conversational phrases you memorize, there will always be other aspects of the language you’ll have to cover. The best thing you can do is get access to a tool that will help you learn advanced Polish in a well-structured way.

An amazing tool that will help you do exactly that is our platform, PolishPod101. There are countless audio and video recordings available to students of all levels. Our personalized pathways will help you work on the most relevant skills, no matter where you are on your learning journey. For advanced Polish lessons designed to help you reach your fluency goals, we recommend our Level 5 pathway. Apart from lessons, we also offer various vocabulary learning tools as well as MyTeacher (for Premium PLUS members). 

Don’t hesitate. Join us today!

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Handy Intermediate Polish Phrases

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Once you’ve mastered the beginner level of Polish, you can start learning useful intermediate Polish phrases. The benefit of learning entire phrases instead of just words is that you’ll become familiar with the natural patterns of speaking. This is important because, as an inexperienced learner, you run the risk of putting words together in a way that a native speaker never would.

But what is an intermediate level, and how can you know you’re already there? The intermediate stage is where you’re comfortable with all of the necessary “beginner” things but are not yet fluent in the language. You can speak the language enough to get around, but you often don’t have the right vocabulary or make frequent mistakes. 

There are many Polish phrases at the intermediate level that you should learn, but we recommend you start with the most handy ones. In this blog post, you’ll find out how to talk about past events, make and change plans, explain and list reasons, and much more.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Talking About Past Events
  2. Making and Changing Plans
  3. Explaining and Listing Reasons
  4. Making Recommendations and Complaints
  5. Reacting to Everyday Situations
  6. Etiquette Phrases in Social and Business Settings
  7. Final Thoughts

1. Talking About Past Events

People Having Fun at a Party

Being able to talk about past events is important when you’re talking with your friends and colleagues. In everyday conversations, it’s common for people to ask about how someone spent their weekend, holiday, or another notable day such as a religious or national celebration.

Here are some useful Polish phrases for intermediate students that you can use to talk about past events: 

  • Świetnie się bawiliśmy. – “We had a great time.”

  • Tańczyliśmy do białego rana. – “We danced until early in the morning.”

  • To było niesamowite doświadczenie! – “It was an amazing experience!”

  • Bardzo się wtedy bałam/bałem. – “I was really scared then.”
    • The first form is feminine, and the second is masculine.

  • To był najlepszy/najgorszy dzień w moim życiu. – “It was the best/worst day of my life.”

  • Kiedyś lubiłam/lubiłem czytać powieści romantyczne. – “I used to like reading romance novels.”
    • The first form is feminine, and the second is masculine.

  • Wypoczęliśmy na urlopie. – “We relaxed during our holiday.”

  • To bardzo bolało. – “It hurt a lot.”

What else could you talk about? Well, maybe about how you spent your last vacation or holiday! In Poland, for example, the first day of spring is a pretty big deal and often creates fond memories. Remember to take every opportunity to practice Polish by telling people about your experiences and asking them about theirs. It’s by speaking in real-life circumstances that you’ll improve your language skills.  

2. Making and Changing Plans

A Person with an Organizer

In business and social contexts alike, we all need to make—and sometimes even change—plans. Being able to suggest getting a beer or coffee with someone (and understanding when others ask us the same) is an important social skill.

Here are some useful intermediate Polish phrases for such situations: 

  • Masz czas w ten weekend? – “Do you have time this weekend?”

  • Masz ochotę na pizzę/piwo? – “Fancy a pizza/beer?”

  • Czy mogę kogoś ze sobą przyprowadzić? – “Can I bring someone with me?”

  • Możemy przełożyć nasze plany? – “Could we postpone our plans?”

  • Przepraszam, ale jutro jednak nie mogę. – “I’m sorry, but I can’t make it tomorrow, after all.”

  • Umówmy się na wtorek. – “Let’s meet up on Tuesday.”

As we stated above, being able to make plans is a key social skill. That’s why we have numerous lessons on this topic. Would you like some words and expressions to complement the intermediate Polish phrases you just saw? We recommend starting with these lessons:


3. Explaining and Listing Reasons

A Man Explaining Something

At this stage in your Polish studies, it’s equally important to learn how to explain and list reasons for doing (or not doing) something. This would come in handy, for example, in situations where someone was angry with you or where you had to explain a plan of action.

Here are some relevant Polish phrases for intermediate-level students:  

  • Zrobiłam/Zrobiłam to, ponieważ…
    “I did it because…”

[The first form is feminine, and the second is masculine.]

Zrobiłam/Zrobiłam to, ponieważ tak wypada. 
“I did it because it’s what’s expected.”

Zrobiłam/Zrobiłam to, ponieważ nie miałam wyjścia. 
“I did it because I had no choice.”

  • Myślę, że tak powinnam/powinienem postąpić. To dlatego…
    “I believe this is the right thing to do. That’s why…”

[The first form is feminine, and the second is masculine.]

Myślę, że tak powinnam/powinienem postąpić. To dlatego z wami rozmawiam. 
“I believe this is the right thing to do. That’s why we’re having this conversation.”

Myślę, że tak powinnam/powinienem postąpić. To dlatego zainwestuję pieniędze.
“I believe this is the right thing to do. That’s why I’ll invest my money.”

  • Mam ku temu trzy powody. Po pierwsze… po drugie… po trzecie…
    “I do it for three reasons. First of all… Secondly… Last but not least…”

Mam ku temu trzy powody. Po pierwsze to dobra inwestycja, po drugie pomogę społeczności, po trzecie to nowe miejsce pracy.
“I do it for three reasons. First of all, it’s a good investment. Secondly, I’ll help the community. Last but not least, it’ll create job opportunities.”

Mam ku temu trzy powody. Po pierwsze to dobry uczynek, po drugie nic mnie to nie kosztuje, po trzecie to komuś pomoże. 
“I do it for three reasons. First of all, it’s a good deed. Secondly, it costs me nothing. Last but not least, it’ll help someone.”

  • To dobry pomysł, bo…
    “It’s a good idea because…”

To dobry pomysł, bo zwiększy produktywność.
“It’s a good idea because it’ll increase productivity.”

To dobry pomysł, bo tak jest szybciej. 
“It’s a good idea because it’s faster that way.”

  • To nie ma sensu, dlatego że… 
    “It makes no sense because…”

To nie ma sensu, dlatego że szef nigdy się nie zgodzi. 
“It makes no sense because there’s no way that the CEO will agree.”

To nie ma sensu, dlatego że ludzie tego nie kupią. 
“It makes no sense because people won’t buy it. ”

You should also check out our lesson on giving reasons in Polish using żeby and bo. If your motivation to learn Polish gets low at any point, remember that you can get it back with our lesson on the top five reasons to study Polish

4. Making Recommendations and Complaints

An Influencer Reviewing a Product

Other essential intermediate Polish phrases are those used for making recommendations or complaints. Here are just a few to get you started:

  • Powinieneś/Powinnaś tego spróbować! – “You should try this.”

  • To najlepsza/najlepszy/najlepsze [food], jaki jadłem/jadłam. – “It’s the best [food] I’ve ever eaten.”

    The first form of the verb jeść is feminine, and the second is masculine. The word najlepszy is in the feminine, masculine, and neuter forms, respectively.

  • To najlepsza/najlepszy/najlepsze [drink], jaki piłam/piłem. – “It’s the best [drink] I’ve ever drunk.”

    The first form of the verb pić is feminine, and the second is masculine. The word najlepszy is in the feminine, masculine, and neuter forms, respectively.

  • Bardzo nam się tam podobało. – “We really liked it there.”

  • Na pewno tam wrócimy. – “We’ll definitely come back.”

  • Zła obsługa klienta. – “Bad customer service.”

  • Niedobre jedzenie. – “Bad food.”

  • Nie polecam. – “I don’t recommend it.”

  • Odradzam wizytę. – “I discourage you from visiting.”

You should also check out our other lessons on complaining:

Complaining is important when it’s called for. However, it can be easy to overdo it! If you feel you complain too much, you may want to consider implementing some tips on how to complain less and be happier

5. Reacting to Everyday Situations

A Surprised Child

Being able to react to certain situations like a native speaker is another important skill. Here are some useful intermediate Polish phrases to help you express your amazement or disappointment: 

  • Super! / Ekstra! / Rewelacja! – “Awesome!”

  • Serio? / Naprawdę? / No co ty? – “Really?”

  • Nie żartuj! / Nie rób sobie jaj! / Bez jaj! – “You can’t be serious!”

    The first phrase is the most neutral one. The other two could be considered slightly vulgar by some people.

  • O matko! / O jezu!  – “Oh my goodness!”

    Some people could consider the second form sacrilegious, even though it’s commonly used.

  • Łał! – “Wow!”

    Are you surprised to see this one on the list? Anglicisms in Polish are quite common. These are words borrowed from English and used in Polish, sometimes modified and sometimes not.
  • To jest naprawdę super / ekstra / fajne! – “It’s really cool!”

  • Żałuję, że mnie tam nie było. – “I regret not being there.”

  • Masakra! / Koszmar! / Daj spokój! – “What a nightmare!”

It’s also important to know how to use such phrases in real life. A good idea is to just listen and try to pick up on what sort of phrases the Polish people around you use. Don’t have any Polish friends? No problem! Try watching series or movies!

Here’s a sample dialogue showing you how you might use the phrases provided above:

A: Świetnie się bawiliśmy. – “We had a great time.” 

B: Super! Żałuję, że mnie tam nie było. – “Great! I regret not being there.”

6. Etiquette Phrases in Social and Business Settings

People Shaking Hands

Politeness is extremely important across languages and cultures. In order not to offend anyone, you have to know the basic rules of wherever you are. Here are some polite Polish phrases for intermediate students: 

  • Smacznego! – “Bon appétit.”

  • Witamy! – “Welcome!”

  • Czy chciałabyś/chciałbyś coś do picia/jedzenia? – “Would you like something to drink/eat?”

    The first form of the verb chcieć is feminine, and the second is masculine.

  • Czuj się jak u siebie w domu. / Rozgość się. – “Please make yourself at home.”

  • Masz jakieś pytania? – “Do you have any questions?”

  • Czy mogę jakoś pomóc? – “Can I help you?”

  • Nie mogę się doczekać! – “I can’t wait!”

  • Spokojnej podróży! – “Have a safe trip!”

  • Udanych wakacji! – “Have a good holiday!”

Another important thing you should be able to do in Polish is refuse politely. We’re all allowed to have our preferences, but a simple “no” (nie) is as rude in Poland as anywhere else. 

Having said that, there are certain cultural differences between politeness in Polish and English. Sometimes good manners may be lost in translation, so try to consider the context before getting offended. 

7. Final Thoughts

Learning a language is a long journey, and memorizing Polish phrases at the intermediate level can definitely help you along the way. You just need to practice real-life conversations using the phrases we introduced today, and you’ll quickly notice an improvement in your speaking and listening skills.

Which of these intermediate phrases in Polish are you looking forward to using the most? Perhaps there’s one you’ve already heard? Let us know in the comments!

Unfortunately, no matter how handy or commonly used certain phrases are, they’re not enough on their own. To truly learn a language, you need to practice your speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. You should also be patient; your understanding of Polish won’t improve overnight. The best way to improve your Polish is to use a tool designed specifically for language learning.

Fortunately, there’s PolishPod101, a platform where you can get a lot of exposure to how the Polish language is spoken. It’s full of video and audio recordings of native Polish speakers, and you’ll also find many other functionalities to help you learn the language. Explore our different subscription plans and create your free lifetime account with PolishPod101 today.

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Listen and Learn: The Best Polish-Language Podcasts in 2022

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Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular as a source of both entertainment and knowledge acquisition. They can also be used as a language learning tool! Yes, you can benefit from listening to Polish-language podcasts designed specifically for students of the language as well as those made for native Polish speakers. 

A massive benefit of podcasts is that you can find a wide variety of them. They’re also rather easy to fit into your schedule, as they can be played on numerous devices and in various circumstances. 

Are you ready to learn how to improve your Polish listening skills and vocabulary with podcasts?

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Benefits of Using Podcasts to Learn Polish
  2. The Best Podcasts for Learning Polish
  3. Using Podcasts Effectively
  4. Final Words

1. Benefits of Using Podcasts to Learn Polish 

A Boy with Headphones On

As mentioned earlier, there are many benefits of using podcasts to learn Polish. Here are the most important ones: 

  1. Exposure to the real language

Listening to podcasts in Polish will allow you to learn the language as it’s spoken by Poles. With the exception of Polish-language podcasts designed specifically for language learners and recorded at a slower pace, most of them employ natural conversation speed. Whichever type of podcast you end up listening to, the vocabulary used will be very natural—a tremendous help in the language learning process.

  1. Widespread availability

Podcasts are available on many different platforms, easy to find with a quick search on the internet, and cover a wealth of topics. This will make it easy for you to find a podcast that interests you! Keep in mind that you’ll sometimes be able to access a podcast for free but need to pay for the transcript. Don’t get discouraged, though; even mere listening can help you improve your listening comprehension skills.   

  1. “On the go” listening

You can listen to podcasts on the go, which means it’s easy to squeeze them into your routine. You can listen while driving, running, cleaning, or standing in line. Let us know in the comments if you can think of any other situations where listening to a podcast would be a great use of time. 

2. The Best Podcasts for Learning Polish

You now know some of the reasons why podcasts can enhance your learning experience. There are plenty more we haven’t mentioned, but you’ll definitely discover those for yourself. Now, let’s look at our list of the best Polish-language podcasts for learners.

1 – PolishPod101

PolishPod101 Logo

PolishPod101 is a podcast designed specifically for Polish learning. Created and hosted by professionals, our lesson materials are great for students who are just starting out. At the same time, intermediate students can benefit from our podcast as we also provide more advanced lesson pathways. We discuss a wide variety of topics, which ensures that every moment you spend listening is a pleasure. New episodes are released a few times per month.  

2 – Real Polish

This is another podcast aimed at Polish learners, and it’s designed for students who are at the intermediate level or higher. The pace is slightly slower than a natural speaking pace, but it would still be challenging for beginners. It covers a diverse range of topics so that everyone can find an interesting episode for themselves. Like with many other Polish podcasts, free listening is an option. New episodes are released almost every week, but some of them are subscription-only.  

3 – Polski Daily 

Polski Daily is a podcast started by an experienced Polish teacher. Some of the recordings are interviews, but there are many other types of recordings as well. The topics vary and can relate to pretty much anything Polish, so it’s a Polish learning podcast with a twist. The slower pace is great for intermediate students or very ambitious beginners. You can expect between one and three episodes every month.

Are you interested in Polish culture? You can learn about the top five Polish pop culture icons and find out the answers to five important questions about Poland on our website!

4 – Sensacje XX wieku

Polish Soldiers

This Polish history podcast is really a radio play about fascinating events from the twentieth century. It’s available on many platforms, but it’s easiest to access from the author’s official website. Because of the history-related vocabulary, it’s best suited for upper-intermediate and advanced students. There are no new uploads for this podcast, but the library is extensive. Remember that you can also learn your Polish history with our lessons!

5 – Kryminatorium

This is one of the most popular Polish podcasts. It deals with many historical events around the world, particularly those involving crime. With plenty of episodes about true crime, this Polish history podcast is a perfect tool for upper-intermediate and advanced students who want to work on their listening comprehension skills. There’s a new episode almost every week, so you’ll never run out of things to listen to.

6 – Strefa Psyche Uniwersytetu SWPS 

Therapy

This is another well-known podcast, and it aims to popularize psychology. It covers interesting topics related to mental health and can help people deal with their life issues. We recommend this podcast for intermediate students in particular. Like many Polish podcasts on Spotify, it’s free. The number of episodes released each month differs, but you can count on new content being uploaded regularly. 

Mental health is just as important as general health. When you’re in Poland, it’s crucial that you’re able to take care of yourself when it comes to both. Here are some lessons from PolishPod101.com that should help you with this task: 


7 – Ja i moje przyjaciółki idiotki

This podcast is not only useful for language learning but also for entertainment. Its main topics are love, relationships, and dating. It’ll work well for intermediate students, and it’s available for free on Spotify. New episodes are uploaded fairly regularly, with at least one new episode every month (save for announced breaks in recording).

Love and related issues are as important to Polish people as they are to anyone. Check out our vocabulary lessons about a Polish wedding and romance and love in Poland.   

8 – Let’s Speak Polish

This is a pretty good Polish podcast for beginners or those who want to refresh their memory on key grammar points. The library is small and no longer updated, but it’ll allow you to work on your basic Polish skills. 

Alternatively, you could head straight to our Basic Bootcamp library, where you’ll find everything you need to have a basic Polish conversation. 

3. Using Podcasts Effectively

A Man Walking with His Headphones On

Passive listening will definitely improve your language skills, but there are ways to use podcasts more effectively. For the best results, you should complement your passive listening with a more focused approach. For example, you could write down new vocabulary and check the meaning of words/phrases that you don’t understand.

Another good way to use podcasts for language learning is to get used to a particular method. This is where a structured, widely available, and regularly updated podcast like PolishPod101 comes in handy! We give you access to countless recordings designed by experts to help improve your Polish skills, regardless of your current level. In addition, we have specially curated lesson pathways that include useful tools for enhanced learning: vocabulary lists, PDF lesson notes, and more. You’ll love listening to our bite-sized lessons and learning something new every day. 

In case you don’t quite catch something, you can rewind to listen again. This method is great for patient beginners. If you don’t get frustrated by listening to something over and over again, you can pause and rewind during more complicated podcasts. You can also listen without focusing too much and just catch the words you already know. This will help your listening comprehension just as much! 

Many devices allow you to adjust the audio speed for an optimal learning experience if you feel that the pace is too fast or too slow. While beginners and intermediate learners should mostly focus on understanding from the context anyway, it can definitely help to slow down the audio speed if the podcast hosts are going too fast! 

If you’re struggling to follow along, you can use transcripts. Reading the text while you listen is a great way to improve your comprehension skills. PolishPod101 allows you to access transcripts with each lesson, but not all podcasts will do this. 

4. Final Words 

Learning Polish is a long journey, and you can make it much nicer by listening to Polish podcasts in your spare time. You should look for podcasts that interest you in order to get the most out of the experience. The good news is that there are so many Polish-language podcasts out there on a huge number of topics! 

Unfortunately, no matter how interesting a given podcast is, it can’t give you everything you need to learn a language. A great way to improve your language skills is to invest in a full-access platform with well-structured lessons and resources designed for your level. 

PolishPod101 is exactly that kind of platform. With countless recordings from native speakers and a wealth of other resources (such as a word of the day and a Polish-English dictionary), we can significantly bolster your Polish learning. Curated pathways will allow you to access materials at the level you need.

Don’t hesitate. Join PolishPod101 today!

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The Most Useful Polish Phrases for Beginners

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When you start learning a new language, there is so much vocabulary to memorize that it may feel overwhelming. That’s why it’s a good idea to focus on the simple and essential words and phrases first. Without a proper study plan, though, you may simply get lost. 

How do you know which phrases to learn? What are the most important Polish expressions to know before having your first conversations? 

In this blog post, you’re going to encounter the most useful Polish beginner phrases in a number of categories: 

  • Greetings and introductions
  • Courtesy phrases and social expressions
  • Dining and shopping phrases
  • Expressions needed for getting help
  • Polish love phrases

Let’s dive in.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Greetings and Introductions
  2. Courtesy Phrases and Social Expressions
  3. Dining and Shopping Phrases
  4. Asking for Help
  5. Polish Love Phrases for Beginners
  6. Final Thoughts

1. Greetings and Introductions

Two People Bowing to Say Hello

The most important Polish phrases for beginners include greetings and expressions for introducing yourself, so we’ll start there. 

Greetings

Here are some suggestions on how to say “hello” in Poland: 

  • Dzień dobry! – Good morning!
  • Dobry wieczór! – Good evening!

Both of the phrases above are used in formal contexts, such as when dealing with strangers or people who are older than you. This next one is more casual, used to say hello (or goodbye) at any time of day

  • Cześć! – Hello! / Goodbye!

Just like in English, you may also want to ask someone how they’re doing: 

  • Jak się masz? / Co słychać? – How are you? 

This is mostly used among friends, and people give more involved answers than “I’m fine, thanks” (Dobrze, dzięki). It’s rarely used in formal contexts.  

Introductions

Now, here are some useful Polish beginner phrases often used in introductions and first conversations: 

  • Miło mi Cię poznać. / Miło mi Pana poznać. / Miło mi Panią poznać. – Nice to meet you. 

The forms above are informal, formal to a male speaker, and formal to a female speaker, respectively.

  • Nazywam się… – My name is…
  • Jestem [name]/[nationality]. – I’m [name]/[nationality].
    • Ex. Jestem John. Jestem Anglikiem. – I’m John. I’m English.

  • Pochodzę z Poland. – I come from Poland. 
    • Ex. Pochodzę z Anglii. – I come from England.

  • Mieszkam w… – I live in… 
  • Mam [number] lat. – I’m [number] years old. 
    • Ex. Mam 20 lat. – I’m 20 years old.

Note: The word “years” in Polish can take different forms. Consult this resource to learn how and when to use which form. It’s pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.

  • Jestem mężatką/żonaty. – I’m married. 

Traditionally, the first form is used by female speakers; it literally means “I’m husbanded.” The second form is used by male speakers, and it means “I’m wifed.”

  • Mam [X] dzieci. – I have [X] children. 
    • Ex. Mam dwoje dzieci. – I have two children.
  • Jestem niezamężna. / Jestem kawalerem. – I’m unmarried. 

Traditionally, the first form is used by female speakers; it literally means “I’m unhusbanded.” The second form is used by male speakers, and it means “I’m a bachelor.”

  • Nie mam dzieci. – I don’t have kids. 
  • Mam rodzeństwo. – I have siblings.
  • Nie mam rodzeństwa. – I have no siblings. 
  • Mam brata. – I have a brother.
  • Mam siostrę. – I have a sister.

To learn more must-know terms for family members, visit our lesson on the topic. 

2. Courtesy Phrases and Social Expressions

A Man Acknowledging Someone by Taking His Hat Off]

Politeness is an important skill for dealing with other people, no matter where you live. There may be some cultural differences, but people generally agree when it comes to what’s polite and what isn’t. Here are some important Polish phrases for beginners that will help you come across as a well-mannered person: 

  • Dziękuję. – Thank you. 
  • Dzięki. – Thanks. 
  • Nie ma za co. – You’re welcome. – Literally: “There’s not for what.”
  • Przepraszam. – I’m sorry. / Excuse me. 
  • Nie ma problemu. – No problem! – Literally: “There’s no problem!”
  • Przykro mi. – I’m sorry. 

You might use that last expression if something bad happened to someone. If you’re the wrongdoer, you would more likely say przepraszam.

  • Nie przejmuj się. – Don’t worry. [informal]
  • Proszę się tym nie przejmować. – Please, don’t worry. [formal]
  • Do zobaczenia! – See you! 
  • Powodzenia! – Good luck! 
  • Dobranoc! – Goodnight! 
  • Trzymaj się! – Take care! – Literally: “Hold on!”  

Speaking of politeness, do you know how to refuse politely in Polish? Check out our lesson to learn more about it.

3. Dining and Shopping Phrases

A Shopping Cart

Another important group of Polish beginner phrases consists of those used for dining and shopping. 

Let’s start with shopping expressions:

  • Przepraszam, czy mogę poprosić o… – Excuse me, can I get/ask for…
  • Przepraszam, czy sprzedajecie Państwo…? – Excuse me, do you sell…? 
  • Przepraszam, ile to kosztuje? – Excuse me, how much is this?
  • Przepraszam, czy może Pan/Pani powtórzyć? – Could you repeat, please?
  • Czy można płacić kartą? – Is a credit card okay?
  • Czy można płacić gotówką? – Is cash okay?
  • Poproszę [amount] ziemniaków. – I’ll have [amount] of potatoes, please.
    • Ex. Poproszę pięć kilo ziemniaków. – I’ll have five k.g. of potatoes, please.

If you like shopping, you may want to visit these lessons: 

Shopping for an Outfit in Poland
Shopping Online in Poland
Shopping for a Computer in Poland

A list of basic Polish phrases for beginners couldn’t be complete without expressions for ordering a meal in a restaurant. Here goes: 

  • Co Pan/Pani poleca? – What do you recommend? 
    • Said to a male and female waiter, respectively
  • Mam alergię na pomidory. – I’m allergic to tomatoes. 
  • Poproszę piwo w butelce. – A bottle of beer, please. 
  • Poproszę czerwone/białe wino. – Red/white wine, please. 
  • Nie, dziękuję. – No, thank you.
  • Tak, poproszę. – Yes, please. 
  • Poproszę rachunek. – Could I have the bill, please?

If you feel like you need more vocabulary for ordering lunch at a restaurant in Poland, make sure to visit our lesson. Knowing how to order is one thing…but knowing what to order is another. Here are 10 of the best Polish foods for you to try during your next visit to Poland.  

4. Asking for Help

A Public Servant Helping Someone

Life is unpredictable, and you may sometimes find yourself in trouble. These basic Polish phrases for beginners could come in handy if you ever need to ask for help.  

  • Przepraszam, gdzie jest [place]? – Excuse me, where is [place]? 
    • Ex. Przepraszam, gdzie jest toaleta? – Excuse me, where is the bathroom?

  • Przepraszam, jak dojść do [place]? – Excuse me, how do I get to [place]? 
    • Ex. Przepraszam, jak dojść do muzeum? – Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?
  • Przepraszam, czy mówi Pani/Pan po angielsku? – Excuse me, do you speak English? 
    • Used in a formal context when speaking to a male and female, respectively

  • Jak powiedzieć [word] po polsku? – How do you say [word] in Polish? 
    • Ex. Jak powiedzieć “cow” po polsku? – How do you say “cow” in Polish?

  • Przepraszam, ale nie rozumiem. – I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. 
  • Czy może Pan/Pani mówić wolniej? – Could you speak slower, please? 
    • Used in a formal context when speaking to a male and female, respectively

  • Co znaczy słowo [word]? – What does the word [word] mean? 
    • Ex. Co znaczy słowo “dom”? – What does the word “dom” mean?

If there’s no one around to help you understand a word, you can always use an online Polish-English dictionary. Having the website bookmarked on your phone or computer will allow you easy access whenever you need it.

  • Potrzebuję pomocy. – I need help. 
  • Potrzebuję lekarza. – I need a doctor. 
  • Pomocy! – Help!

These Polish beginner phrases are useful for getting help in many different situations. In case of an emergency, you may need to know the phone numbers of certain services (police, fire brigade, ambulance). You can find them here.

For less serious circumstances, such as simply needing help with language learning, we have a special lesson for getting help from the teacher in Poland.

5. Polish Love Phrases for Beginners

Book Pages in the Form of a Heart

Many people start learning Polish because they’ve fallen in love with a Polish person. Here are some Polish love phrases for beginners that you may want to whisper into someone’s ear: 

  • Kocham Cię! – I love you!
  • Tak bardzo Cię kocham! – I love you so much!
  • Poza Tobą świata nie widzę! – You mean the world to me! – Literally: “I don’t see the world apart from you.”

6. Final Thoughts

Learning Polish beginner phrases is a great way to start studying Polish. Being able to greet people, introduce yourself, show politeness, go out shopping or to dinner, and ask for help when required will cover the communication basics as you’re starting out. Memorizing these phrases will also help you gain some confidence in your ability to use the language.

If your plan is to speak Polish at an advanced or native level, this won’t be enough. You’ll need to learn much more vocabulary at different proficiency levels, including intermediate and advanced phrases. You should also practice your listening comprehension in order to more clearly understand what others are saying.

One way to hear a lot of Polish is to listen to the countless recordings we offer on PolishPod101.com. We provide lessons and study materials for learners at every level, which means you’ll have a comprehensive learning process from start to finish. In addition, our personalized pathways will allow you to get resources designed for your current level of Polish. 

Are you curious how it works? Don’t hesitate. Create your free lifetime account today!

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Advanced Polish Words for Experienced Learners

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On your way to Polish language mastery, you’ll need to memorize and learn how to use advanced Polish words. This stage usually occurs a few years into your Polish-language studies, once you’re able to understand fairly complex conversations and talk about a variety of topics.

What you’re missing at this point are more advanced words and phrases that allow you to speak freely about topics such as studies, university matters, politics, or medicine. In this blog post, you’ll find an advanced Polish word list along with certain phrases and examples of use.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Polish Table of Contents
  1. Advanced Academic Words
  2. Advanced College Vocabulary
  3. Advanced Business Words
  4. Advanced Medical Words
  5. Advanced Legal Words
  6. Advanced Political Vocabulary
  7. Final Thoughts

1. Advanced Academic Words

An Academic

The first set of advanced Polish words we’ll look at consists of terms related to academia. Learning these words will help you engage in more complicated conversations, discuss a greater variety of topics, and excel while studying at a Polish university. Here are the most important words and expressions in this category: 

Word or expressionPart of speechExample Translation
wysławiać się 
to articulate / to express oneself 
verbOn pięknie się wysławia. He has a way with words.
założenie 
assumption / objective
nounZałożeniem tego eseju jest omówienie tej problematyki.The objective of this essay is to discuss this problem.
stały 
constant
adjectiveStały wzrost gospodarczy dobrze wróży.Constant economic growth is a good sign.
dyskutować 
to debate 
verbNie mam ochoty o tym dyskutować. I don’t feel like debating it.
zbierać 
to collect / to gather
verbZbieramy dane na temat tego miasta. We’re collecting data about the city.
prowadzić 
to lead to 
verbTo prowadzi do deficytu. It leads to a deficit.
odpowiedni 
suitable / adequate
adjectiveSzukamy odpowiedniego kandydata.We’re looking for a suitable candidate.
szczegółowy 
detailed 
adjectiveJego raport jest szczegółowy.His report is detailed.
rozsądny 
reasonable
adjectiveOna jest bardzo rozsądna. She’s very reasonable.
subtelny 
subtle 
adjectiveMożna zauważyć subtelną tendencje spadkową. One can notice a subtle downward trend.
prawdopodobny 
likely
adjectiveTen scenariusz jest prawdopodobny.Such a development is likely.
nieprawdopodobny
improbable 
adjectiveTe wyniki są zupełnie nieprawdopodobne. These results are completely improbable.
dosłownie 
literally
adverbNie bierz tego dosłownie. You shouldn’t take it literally.
mimo że 
even though 
conjunctionMimo że się z nim nie zgadzam, nie powiem mu tego.Even though I disagree with him, I won’t tell him that.
w tym przypadku 
in this case 
conjunctionW tym przypadku to dobre rozwiązanie. In this case, it’s a good solution.
chyba że 
unless 
conjunctionPowiedz jej, chyba że się boisz. Tell her, unless you’re scared.
niemniej jednak 
nonetheless 
conjunctionNiemniej jednak, to ważny argument.Nonetheless, it’s an important point.
co więcej 
what’s more
conjunctionOn jest wykształcony. Co więcej, ma doświadczenie.He’s educated. What’s more, he’s experienced.
jako 
as 
conjunctionPracuję jako zastępca nauczyciela angielskiego.He works as a replacement for the English teacher.
mimo / pomimo 
despite 
conjunctionWypił herbatę mimo bólu gardła. He drank his tea despite his sore throat.
jeśli chodzi o 
as for 
conjunctionJeśli chodzi o moje referencje, to może Pan zadzwonić do mojego szefa.As for my references, you can contact my boss.
podczas gdy 
while 
conjunctionPodczas gdy ty odpoczywasz, ja pracuję. While you’re resting, I’m working.
spierać się
to argue 
verbNie będę się z Tobą spierać. I won’t argue with you.
wnioskować 
to conclude 
verbZ twojej odpowiedzi wnioskuję, że nie masz czasu. I conclude from your answer that you have no time.
dowód 
evidence 
nounNie ma dowodu na to, że Twoja teoria jest poprawna. There’s no evidence that your theory is true.

These advanced Polish vocabulary words will also help you when giving a speech or watching the news. Speaking of news, do you know how to react when getting some good news in Poland?  

2. Advanced College Vocabulary

A University Lecture

As an advanced student of Polish, you may want to study in Poland. If that’s so, you should check our lesson on looking for an apartment in Poland; finding accommodation is so much easier when you know the right words. College- and university-related vocabulary is also very useful when talking about your education. 

Here are the most important advanced Polish words and phrases related to this topic: 

Word or expressionPart of speechExample Translation
wykład 
lecture 
nounIdę na wykład.  I’m going to attend a lecture.
wykładowca (m.) / wykładowczyni (f.)

lecturer 
nounMój wykładowca / Moja wykładowczyni od literatury angielskiej jest super. My English literature lecturer is really cool.
sala wykładowa 
auditorium 
nounW sali wykładowej nie było już miejsc. There were no seats left in the auditorium.
praca licencjacka / praca magisterska 
BA thesis / MA thesis 
noun
Niedługo skończę pisać moją pracę magisterską. I’ll finish writing my MA thesis soon.
zajęcia 
class

Note: Polish universities usually have a mixture of classes in small groups and lectures.
nounChyba spóźnię się na zajęcia. 
I think I’ll be late for class.
lista obecności
attendance list 
nounWykładowca nie sprawdził listy obecności.  The lecturer didn’t check the attendance list.
ocena 
grade 
nounMam dobre oceny.I have good grades. 
średnia 
GPA 
nounMoja średnia jest niska.My GPA is low.
stypendium 
scholarship
noun
Potrzebne mi stypendium, aby przeżyć. I need the scholarship to make ends meet.
studia dzienne 
full-time studies 
nounDostałam się na studia dzienne! I’ve gotten in as a full-time student!
studia wieczorowe / studia zaoczne 
part-time studies 
nounStudia wieczorowe łatwiej pogodzić z pracą. It’s easier to work and study during part-time studies.
skończyć studia 
to graduate 
verb + nounNiedługo skończę studia. I will graduate soon.
absolwent 
graduate 
nounAbsolwentom nie łatwo znaleźć pracę. It’s not easy for graduates to find work.
staż 
internship 
nounMusisz znaleźć staż. You have to find an internship.
wymiana studencka 
student exchange / exchange program 
nounErasmus to świetna wymiana studencka. Erasmus is a great exchange program.
studiować 
to study

Note: This verb is only used in reference to studying at a university/in college. 
verbOn studiuje na Uniwersytecie Warszawskim.He’s a student at the University of Warsaw.
przygotowywać się do 
to study for an exam 
verbOn przygotowuje się do egzaminu. He’s preparing for an exam.
zdać 
to pass 
verbZdaliśmy egzamin!We’ve passed the exam.
oblać 
to fail 
verbNiestety oblałem ten egzamin.Unfortunately, I’ve failed this exam.
oblać kogoś 
to fail someone on an exam 
verbProszę mnie nie oblewać! Please don’t fail me! 
podejść do egzaminu 
to take an exam 
verbPodeszliśmy do egzaminu dwa razy. We’ve taken this exam twice.
poprawka 
retake 
nounPoprawka odbędzie się we wrześniu.The retake will take place in September.
zjazd absolwentów 
graduate reunion 
nounNie mam zamiaru iść na zjazd absolwentów. I have no intention of participating in the graduate reunion. 

This advanced Polish word list for college and university will allow you to have interesting conversations with people. It can also come in handy when talking about your university experience during a Polish job interview

3. Advanced Business Words

People Shaking Hands

Now that you’re an advanced Polish student, you may also be thinking about finding a job in Poland. Performing your job there or dealing with Polish clients will be much easier if you know some advanced-level Polish words for the workplace.

Word or expressionPart of speechExample Translation
dział 
department 
nounPracuję w dziale personalnym.  I work in the HR department.
siedziba 
headquarters 
nounSiedziba tej firmy jest w Warszawie. This company is headquartered in Warsaw.
zwolnienie 
dismissal 
nounJeśli nie zacznie pracować, czeka go zwolnienie. If he doesn’t start working, he can expect a dismissal.
zwolnić 
to fire / to dismiss 
verbOni go nigdy nie zwolnią. They’ll never fire him.
zwolnić się / złożyć wypowiedzenie 
to resign 
verbZwolnię się / Złożę wypowiedzenie, jeśli nic się nie zmieni. I’ll resign if nothing changes.
dochody 
turnover / revenue 
nounDochody mojej firmy są wysokie. My company has a high revenue.
wynagrodzenie 
fee / salary 
nounMoim zdaniem to wygórowane wynagrodzenie. In my opinion, the fee is too high.
ubezpieczenie (zdrowotne) 
health insurance 
nounWynagrodzenie jest dobre, ale firma nie oferuje ubezpieczenia.The salary is good, but the company doesn’t offer health insurance.
benefity 
perks 
nounLiczę na jakieś benefity w tej firmie. I’m hoping for some perks in this company.
oferta pracy 
job offer 
nounTo atrakcyjna oferta pracy. It’s an attractive job offer.
rynek
pracy job market 
nounRynek pracy jest słaby.The job market is weak.
złożyć podanie (o pracę) 
to apply (for a job) 
verbZłożył do nas podanie o pracę. He’s applied for a job with us.
zatrudnić 
to hire 
verbZatrudnimy tylko odpowiedniego kandydata. We’ll only hire the right candidate. 
umowa o pracę 
work contract 
nounJutro kończy mi się umowa o pracę.My work contract finishes tomorrow.
umowa o dzieło 
work contract for contractors 
nounNie jestem freelancerem, ale mam umowę o dzieło. I’m not a freelancer, but I have a work contract for contractors.
praca na cały etat 
full-time job 
nounMamy pracę na cały etat. We have a full-time job. 
praca na pół etatu 
part-time job 
nounPracuję na pół etatu i studiuję. I have a part-time job, and I study.
podróż służbowa 
business trip 
nounOna jest ciągle w podróży służbowej.She’s always traveling for work.
urlop macierzyński / urlop tacierzyński
maternity leave / paternity leave 
nounW Polsce urlop macierzyński trwa rok, a tacierzyński dwa tygodnie.In Poland, maternity leave is a year long and paternity leave is two weeks long.
urlop (wypoczynkowy) 
leave 
nounIdę na urlop.I’m going on leave.
chorobowe 
sick leave
nounJestem na chorobowym. I’m on sick leave.
zwolnienie lekarskie 
doctor’s note 
nounPrzy dwóch dniach nieobecności potrzebne ci zwolnienie lekarskie. When you’re absent for two days, you need a doctor’s note.
marka 
brand 
nounUwielbiam tę markę!I love this brand! 
znak towarowy
trademark 
nounZnak towarowy jest zastrzeżony. It’s a registered trademark.

In addition to these more advanced Polish words and phrases, make sure that you have the basic vocabulary for jobs / work covered too!

4. Advanced Medical Words

People in a Pharmacy

Being able to talk about diseases and medical conditions is an important skill for advanced students to possess. Such topics come up in everyday conversations and when reading the news. Here’s a list of advanced Polish vocabulary words related to medicine: 

Word or expressionPart of speechExample Translation
stany lękowe 
anxiety disorder 
nounCierpię na stany lękowe.I have an anxiety disorder.
depresja 
depression 
nounOn ma depresje. He suffers from depression.
zaburzenia dwubiegunowe 
bipolar disorder 
nounZaburzenia dwubiegunowe to choroba, która dotyka wiele osób.Bipolar disorder is a mental illness many people suffer from.
antydepresanty 
antidepressants 
nounOn bierze antydepresanty.He’s on antidepressants.
pomoc psychologiczna
psychological help 
nounW Polsce coraz łatwiej o pomoc psychologiczną.It’s easier and easier to get psychological help in Poland.
lekarz pierwszego kontaktu 
GP 
nounSkontaktowałam się z moim lekarzem pierwszego kontaktu.I’ve contacted my GP.
dermatolog
dermatologist 
nounMój syn chce zostać dermatologiem.My son wants to be a dermatologist.
okulista 
optometrist 
nounOkulista bada wzrok.An optometrist checks your eyesight.
kardiolog 
cardiologist 
nounKardiolog leczy choroby serca. A cardiologist treats heart conditions.
laryngolog 
ENT 
nounLaryngolog pomoże z problemami z uszami, nosem i gardłem.An ENT can help you with ear, nose, and throat issues.
dietetyk 
dietician 
nounDietetyk może zaplanować twoją dietę.A dietician can plan your diet.
wizyta 
a doctor’s appointment 
nounUmówiłam Cię na wizytę u dentysty na jutro.I’ve booked you a dentist appointment for tomorrow.
zbadać 
to examine 
verbDoktor bada pacjentów. A doctor examines patients.
znieczulić / dać znieczulenie 
to give an anesthetic
verbNie dam Panu znieczulenia!
I won’t give you an anesthetic!
zdiagnozować 
to diagnose 
verbZdiagnozowano u niego raka.He has been diagnosed with cancer.
leczyć 
to treat 
verbOn wie, jak leczyć dzieci. He knows how to treat children. 
operować 
to operate 
verbOn nigdy nic nie mówi, gdy operuje.He never says anything when he’s operating.
chemioterapia
chemotherapy 
nounChemioterapia to leczenie inwazyjne.Chemotherapy is an invasive treatment.
stół operacyjny 
operating table 
nounStół operacyjny musi być czysty.The operating table needs to be clean.
skalpel 
scalpel 
nounSkalpel musi być sterylny.The scalpel needs to be sterile.
tlen 
oxygen
nounSiostro, proszę podać pacjentowi tlen. Nurse, please give the patient oxygen.
śpiączka 
coma 
nounJej ojciec jest w śpiączce od 10 lat.  Her father has been in a coma for ten years.
zemdleć / stracić przytomność 
to faint 
verbNie stracił przytomności.He didn’t faint.
odzyskać przytomność
to regain consciousness 
verbPacjent wciąż nie odzyskał przytomności.The patient still has not regained consciousness.

Do you need to see a Polish doctor? Being able to call the Polish doctor’s office is one of the most important skills you should acquire as you approach an advanced level in Polish.

5. Advanced Legal Words

A Person Swearing on the Bible

Being able to talk and understand what’s being said about the justice system is a very handy skill. Learn these advanced Polish words and phrases to start off on the right foot: 

Word or expressionPart of speechExample Translation
sędzia 
judge 
nounTo sędzia Sądu Najwyższego.He’s a judge of the High Court. 
adwokat 
barrister 
nounJego adwokat ma rację. His barrister is right.
prokurator 
prosecutor 
nounProkurator nie ma dowodów. The prosecutor has no evidence.
zaświadczenie o niekaralności 
police clearance 
nounPotrzebne mi zaświadczenie o niekaralności.I need police clearance.
apelacja 
appeal 
nounMożemy złożyć apelację. We can lodge an appeal.
sądowy 
judicial 
adjective Proces sądowy może być skomplikowany.The judicial procedure may be complicated.
pozwać 
to sue 
verbPozwał ich do sądu.He sued them. 
sprawa (sądowa) 
(court) case 
nounTen adwokat nie chce wziąć mojej sprawy.This lawyer doesn’t want to take my case.
świadek 
witness 
nounTo świadek zbrodni.He is a witness to a crime.
zeznawać 
to testify 
verbChciałaby zeznawać, ale się boi.She’d like to testify, but she’s scared.
skazać 
to sentence 
verbSkazano go na trzy lata w więzieniu. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
kaucja 
bail 
nounKaucja nie jest wysoka.The bail was not set high.
uniewinnić 
to acquit 
verbNa szczęście został uniewinniony.Luckily, he was acquitted.
dożywocie 
life sentence 
nounDożywocie to najsurowsza kara w Polsce.A life sentence is the harshest punishment in Poland.
kara śmierci 
death penalty 
nounKara śmierci jest wykonywana w niektórych stanach w USA.The death penalty is still a thing in some states in the U.S.
kara grzywny / grzywna
penalty / fine
nounUkarano ich tylko grzywna. They only got a fine.
w zawieszeniu 
suspended sentence 
nounKara jest w zawieszeniu. The sentence is suspended.
nakaz 
warrant 
nounBez nakazu nie wolno nam go aresztować.We can’t arrest him without a warrant.
notariusz 
notary 
nounPotrzebny nam podpis notariusza.We need a notary’s signature.
spadek 
inheritance 
nounDzieciom należy się spadek.Children should get the inheritance.
porwanie
kidnapping 
nounPorwania to duży problem w tym kraju.Kidnappings are a big problem in this country.
morderstwo 
murder 
nounDużo morderstw popełnianych jest pod wpływem alkoholu.Many murders are committed under the influence of alcohol.
kradzież
theft 
nounOskarżono go o kradzież. He was accused of theft.
szantaż 
blackmail 
nounSzantaż to przestępstwo.Blackmail is a crime.
włamanie 
burglary 
nounWłamanie zostało zgłoszone.The burglary was reported.

We hope this advanced Polish word list will be helpful in your understanding of issues related to justice. Don’t forget to check out our lesson on calling for help to learn the vocabulary you might need in a dangerous situation. 

6. Advanced Political Vocabulary

The Democratic Party Logo

As an advanced student, you should be able to talk about politics. Advanced Polish vocabulary words like those below are crucial in everyday conversations, and they can also help you understand newspapers and magazines. Take a look: 

Word or expressionPart of speechExample Translation
Sejm 
the Polish Chamber of Deputies 
nounJutro wybory do Sejmu.Tomorrow, there’s the Chamber of Deputies’ election.
Senat 
Senate 
nounSenat to wyższa izba.The Senate is the higher chamber.
poseł 
MP / deputy 
nounChciałabym zostać posłem.I’d like to become an MP.
senator 
senator 
nounIle trwa kadencja senatora?How long is a senator’s term?
głosować 
to vote 
verbTrzeba głosować.One has to vote.
wybory 
election 
nounIdziemy na wybory!We’re going to vote!
prezydent 
president 
nounPrezydent Polski to Andrzej Duda. Andrzej Duda is the President of Poland.
rządzić 
to rule 
verbPrezydent rządzi krajem. The president rules the country.
podać się do dymisji 
to resign (about a politician) 
verbPrezydent podał się do dymisji.The president resigned from office. 
premier 
prime minister 
nounPremier dziś wygłosi przemówienie.The prime minister will speak tonight.
minister 
minister 
nounKto jest teraz ministrem sprawiedliwości? Who’s the Minister of Justice now?
ministerstwo 
ministry 
nounTo ministerstwo jest niedofinansowane.This ministry is underfinanced.
ustawa 
law 
nounNowa ustawa wejdzie w życie jutro.The new law will come into force tomorrow.
zawetować 
to veto 
verbPrezydent zawetował ustawę.The president has vetoed the law.
przegłosować 
to pass a law 
verbPrzegłosowano tę ustawę.The law has been passed.
nanieść poprawki 
to amend 
verbDo tej ustawy rząd naniesie jeszcze poprawki.The government will still make some amendments to the law.
przepisy 
regulations 
nounCzekają nas zmiany w przepisach.We’re awaiting changes to the rules. 
korupcja 
corruption 
nounMówi się o korupcji w rządzie.The corruption in the government is being discussed.
łapówka 
bribe 
nounTen urzędnik dostał łapówkę. This public official has been bribed.
przyjąć łapówkę 
to accept a bribe
verbCzy przyjąłbyś łapówkę? Would you accept a bribe?
protestować 
to protest 
verbOni protestują przeciwko rządowi.They’re protesting against the government.
partia polityczna 
political party 
nounNie głosowałem nigdy na tę partię. I’ve never voted for this party.
lewica 
left wing 
nounTo jest partia lewicy.It’s a left-wing party.
prawica 
right wing 
nounPrawica ma większość w rządzie. The right wing constitutes the majority of the government.
opozycja 
opposition 
nounOpozycja nie zgadza się z twoim zdaniem. The opposition disagrees with your opinion.

7. Final Thoughts 

Mastering a language means learning a lot of vocabulary. In this blog post, we’ve covered the essential advanced Polish words in various categories, including medicine, politics, and law. Learn these words and expressions, and you’ll see how much easier complex conversations will become. 

Did you know any of these words already? Which ones? We look forward to hearing from you! 

It would be impossible to provide all of the important advanced Polish words in one post. To learn much more vocabulary that you’ll need to get around, you should join PolishPod101. We have countless advanced Polish lessons for students like you. Our personalized pathways will give you access to materials that are appropriate for your level. Create your free lifetime account with us today!

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