Do you know your left from your right in Polish? Asking for directions can mean the difference between a heavenly day on the beach and a horrible day on your feet, hot and bothered and wondering how to even get back to the hotel. Believe me – I know! On my earlier travels, I didn’t even know simple terms like ‘go straight ahead’ or ‘go west,’ and I was always too shy to ask locals for directions. It wasn’t my ego, but rather the language barrier that held me back. I’ve ended up in some pretty dodgy situations for my lack of directional word skills.

This never needs to happen! When traveling in Poland, you should step out in confidence, ready to work your Polish magic and have a full day of exploring. It’s about knowing a few basic phrases and then tailoring them with the right directional words for each situation. Do you need to be pointed south in Polish? Just ask! Believe me, people are more willing to help than you might think. It’s when you ask in English that locals might feel too uncertain to answer you. After all, they don’t want to get you lost. For this reason, it also makes sense that you learn how to understand people’s responses. 

Asking directions in Poland is inevitable. So, learn to love it! Our job here at PolishPod101 is to give you the confidence you need to fully immerse and be the intrepid adventurer you are.

Table of Contents

1. Talking about position and direction in Polish
2. Getting directions in Polish
3. Conclusion

1. Talking about position and direction in Polish

Have you ever tried saying the compass directions of north, south, east and west in Polish? These words are good to know, being the most natural and ancient method of finding direction. In the days before GPS – before the invention of the compass, even – knowing the cardinal directions was critical to finding the way. Certainly, if you were lost somewhere in the mountain regions now and using a map to navigate, you’d find them useful. Even more so if you and a Polish friend were adrift at sea, following the stars!

In most situations, though, we rely on body relative directions – your basic up, down, left and right, forward and backwards. Most cultures use relative directions for reference and Polish is no exception. Interestingly, in a few old languages there are no words for left and right and people still rely on cardinal directions every day. Can you imagine having such a compass brain?

Well, scientists say that all mammals have an innate sense of direction, so getting good at finding your way is just a matter of practice. It’s pretty cool to think that we were born already pre-wired to grasp directions; the descriptive words we invented are mere labels to communicate these directions to others! Thus, the need to learn some Polish positional vocabulary. So, without further ado… let’s dive in.

1- Top – szczyt

If planting a flag at the top of the highest mountain in Poland is a goal you’d rather leave for  adrenaline junkies, how about making it to the top of the highest building? Your view of the city will be one you’ll never forget, and you can take a selfie  for Twitter with your head in the clouds. 

2- Bottom – dno

The ‘bottom’ can refer to the lower end of a road, the foot of a mountain, or the ground floor of a building. It’s the place you head for after you’ve been to the top!

What are your favorite ‘bottoms’? I love the first rung of a ladder, the base of a huge tree or the bottom of a jungle-covered hill. What can I say? I’m a climber. Divers like the bottom of the ocean and foxes like the bottom of a hole. Since you’re learning Polish, hopefully you’ll travel from the top to the bottom of Poland.

3- Up – góra

This is a very common and useful word to know when seeking directions. You can go up the street, up an elevator, up a cableway, up a mountain… even up into the sky in a hot air balloon. It all depends on how far up you like to be!

4- Down – dół

What goes up, must surely come down. This is true of airplanes, flaming arrows and grasshoppers – either aeronautics or gravity will take care of that. In the case of traveling humans who don’t wish to go down at terminal velocity, it’s useful to know phrases such as, “Excuse me, where is the path leading back down this mountain?”

5- Middle – środek

In Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s characters live in Middle-earth, which is just an ancient word for the inhabited world of men; it referred to the physical world, as opposed to the unseen worlds above and below it. The ancients also thought of the human world as vaguely in the middle of the encircling seas.

When we talk about the ‘middle’, we’re referring to a point that’s roughly between two horizontal lines – like the middle of the road or the middle of a river. While you’re unlikely to ask for directions to the ‘middle’ of anything, you might hear it as a response. For example, “You’re looking for the castle ruins? But they’re in the middle of the forest!”

6- Center – środek

In Polish, the words for “middle” and “center” are the same. Technically, “center” means the exact central point of a circular area, equally distant from every point on the circumference.  When asking for directions to the center of town, though, we don’t mean to find a mathematically-accurate pinpoint!

7- Front – przód

The front is the place or position that is seen first; it’s the most forward part of something.  In the case of a hotel, the front is going to be easy to recognize, so if you call a taxi and are told to wait “in front of the hotel”, you won’t have a problem. It’s pretty cool how just knowing the main Polish directional words can help you locate something if there’s a good landmark nearby.

8- Back – tył

I once rented a house in a charming little street that was tucked away at the back of a popular mall. It was so easy to find, but my boss took three hours to locate it from 300 meters away. Why? Well, because she spoke no English and I had no clue what the word for ‘back’ was. All she heard, no matter which way I said it, was “mall, mall, mall”.  As a result, she hunted in front of and next to the mall until she was frazzled. 

Knowing how to describe the location of your own residence is probably the first Polish ‘directions’ you should practice. This skill will certainly come in handy if you’re lost and looking for your way home. 

9- Side – strona

If the place you’re looking for is at the ‘side’ of something, it will be located to the left or the right of that landmark. That could mean you’re looking for an alleyway beside a building, or a second entrance (as opposed to the main entrance). 

As an example, you might be told that your tour bus will be waiting at the right side of the building, not in front. Of course, then you’ll also need to understand “It’s on the right” in Polish.

10- East – wschód

If you’re facing north, then east is the direction of your right hand. It’s the direction toward which the Earth rotates about its axis, and therefore the general direction from which the sun appears to rise. If you want to go east using a compass for navigation, you should set a bearing of 90°. 

We think of Asia as the ‘East’. Geographically, this part of the world lies in the eastern hemisphere, but there’s so much more that we’ve come to associate with this word. The East signifies ancient knowledge and is symbolic of enlightenment in many cultures.

11- West – zachód

West is the opposite to east and it’s the direction in which the sun sets. To go west using a compass, you’ll set a bearing of 270 degrees. 

If you were on the planet Venus, which rotates in the opposite direction from the Earth (retrograde rotation), the Sun would rise in the west and set in the east… not that you’d be able to see the sun through Venus’s opaque clouds. 

Culturally, the West refers mainly to the Americas and Europe, but also to Australia and New Zealand, which are geographically in the East. The Western way of thinking is very different to that of the East. One of the most striking differences is individualism versus collectivism. In the West, we grew up with philosophies of freedom and independence, whereas in the East concepts of unity are more important. 

Food for thought: as a traveler who’s invested in learning the languages and cultures of places you visit, you have an opportunity to become a wonderfully balanced thinker – something the world needs more of.

12- North – północ

North is the top point of a map and when navigating, you’d set a compass bearing of 360 degrees if you want to go that way. Globes of the earth have the north pole at the top, and we use north as the direction by which we define all other directions.

If you look into the night sky, the North Star (Polaris) marks the way due north. It’s an amazing star, in that it holds nearly still in our sky while the entire northern sky moves around it. That’s because it’s located nearly at the north celestial pole – the point around which the entire northern sky turns. Definitely a boon for lost travelers!

13- South – południe

South is the opposite of north, and it’s perpendicular to the east and west. You can find it with a compass if you set your bearings to 180 degrees. 

The south celestial pole is the point around which the entire southern sky appears to turn. In the night sky of the southern hemisphere, the Southern Cross is a very easy to find constellation with four points in the shape of a diamond. If you come from the southern hemisphere, chances are your dad or mum pointed it out to you when you were a kid. You can use the Southern Cross to find south if traveling by night, so it’s well worth figuring it out!

14- Outside – na zewnątrz

This word refers to any place that is not under a roof. Perhaps you’ve heard talk about some amazing local bands that will be playing in a nearby town on the weekend. If it’s all happening outside, you’ll be looking for a venue in a park, a stadium or some other big open space. Come rain or shine, outside definitely works for me!

15- Inside – w środku

I can tolerate being inside if all the windows are open, or if I’m watching the latest Homeland episode. How about you? I suppose going shopping for Polish-style accessories would be pretty fun, too, and that will (mostly) be an inside affair. 

16- Opposite – przeciwny

This is a great word to use as a reference point for locating a place. It’s right opposite that other place! In other words, if you stand with your back to the given landmark, your destination will be right in front of you. 

17- Adjacent – obok

So, the adorable old man from next door, who looks about ninety-nine, explains in Polish that the food market where he works is adjacent to the community hall on the main road. ‘Adjacent’ just means next to or adjoining something else, so… head for the hall! 

While you’re marveling at the wondrous and colorful displays of Polish food, think about how all of these delicious stalls lie adjacent to one another. Having a happy visual association with a new word is a proven way to remember it!

18- Toward – w kierunku

To go toward something is to go in its direction and get closer to it. This word can often appear in a sentence with ‘straight ahead’, as in:

“Go straight ahead, toward the park.”

If you’ve come to Poland to teach English, you might have to ask someone how to find your new school. Depending on what town you’re in, you could simply head toward the residential area at lunch time. You’ll see (and probably hear) the primary school soon enough – it will be the big fenced building with all the kids running around the yard!

19- Facing – naprzeciw

If you look at yourself in a mirror, you’ll be facing your reflection. In other words: you and your reflection look directly at each other.  Many plush hotels are ocean-facing or river-facing, meaning the main entrance is pointed directly at the water, and the beach out front faces the hotel. 

20- Beside – obok

I know of a special little place where there’s a gym right beside a river. You can watch the sun go down over the water while working out – it’s amazing. What’s more, you can park your scooter beside the building and it will still be there when you come out.

21- Corner – róg

I love a corner when it comes to directions. A street corner is where two roads meet at an angle – often 90 degrees – making it easier to find than a location on a straight plane. 

“Which building is the piano teacher in, sir?”

“Oh, that’s easy – it’s the one on the corner.”

The key to a corner is that it leads in two directions. It could form a crossroads, a huge intersection, or it could be the start of a tiny one-way cobblestone street with hidden treasures waiting in the shadow of the buildings.

22- Distant – odległy

When a location is distant, it’s in an outlying area. This Polish word refers to the remoteness of the site, not to how long it takes to get there. For that reason, it’s a very good idea to write the directions down, rather than try to memorize them in Polish. Even better, get a Polish person to write them down for you. This may seem obvious, but always include the location of your starting point! Any directions you’re given will be relative to the exact place you’re starting from.

23- Far – daleko

This word has a similar meaning to the previous one, but it speaks more about the fact that it will take some time to get there. If you’re told that your destination is “far”,  you’ll no doubt want to go by public transport if you don’t have your own vehicle. Get your hands on a road map and have the directions explained to you using this map. Don’t hesitate to bring out the highlighters. 

24- Close – blisko

This word is always a good one to hear when you have your heart set on a very relaxing day in the sun. It means there’s only a short distance to travel, so you can get there in a heartbeat and let the tanning commence. Remember to grab your Nook Book – learning is enhanced when you’re feeling happy and unencumbered. Being close to ‘home’ also means you can safely steal maximum lazy hours and leave the short return trip for sunset! 

25- Surrounding – otaczać

If something is surrounding you, it is on every side and you are enclosed by it – kind of like being in a boat. Of course, we’re not talking about deep water here, unless you’re planning on going fishing. Directions that include this word are more likely to refer to the surrounding countryside, or any other features that are all around the place you’re looking for.

26- All sides – wszystkie strony

Another useful descriptive Polish term to know is ‘all sides’. It simply means that from a particular point, you will be able to see the same features to the front, back and sides of you. It doesn’t necessarily imply you’ll be completely surrounded, just more-or-less so. Say, for example, you’re visiting the winelands for the day. When you get there, you’ll see vineyards on all sides of you. How stunning! Don’t neglect to sample the local wines – obviously. 

27- Next to – obok

The person giving you directions is probably standing next to you. The place being described as ‘next to’ something is in a position immediately to one side of it. It could refer to adjoining buildings, neighbouring stores, or the one-legged beggar who sits next to the beautiful flower vendor on weekdays. ‘Next to’ is a great positional term, as everything is next to something! 

“Excuse me, Ma’am.  Where is the train station?”

“It’s that way – next to the tourist market.”

28- Above – nad

This is the direction you’ll be looking at if you turn your head upwards. Relative to where your body is, it’s a point higher than your head. If you’re looking for the location of a place that’s ‘above’ something, it’s likely to be on at least the first floor of a building; in other words, above another floor.

‘Above’ could also refer to something that will be visible overhead when you get to the right place. For example, the road you’re looking for might have holiday decorations strung up from pole to pole above it. In the cities, this is very likely if there’s any kind of festival going on.

29- Under – pod

Under is the opposite of above, and refers to a place that lies beneath something else. In the case of directions in Polish, it could refer to going under a bridge – always a great landmark – or perhaps through a subway. In some parts of the world, you can even travel through a tunnel that’s under the sea!

Of course, you might just be missing your home brew and looking for an awesome coffee shop that happens to be under the very cool local gym you were also looking for. Nice find!

2. Getting directions in Polish

The quickest and easiest way to find out how to get where you’re going is simply to ask someone. Most people on the streets of Poland won’t mind being asked at all and will actually appreciate your attempt to ask directions in Polish. After all, most tourists are more inclined to ask in their own language and hope for the best. How pedestrian is that, though?

I know, I know – you normally prefer to find your own way without asking. Well, think of it like this: you obviously need to practice asking questions in Polish as much as you need to practice small talk, counting, or ordering a beer. Since you can’t very well ask a complete stranger if they would please help you count to five hundred, you’ll have to stick with asking directions!

We spoke earlier about body relative directions and these tend to be the ones we use most. For example:

“Turn left.”

“Go straight.”

“Turn right.” 

Remember, too, that your approach is important. Many people are wary of strangers and you don’t want to scare them off. It’s best to be friendly, direct and get to the point quickly.  A simple ‘Hi, can you help me?” or “Excuse me, I’m a bit lost,” will suffice. If you have a map in your hand, even better, as your intentions will be clear. 

The bottom line is that if you want to find your way around Poland with ease, it’s a good idea to master these basic phrases. With a little practice, you can also learn how to say directions in Polish. Before you know it, you’ll be the one explaining the way!

3. Conclusion

Now that you have over thirty new directional phrases you can learn in Polish, there’s no need to fear losing your way when you hit the streets of Poland. All you need is a polite approach and your own amazing smile, and the locals will be excited to help you. It’s a chance for them to get better at explaining things to a foreigner, too. Most will enjoy that!

I advise keeping a few things handy in your day pack: a street map, a highlighter, a small notebook and pen, and your Polish phrasebook. It would be useful to also have the Polish WordPower app installed on your phone – available for both iPhone and Android. 

Here’s a quick challenge to get you using the new terms right away. Can you translate these directions into Polish?

“It’s close. Go straight ahead to the top of the hill and turn left at the corner. The building is on the right, opposite a small bus stop.”

You’re doing amazingly well to have come this far! Well done on tackling the essential topic of ‘directions’ – it’s a brave challenge that will be immensely rewarding. Trust me, when you’re standing at a beautiful location that you found just by knowing what to ask in Polish, you’re going to feel pretty darn good.

If you’re as excited as I am about taking Polish to an even deeper level, we have so much more to offer you. Did you know that we’ve already had over 1 billion lesson downloads? I know – we’re blown away by that, too. It’s amazing to be bringing the world’s languages to people who are so hungry for learning. Let me share some of our best options for you:

• If you haven’t done so already, grab your free lifetime account as a start. You’ll get audio and video lessons, plus vocabulary building tools. 
• My favorite freebie is the word of the day, which will arrive in your inbox every morning. Those are the words I remember best!
• Start listening to Polish music. I’m serious – it really works to make the resistant parts of the brain relax and accept the new language. Read about it here for some tips.
• If you enjoy reading, we have some great iBooks for your daily commute.
• If you have a Kindle and prefer to do your reading on a picnic blanket,  there are over 6 hours of unique lessons in Polish for you right there.

That’s it for today! Join PolishPod101 to discover many more ways that we can offer you a truly fun and enriching language learning experience. Happy travels!

Among useful Polish phrases, compliments are particularly handy in social situations. Giving a compliment can make you feel good, and also bring joy to the lives of others. What are the best Polish compliments, though? Keep reading and you’ll learn how to compliment people in Polish in any situation.

Table of Contents

1. Complimenting Someone’s Appearance
2. Praising Someone in Polish for Their Work
3. Complimenting Someone on Their Skills
4. Making Compliments Sound More Sincere
5. What to Expect After You Give a Compliment
6. Final Thoughts

1. Complimenting Someone’s Appearance

We all compliment someone’s appearance from time to time. And yet, sometimes people may feel offended by certain remarks.

The easiest way to avoid making someone feel uncomfortable is to consider the context before complimenting them. Shouting “You are beautiful!” in Polish (Jesteś piękna!) to a woman or “You’re handsome!” (Jesteś przystojny!) to a man on the street is an example of bad manners. In fact, catcalling is a form of street harassment.

Similarly, commenting on someone’s appearance is often inappropriate in professional contexts, such as a job interview or a shareholder meeting.

You should save such compliments for positive acquaintances, friends, and family.

1- Polish Compliments to a Girl or Woman

There’s a number of lovely Polish compliments to a girl or woman you can use. Here are some compliments in Polish for women of any age:

A- Hair

• Bardzo ładnie ci w tych włosach! (“This hairstyle looks great on you!”)
• Masz bardzo zadbane włosy. (“Your hair is in great shape!”)
• Bardzo fajna fryzura! (“What a cool haircut!”)
• Super cięcie! (“Great haircut!”)

B- Outfit

• Ale śliczna sukienka! (“What a lovely dress!”)
• Fajna stylówka! (“Cool style!”)
• Do twarzy ci w tym kolorze! (“This color suits you!”)
• Ekstra/super bluzka! (“I love your shirt!”)
• Podoba mi się twoja torebka. (“I like your handbag.”)
• Gdzie kupiłaś ten sweter? Jest przepiękny! (“Where did you buy this sweater? It’s gorgeous!”)

Learn more words for clothes in Polish to expand your complimenting abilities!

C- Smile

• Masz bardzo ładny uśmiech. (“You have a very pretty smile.”)
• Pięknie się uśmiechasz. (“You smile beautifully.”)

D- General compliments on appearance

• Jesteś najpiękniejszą kobietą, jaką kiedykolwiek widziałem. (“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”)

This phrase can be said to a woman by a man in a romantic context. If a woman wanted to say it, the form of the verb widzieć (“to see”) would change to widziałam.

• Świetnie/Super/Ekstra wyglądasz! (“You look great!”)

We could compliment a man in the same way.

• Macierzyństwo ci służy! (“Motherhood suits you!”)

The literal meaning is closer to: “Motherhood serves you well!”) It’s a Polish compliment specifically for women who’ve become mothers.

• Z roku na rok wyglądasz coraz lepiej! (“You look better every year!”)

This phrase is stereotypically considered one of the top Polish compliments for a girl or woman.

• Zżera mnie zazdrość jak na ciebie patrzę. (“I’m green with envy when I look at you.”)

This is a compliment in Polish told by a woman to a woman.

2- Polish Compliments for Men on Appearance

Compliments about a man’s smile and hair would be the same as for women, even though they’re certainly used less often. You can also compliment a man on the following:

A- Outfit

• Podoba mi się Twój garnitur. (“I like your suit.”)
• Fajne jeansy! (“Cool jeans.”)
• Szykowna marynarka! (“Stylish jacket!”)
• Nieźle sie odstawiłeś! (“You look very fancy.”)

The last expression is humorous and can be used in a mean way, so make sure you’re on good terms with someone and that they get your sense of humor before you use it.

B- General compliments on looks

• Jesteś najwspanialszym mężczyzną, jakiego znam. (“You’re the best man I know.”)

This phrase is romantic in nature. Are you keen to learn more about romance and love in Polish?

• Kim jest ten przystojniak? (“Who’s that handsome man?”)

Another humorous way to comment on the fact that someone looks good.

• Bardzo wyprzystojniałeś. (“You’ve gotten much more handsome.”)

This one is a compliment often used for someone who we’ve known as a child or teenager.

• Nieźle się trzymasz. (“You still look good.”)

This expression is used for someone who’s aging well. Are you still unsure of how to compliment a guy? Wikihow to the rescue!

2. Praising Someone in Polish for Their Work

Everyone likes to feel appreciated, which is why it’s so important to know the best Polish compliments to give on a job well done. If you don’t feel confident about your work-related Polish vocabulary, go to our jobs/work vocabulary builder.

1- General Work-Related Compliments

There’s a number of Polish compliments applicable in many work-related situations. They include:

• Dobra robota! (“Good job!”)
• Widać, że się starałeś! (“I can tell you’ve put a lot of work into it!”) [to a man]
• Widać, że się starałaś! (“I can tell you’ve put a lot of work into it!”) [to a woman]
• Zasłużyłeś na pochwałę! (“You’ve earned your praise!”) [to a man]
• Zasłużyłaś na pochwałę! (“You’ve earned your praise!”) [to a woman]

By the same token, you could humorously suggest that someone’s work is so good that he or she deserves a raise:

• Zasłużyłeś na podwyżkę! (“You should get a raise!”) [to a man]
• Zasłużyłaś na podwyżkę! (“You should get a raise!”) [to a woman]
• Twoje wyniki przerosły moje oczekiwania. (“Your results have surpassed my expectations.”)

2- Specific Compliments on Someone’s Work

There are also many compliments you can use in specific situations, depending on the gender of the noun:

A- Feminine

• Bardzo podobała mi się twoja prezentacja. (“I’ve really enjoyed your presentation.”)
• Ciekawa przemowa. (“An interesting talk.”)
• Znakomita sugestia. (“An excellent suggestion.”)

B- Masculine

• Bardzo podoba mi się twój pomysł. (“I really like your idea.”)
• Ciekawy plan. (“An interesting plan.”)
• Znakomity raport. (“An excellent report.”)

C- Neutral

• Bardzo podobało mi się twoje wystąpienie. (“I’ve really enjoyed your speech.”)
• Ciekawe podejście. (“An interesting approach.”)
• Znakomite podsumowanie. (“An excellent summary.”)

3. Complimenting Someone on Their Skills

Sometimes, in your private life, you may want to compliment a friend or an acquaintance on their skills. After all, complimenting someone in Poland may earn you brownie points.

One thing to remember is that Polish compliments for a girl or woman are often different than those for a man. This is due to the changes in the form of adjectives and gender-dependent nouns.

Learn high-frequency adjectives in Polish, and then get ready to use them in Polish compliments!

1- Saying Nice Things About Someone’s Cooking

If someone makes an effort to cook for you, you should at least know how to say how much you’ve enjoyed the meal. By the way, have you ever tried Polish cuisine?

• Jesteś świetną kucharką. (“You’re a great cook.”) [to a woman]
• Jesteś świetnym kucharzem. (“You’re a great cook.”) [to a man]
• Naprawdę pycha, dziękuję! (“It’s really delicious, thank you.”)
• Świetnie gotujesz. (“You’re a great cook.”) [Literally: “You cook great.]
• Przepyszna sałatka [or other feminine noun]. (“Great salad!”)
• Przepyszny makaron [or other masculine noun]. (“Great pasta!”)
• Niebo w gębie. Dasz mi przepis? (“Super-tasty! Can you give me the recipe?”) [Niebo w gębie is an idiomatic slang expression that literally means “Heaven in the mouth.”]

2- Praising Someone’s Artistic Skills

When a friend unleashes their inner artist, there’s nothing nicer for them than hearing some genuine appreciation for their skills. Here’s a number of handy phrases to use for that purpose:

A- Photography

• Masz naprawdę dobre oko. (“You have a really good eye for photography.”)
• Piękne ujęcie! (“What a beautiful shot!”)
• Gdzie się nauczyłeś robić takie świetne zdjęcia? (“Where did you learn to take such great pictures?”) [to a man]
• Gdzie się nauczyłaś robić takie świetne zdjęcia? (“Where did you learn to take such great pictures?”) [to a woman]
• Super zdjęcie! (“Great picture!”)

Curious for more photography words? Listen to this conversation about a Polish photograph!

B- Painting

• Świetnie malujesz! (“You paint well!”)
• To ty to namalowaś? (“You’re the one who painted it?”) [to a woman]
• To ty to namaloweś? (“You’re the one who painted it?”) [to a man]

These expressions, through doubt, introduce a suggestion that something is almost too good to be done by a non-professional. Such compliments are not uncommon in Polish culture.

• Ten pies [or other masculine noun] wygląda jak żywy. (“This dog looks as if he was real.”)
• Ta kobieta [or other feminine noun] wygląda jak żywa. (“This woman looks as if she was real.”)
• To dziecko [or other neuter noun] wygląda jak żywe. (“This child looks as if it was real.”)

Żywy literally means “alive,” but in this context, it translates as “real.”

• Przepiękny obraz! (“What a stunning painting!”)

C- Playing an instrument

• Pięknie grasz! (“You play beautifully!”)
• Jesteś bardzo uzdolnioną pianistką/saksofonistką/gitarzystką. (“You’re a very talented pianist/saxophone player/guitar player.”) [to a woman]
• Jesteś bardzo uzdolnionym pianistą/saksofonistą/gitarzystą. (“You’re a very talented pianist/saxophone player/guitar player.”) [to a man]
• Grasz jak anioł! (“You play like an angel!”)

To learn how to talk about hobbies in Polish, don’t forget to go to our lesson “What do you do in your free time in Poland?”

3- Compliments About Language Skills

As a language-learner, you should know that learning a foreign language isn’t easy and that it’s extremely nice to be complimented on your skills. Here’s how you can say a few nice words about someone’s language fluency in Polish:

• Świetnie mówisz po angielsku. (“You speak English very well.”)
• Mówisz po włosku jak native speaker. (“You speak Italian like a native speaker.”)
• Mówisz po niemiecku, jakbyś urodził się w Niemczech. (“You speak German as if you were born in Germany.”) [to a man]
• Mówisz po niemiecku, jakbyś urodziła się w Niemczech. (“You speak German as if you were born in Germany.”) [to a woman]
• Masz bardzo bogate słownictwo. (“You have a very rich vocabulary.”)
• Jestem pod wrażeniem twoich zdolności językowych. (“I’m impressed by your language skills.”)

Do you know how to brag about your own language skills in Polish? If not, check out our lesson “Who wants to be a polyglot?”

4. Making Compliments Sound More Sincere

Knowing the best Polish compliments is one thing, and knowing when to give them so that they sound natural is another. Below, you can find tips on making your compliments sound more sincere.

1. Speak only the truth.

The best way to make your compliments more sincere is being honest. Don’t tell someone you like their new hairstyle just because you think that’s what’s expected.

2. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing.

Only give the compliments you mean, and if you have nothing nice to say, remain quiet. This means you should refrain from negativity. Your sincere compliment later on will mean nothing if you manage to offend someone beforehand.

3. Comment on specific things.

Vague compliments such as Wyglądasz świetnie! (“You look great!”) can be nice, but people prefer specific compliments, as they come off as more genuine. That’s why Uwielbiam takie kolorowe kolczyki! (“I love such colorful earrings!”) sounds more like it’s coming from the heart than simply saying Fajne kolczyki! (“Cool earrings!”)

4. Smile and look people in the eye.

A sincere smile and looking people in the eye are sure ways to make a compliment feel genuine.

5. Respect people’s personal space.

Polish people are much less touchy than, for instance, Americans or people in some other nations. You don’t want to come off as pushy or flirty, if that’s not your intention. Observe your environment and ask around to learn how close you should get to a person and in what situations touch is appropriate.

If you feel like you need more help, read the guide on Wikihow “How to Give a Compliment.” Psychology Today is also there for you to tell you about 9 types of compliments that do and don’t work.

5. What to Expect After You Give a Compliment

Polish people enjoy compliments just like people in any other nation. However, compliments in Polish culture are often diminished by people who receive them. For instance, if you praise someone’s piano-playing skills with:

• Pięknie grasz na pianinie. (“You play the piano beautifully.”)

You can expect a reply of Dziękuję (“Thank you”), followed by something along the lines of: To tylko zasługa mojego nauczyciela. (“It’s only because of my teacher.”)

Other ways to say “thanks” for the compliment in Polish include:

• Dzięki, ale to nic wielkiego! (“Thanks, but it’s nothing special!”)
• Naprawdę tak sądzisz? Dzięki! (“Do you really think so? Thanks!”)
• Dzięki wielkie! (“Thanks a lot!”)

Trip Savvy has some great information on the intricacies of the Polish culture, if you would like to learn even more!

6. Final Thoughts

Today, you’ve learned many useful Polish phrases. Compliments, after all, are an indispensable communication tool. Polish compliment translations don’t always have exact matches in English, but there’s a wide variety of compliments in this language.

Whenever you need Polish compliments for a girl, woman, or man, you can consult our article again to find them. You can also read about the top 10 compliments you always want to hear in Polish. Which compliment would you like to hear the most? Let us know in the comments section before you go.

PolishPod101.com can offer you much more than just Polish compliments, though. If you want to learn how to speak Polish from scratch, PolishPod101 is a perfect tool for that. Get your free lifetime account now and access thousands of audio and video lessons, lesson materials, and other learning tools on your mobile device of choice.

Happy learning!

Knowing Polish swear words may come in handy in some situations, such as when you’re watching movies in Polish. Unfortunately, if you use them in real-life situations, you may offend someone or get into trouble. That’s why you won’t find a list of Polish swear words here.

The real skill to acquire is learning how to express anger without using the worst Polish curses. How would an angry Polish person do that? We’ve prepared a number of useful expressions for you.

Table of Contents

1. Angry Imperatives
2. Angry Warnings
3. Angry Blaming
4. Describing How You Feel
5. How to Calm Yourself Down When You’re Angry
6. Final Thoughts

1. Angry Imperatives

It’s important to have a good understanding of what’s socially acceptable in Poland. In terms of Polish swear words, people in this cold country—especially the older generation—are quite conservative. This is why, instead of using Polish curse phrases, you can stick to a number of milder angry imperatives. You’ll still get your point across, but no one will think that you’re an impolite or vulgar person.

Check out PolishPod101.com’s lesson on the top five things you should know about Polish culture and society.

1- “Shut up” phrases

Saying “shut up” is not the nicest thing to say in English, but sometimes in anger, you may feel like you have no choice but to use it. Here’s a number of relevant angry Polish phrases:

• Zamknij się! (“Shut up!” )
• Zamkniesz się wreszcie? (“Will you finally shut up?” )
• Zamknij się wreszcie! (“Do shut up!” )
• Cicho bądź! (“Be quiet!” )
• Cisza! (“Quiet!” )
• Nie odzywaj się niepytany. (Literally: “Don’t speak unasked.” ) [to a man]
• Nie odzywaj się niepytana. (Literally: “Don’t speak unasked.” ) [to a woman]
• Pytał Cię ktoś? (Literally: “Has anyone asked you?” )
• Pytał Cię ktoś o zdanie? (“Has anyone asked your opinion?” )

2- “Leave me alone” phrases

There’s a number of useful phrases in Polish that you can use to ask someone to leave you alone. And again, there’s no need to use Polish curse phrases to obtain this effect:

• Daj mi spokój! (Literally “Give me a rest!” and translates to “Leave me alone!” )
• Zostaw mnie w spokoju! (“Leave me alone!” )
• Daj już spokój! (“Give it a rest!” )
• Odczep się! (Literally “Stop clinging to me!” and translates as “Go away!” )

3- “Stop” phrases

Do you know what nine things you need to stop doing to be successful? With these phrases, we’ll focus on how to let others know that you want them to stop doing something.

• Przestań! (“Stop!” )
• Przestaniesz w końcu? (“Will you finally stop?” )
• Przestań wreszcie! (“Stop!” ) [Literally: “Stop, finally!”]
• Przestań się tak zachowywać! (“Stop behaving like this!” )
• Skończ z tym! (“Stop with this!” )
• Koniec z tym! (“This is the end of it!” )
• Koniec i basta! (Literally: “The end and that’s it!” and translates to “This is the end of it!” )

4- Other useful angry imperatives

Below you’ll find a number of other useful imperatives to express negative emotions in Polish.

• Spadaj! (“Get lost!” )
• Spadaj na drzewo! (Literally: “Get lost onto the tree!” )
• Spadówa! (“Get lost!” )

These three expressions are the best options to tell someone to get lost. There are many other ways to say this, but they’re more offensive.

• Uspokój się! (“Calm down!” )
• No weź się uspokój! (“Do calm down!” )
• Uspokoisz się wreszcie? (“Will you finally calm down?” )

The above phrases are useful when you’re irritated because someone is overly agitated, and you want them to calm down.

• Koniec dyskusji! (“End of discussion!” )
• Nie dyskutuj ze mną! (Literally “Don’t discuss with me!” and translates to “Don’t question me!” )
• Nie chcę (już) o tym rozmawiać. (“I don’t want to talk about it [anymore].” )

All of the above phrases can be used when you’re no longer interested in discussing a topic, or when your decision is final and you want to let the other person know you won’t change your mind.

• Wynocha! (“Get out of here!” )
• Wynoś się! (“Get out of here!” )
• Zejdź mi z oczu! (“Get out of my sight!” )

If nothing is working, sometimes you may want to ask someone to disappear, at least for the time being. The abovementioned expressions are perfect if you want to start diffusing the situation before it gets out of hand.

Alternatively, if you’re very angry and you feel like you never want to see the person again, you can say:

• Nie chcę Cię więcej widzieć! (“I don’t want to ever see you again.” )

Use this phrase carefully, though. It may not be one of the worst Polish curses, but it can really hurt someone!

The phrases we outlined in this section are used in informal conversations. But what should you say if you’re experiencing bad service in Poland? Click the link to find out!

2. Angry Warnings

When you want to let someone know you’re really angry in Polish, you may want to use certain warnings to prevent a fight. Here are some useful expressions for people who want to learn angry words in Polish:

• Nie prowokuj mnie! (“Don’t provoke me!” )
• Prosisz się o kłopoty! (“You’re asking for trouble!” )
• Ostrzegam Cię! (“I’m warning you!” )
• To moje ostatnie ostrzeżenie! (“This is my last warning.” )

The above angry warnings are a great way to show the other person that you’re upset. They can be used toward adults and children alike.

• Liczę do trzech! (“I’m counting to three!” )

This is a very common phrase used by parents. It’s a warning for the child to do what the parent has asked them to before they finish counting to three (raz, dwa, trzy!). If not, there will be consequences.

Would you like to learn more about counting in Polish? Check out these lessons:

• Counting 1-10 in Polish
• Counting 10-100 in Polish
• Counting 100-10,000 in Polish

Here’s another handy angry Polish phrase:

• Nie będę tolerować takiego zachowania. (“I will not tolerate this behavior.” )

This angry warning is mostly used by authority figures, such as parents or teachers.

• Nie wtrącaj się! (“Stay out of it!” )
• Zajmij się swoimi sprawami! / Zajmij się własnymi sprawami! (“Mind your own business!” )
• To nie Twoja sprawa! (“It’s none of your business!” )

The last three phrases can be used in situations where someone is getting involved in your personal matters, and you don’t want them to.

Before moving on to the next section, there’s also a number of warning idioms in Polish you may be interested in.

3. Angry Blaming

There are situations in life when a person feels so upset that blaming someone else seems like the only solution. They may not be the most productive things to say, but they’re certainly better than offensive Polish swear words!

• Co ty sobie wyobrażasz? (Literally “What are you thinking?” but has the meaning of “What were you thinking?” in English)
• Zwariowałeś? (“Have you gone mad?” )
• Jesteś nienormalny! (Literally “You’re not normal!” but the meaning is closer to “There’s something wrong with you!” ) [to a man]
• Jesteś nienormalna! [the same expression, but used toward a woman]

These three expressions are used when someone does something outrageous that really upsets you.

• Jesteś niemożliwy! (“You’re impossible!” ) [to a man]
• Jesteś niemożliwa! [same as above, but to a woman]

The main meaning of this phrase is similar to the other ones. However, it can also have a positive connotation, like if someone has pleasantly surprised us. Don’t worry though, there’s little to no scope for misunderstanding. The intended meaning is implied by the tone and the context.

• Chyba sobie żartujesz! (Literally “It seems like you’re joking!” but the meaning is closer to “You must be kidding me!” )
• Chyba sobie żarty stroisz! (this is another version of the expression above)

Both are used when someone’s suggestion or statement is so upsetting that it’s difficult to believe.

• Masz o sobie za wysokie mniemanie! (“You think too much of yourself!” )

This is a useful expression in situations where someone is behaving in an arrogant manner, and you want to put them in their place.

• To wszystko Twoja wina! (“It’s all your fault!” )
• To wszystko przez Ciebie! (“It’s all because of you!” )
• Pokpiłeś sprawę! (“You’ve messed up!” )

It’s never truly the fault of one side or the other, but there are reasons why you think it’s always your partner’s fault. The above expressions are reasonably polite Polish curse phrases to use when you feel that it’s the other person who’s to blame in a given situation.

• Nie da się z tobą wytrzymać! (“I can’t stand you!” )
• Nienawidzę Cię! (“I hate you!” )
• Nigdy Ci tego nie zapomnę! (“I’ll never forget that!” )
• Nigdy Ci tego nie wybaczę! (“I’ll never forgive you!” )

These expressions are things an angry Polish person would say just before slamming the door. Yet again, it’s better to use these than to turn to stronger language. But there are still better ways of channeling your anger.

4. Describing How You Feel

A much more productive alternative to using mild Polish curse words and expressions is simply describing your feelings.

→ If you’d like to be able to put feelings into Polish words in other situations too, PolishPod101.com has a lesson on this as well.

Here are two very common Polish expressions to describe your negative feelings and let the other person know you’re angry in Polish:

• Wyprowadziłeś mnie z równowagi! (Literally “You’ve unbalanced me!” but translates to “You’ve made me very upset!” ) [to a man]
• Wyprowadziłaś mnie z równowagi! [the same expression, but to a woman]

Now, let’s learn some more handy phrases. As you can see, there are two versions of the adjective below (click on the link to review other high-frequency adjectives). The first one refers to female speakers and the second one to male speakers.

• Jestem zła/zły. (“I’m angry.” ) [same as “mad” in Polish]
• Jestem bardzo zła/zły. (“I’m very angry.” )
• Jestem na Ciebie zła/zły. (“I’m angry with you.” )
• Trzęsę się ze złości. (“I’m so angry I’m shaking.” )
• Gotuję się ze złości. (“I’m boiling with anger.” )

You can find more vocabulary for expressing negative feelings in Polish in our vocabulary builder 21 words for negative emotions.

5. How to Calm Yourself Down When You’re Angry

Talking about your feelings is a good solution, but there’s an even better way to avoid using Polish curse words. Can you guess what it is? It’s calming yourself down. With these tips, you may not feel the need to get angry in Polish after all:

• Take a few deep breaths; if you can, close your eyes, too.
• Go for a walk.
• Exercise or go for a run.
• Listen to relaxing or meditative music.
• Write your feelings down.
• Think about why you’re angry. Are you right or are you projecting?

You can find more tips on how to calm yourself down when you’re angry on Wikihow. If none of the tips helps you, check out our lesson on being angry to expand your vocabulary on this topic even further.

6. Final Thoughts

Today you’ve learned how to express anger in Polish without using strong Polish curse words, and you’ve added many useful expressions to your vocabulary for situations where you want to say something not-so-nice to someone.

We didn’t give you the worst Polish curse words here, but you can find the top five Polish phrases your teacher will never teach you and a lot of other useful content on PolishPod101.com. With us, you can learn with interactive and fun content that will help you speak Polish in no time. Don’t take our word for it, though. Start your free trial today, and see for yourself why learners from all over the world choose this tool to learn Polish.

Don’t go yet! Let us know which of these angry Polish phrases is your favorite. We’re waiting to hear from you in the comments section. 🙂

What is the most defining moment you will face this year? From memories that you immortalize in a million photographs, to days you never wish to remember, one thing’s for certain: big life events change you. The great poet, Bukowski, said, “We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us.” The older I get, the more I agree with him!

Talking about significant events in our lives is part of every person’s journey, regardless of creed or culture. If you’re planning to stay in Poland for more than a quick visit, you’re sure to need at least a few ‘life events’ phrases that you can use. After all, many of these are shared experiences, and it’s generally expected that we will show up with good manners and warm wishes.

Table of Contents

1. Life Events
2. Marriage Proposal Lines
3. Talking About Age
4. Conclusion

1. Life Events

Do you know how to say “Happy New Year” in Polish? Well, the New Year is a pretty big deal that the whole world is in on! We celebrate until midnight, make mindful resolutions, and fill the night sky with the same happy words in hundreds of languages. No doubt, then, that you’ll want to know how to say it like a local!

Big life events are not all about fun times, though. Real life happens even when you’re traveling, and certain terminology will be very helpful to know. From talking about your new job to wishing your neighbors “Merry Christmas” in Polish, here at PolishPod101, we’ve put together just the right vocabulary and phrases for you.

1- Birthday – urodziny

If you’re like me, any excuse to bring out a pen and scribble a note is a good one. When there’s a birthday, even better: hello, handwriting!

Your Polish friend will love hearing you wish them a “Happy birthday” in Polish, but how much more will they appreciate a thoughtful written message? Whether you write it on their Facebook wall or buy a cute card, your effort in Polish is sure to get them smiling! Write it like this:

Wszystkiego najlepszego

Now that you know the words, I challenge you to put them to music and sing your own “Happy birthday” song in Polish! It’s not impossible to figure out even more lyrics, once you start discovering the language from scratch.

2- Buy – kupować

If there’s a special occasion, you might want to buy somebody a gift. As long as you’ve checked out Polish etiquette on gift-giving (do a Google search for this!), it will be a lovely gesture. If you’re not sure what to buy, how about the awesome and universally-appealing gift of language? That’s a gift that won’t stop giving!

3- Retire – przechodzić na emeryturę

If you’re planning to expand your mind and retire in Poland, you can use this word to tell people why you seem to be on a perpetual vacation!

Retirement is also a great time to learn a new language, don’t you think? And you don’t have to do it alone! These days it’s possible to connect to a vibrant learning community at the click of a button. The added benefit of a Daily Dose of Language is that it keeps your brain cells alive and curious about the world. After all, it’s never too late to realize those long-ignored dreams of traveling the globe…

4- Graduation – ukończenie szkoły

When attending a graduation ceremony in Poland, be prepared for a lot of formal language! It will be a great opportunity to listen carefully and see if you can pick up differences from the everyday Polish you hear.

5- Promotion – awans

Next to vacation time, receiving a promotion is the one career highlight almost everyone looks forward to. And why wouldn’t you? Sure, it means more responsibility, but it also means more money and benefits and – the part I love most – a change of scenery! Even something as simple as looking out a new office window would boost my mood.

6- Anniversary – rocznica

Some anniversaries we anticipate with excitement, others with apprehension. They are days marking significant events in our lives that can be shared with just one person, or with a whole nation. Whether it’s a special day for you and a loved one, or for someone else you know, this word is crucial to know if you want to wish them a happy anniversary in Polish.

7- Funeral – pogrzeb

We tend to be uncomfortable talking about funerals in the west, but it’s an important conversation for families to have. Around the world, there are many different customs and rituals for saying goodbye to deceased loved ones – some vastly different to our own. When traveling in Poland, if you happen to find yourself the unwitting observer of a funeral, take a quiet moment to appreciate the cultural ethos; even this can be an enriching experience for you.

8- Travel – podróżować

Travel – my favorite thing to do! Everything about the experience is thrilling and the best cure for boredom, depression, and uncertainty about your future. You will surely be forever changed, fellow traveler! But you already know this, don’t you? Well, now that you’re on the road to total Polish immersion, I hope you’ve downloaded our IOS apps and have your Nook Book handy to keep yourself entertained on those long bus rides.

9- Graduate – skończyć szkołę

If you have yet to graduate from university, will you be job-hunting in Poland afterward? Forward-looking companies sometimes recruit talented students who are still in their final year. Of course, you could also do your final year abroad as an international student – an amazing experience if you’d love to be intellectually challenged and make a rainbow of foreign friends!

10- Wedding – ślub

One of the most-loved traditions that humans have thought up, which you’ll encounter anywhere in the world, is a wedding. With all that romance in the air and months spent on preparations, a wedding is typically a feel-good affair. Two people pledge their eternal love to each other, ladies cry, single men look around for potential partners, and everybody has a happy day of merrymaking.

Ah, but how diverse we are in our expression of love! You will find more wedding traditions around the world than you can possibly imagine. From reciting love quotes to marrying a tree, the options leave no excuse to be boring!

11- Move – przeprowadzać się

I love Poland, but I’m a nomad and tend to move around a lot, even within one country. What are the biggest emotions you typically feel when moving house? The experts say moving is a highly stressful event, but I think that depends on the circumstances. Transitional periods in our lives are physically and mentally demanding, but changing your environment is also an exciting adventure that promises new tomorrows!

12- Be born – urodzić się

I was not born in 1993, nor was I born in Asia. I was born in the same year as Aishwarya Rai, Akon, and Monica Lewinsky, and on the same continent as Freddy Mercury. When and where were you born? More importantly – can you say it in Polish?

13- Get a job – dostać pracę

The thought of looking for a job in a new country can be daunting, but English speakers are in great demand in Poland – you just have to do some research, make a few friends and get out there! Also, arming yourself with a few Polish introductions that you can both say and write will give you a confidence boost. For example, can you write your name in Polish?

14- Die – umrzeć

Death is a universal experience and the final curtain on all other life events. How important is it, then, to fully live before we die? If all you have is a passport, a bucket list, and a willingness to learn some lingo, you can manifest those dreams!

15- Home – dom

If home is where the heart is, then my home is on a jungle island completely surrounded by the turquoise ocean. Right now, though, home is an isolation room with a view of half a dry palm tree and a tangle of telephone wires.

If you’re traveling to Poland for an extended stay, you’ll soon be moving into a new home quite unlike anything you’ve experienced before!

16- Job – praca

What job do you do? Does it allow you much time for travel, or for working on this fascinating language that has (so rightfully) grabbed your attention? Whatever your job, you are no doubt contributing to society in a unique way. If you’re doing what you love, you’re already on the road to your dream. If not, just remember that every single task is one more skill to add to your arsenal. With that attitude, your dream job is coming!

17- Birth – narodziny

Random question: do you know the birth rate of Poland?

If you’re lucky enough to be invited to see a friend’s baby just after they are born, you’ll have all my respect and all my envy. There is nothing cuter! Depending on which part of the country you’re in, you may find yourself bearing witness to some pretty unexpected birth customs. Enjoy this privilege!

18- Engaged – zaręczać się

EE Cummings said, “Lovers alone wear sunlight,” and I think that’s most true at the moment she says “yes.” Getting engaged is something young girls dream of with stars in their eyes, and it truly is a magical experience – from the proposal, to wearing an engagement ring, to the big reveal!

In the world of Instagram, there’s no end to the antics as imaginative couples try more and more outrageous ways to share their engagement with the world. I love an airport flashmob, myself, but I’d rather be proposed to on a secluded beach – salt, sand, and all!

Engagement customs around the world vary greatly, and Poland is no exception when it comes to interesting traditions. Learning their unique romantic ways will inspire you for when your turn comes.

Speaking of romance, do you know how to say “Happy Valentine’s Day” in Polish?

19- Marry – pobierać się

The one you marry will be the gem on a shore full of pebbles. They will be the one who truly mirrors your affection, shares your visions for the future, and wants all of you – the good, the bad and the inexplicable.

From thinking up a one-of-a-kind wedding, to having children, to growing old together, finding a twin flame to share life with is quite an accomplishment! Speaking of which…

2. Marriage Proposal Lines

Ah, that heart-stopping moment when your true love gets down on one knee to ask for your hand in marriage, breathlessly hoping that you’ll say “Yes!” If you haven’t experienced that – well, it feels pretty darn good, is all I can say! If you’re the one doing the asking, though, you’ve probably had weeks of insomnia agonizing over the perfect time, location and words to use.

How much more care should be taken if your love is from a different culture to yours? Well, by now you know her so well, that most of it should be easy to figure out. As long as you’ve considered her personal commitment to tradition, all you really need is a few words from the heart. Are you brave enough to say them in Polish?

3. Talking About Age

Part of the wonder of learning a new language is having the ability to strike up simple conversations with strangers. Asking about age in this context feels natural, as your intention is to practice friendly phrases – just be mindful of their point of view!

When I was 22, I loved being asked my age. Nowadays, if someone asks, I say, “Well, I’ve just started my fifth cat life.” Let them ponder that for a while.

In Poland, it’s generally not desirable to ask an older woman her age for no good reason, but chatting about age with your peers is perfectly normal. Besides, you have to mention your birthday if you want to be thrown a birthday party!

4. Conclusion

Well, there you have it! With so many great new Polish phrases to wish people with, can you think of someone who has a big event coming up? If you want to get even more creative, PolishPod101 has much to inspire you with – come and check it out! Here’s just some of what we have on offer at PolishPod101:

• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Polish with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Polish dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about PolishPod101…!
• Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters, as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Polish teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
• Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Polish word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Polish level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

Learning a new language can only enrich your life, and could even open doors towards great opportunities! So don’t wonder if you’ll regret enrolling in PolishPod101. It’s the most fun, easy way to learn Polish.

Did you know that every minute of the day, one billion tons of rain falls on the earth? Hard to believe, considering the climate crisis! Of course, all that rain is not equally shared across the planet.

So, would you mention this fascinating fact to your new Polish acquaintance? Well, small talk about local weather is actually a great conversation-starter. Everyone cares about the weather and you’re sure to hear a few interesting opinions! Seasons can be quite unpredictable these days and nobody knows the peculiarities of a region better than the locals.

PolishPod101 will equip you with all the weather vocabulary you need to plan your next adventure. The weather can even be an important discussion that influences your adventure plans. After all, you wouldn’t want to get caught on an inflatable boat with a two-horsepower motor in Hurricane Horrendous!

Table of Contents

1. Talking about the weather in Poland
2. Words for the first day of spring
3. Do You Know the Essential Summer Vocabulary?
4. Must-Know Autumn vocabulary
5. Winter
6. PolishPod101 can prepare you for any season.

1. Talking about the weather in Poland

If you’re like me, your day’s activity plan is likely to begin with a strong local coffee and a chat about what the sky is doing. After all, being prepared could be the difference between an amazing day and a miserable one! Luckily, it’s not difficult to comment on Polish weather – just start with these simple words and phrases.

1- The rain is falling on the street – Deszcz pada na ulicę.

Watercolor artists, take out your paints! You might not be able to venture out on foot today, but just embrace the rain as part of your Polish experience. When the rain stops, the air will be clean and colours vibrant.

2- The snow has covered everything – Śnieg pokrył wszystko.

A fresh blanket of snow is irresistibly beautiful. Pull on your boots and beanie, and leave your tracks in this foreign landscape. Don’t resist the urge to build a snowman – you need this!

3- Fluffy cloud – puchata chmura

When you’re waiting for a warm beach day, fluffy white clouds in a blue sky are a good sign. Don’t forget your sunscreen, as clouds will intensify the UV rays hitting your skin.

4- The water froze on the glass – Woda zamarzła na szkle.

Night temperatures can get chilly and might freeze the condensation on your windows. A good way to clear them up is with warm salt water.

5- The heavy rain could cause flash flooding – Ta ulewa może spowodować nagłą powódź.

If you’re visiting Poland in the wet season, it’s important to stay informed when heavy rain sets in, so keep an eye on the weather radar. Avoid river activities and rather spend this time making a home-cooked meal and brushing up on your Polish weather words.

6- Flood – powódź

If you do get caught in a flood, your destination should no longer be ‘home’, but the nearest high ground.

7- The typhoon has hit – Uderzył tajfun.

Not all countries experience typhoons, but you need to know when to prepare for one! It will be very scary if you’ve never experienced one before. Your local neighbours are the best people to advise you on where to take shelter, as they’ve been doing it for generations. Be sure to get the low-down at the first sign of rough weather!

8- Check the weather report before going sailing – Sprawdź prognozę pogody zanim wybierzesz się żeglować.

When planning an outdoor activity, especially on a body of water, always be prepared for a change in the weather. Ask your hotel receptionist or neighbour where you can get a reliable daily weather report, and don’t forget your sweater!

9- Today’s weather is sunny with occasional clouds – Dziś jest słonecznie z niewielkim zachmurzeniem.

Sunny weather is the dream when traveling in Poland! Wake up early, pack the hats and sunblock and go and experience the terrain, sights and beautiful spots. You’ll be rewarded with happy vibes all around.

10- A rainy day – deszczowy dzień

Remember when you said you’d save the Polish podcasts for a rainy day? Now’s that day!

11- Scenic rainbow – piękna tęcza

The best part about the rain is that you can look forward to your first rainbow in Poland. There’s magic in that!

12- Flashes of lightning can be beautiful, but are very dangerous – Pioruny mogą być piękne, ale są bardzo niebezpieczne.

Lightning is one of the most fascinating weather phenomena you can witness without really being in danger – at least if you’re sensible and stay indoors! Did you know that lightning strikes the earth 40-50 times per second? Fortunately, not all countries experience heavy electric storms!

13- 25 degrees Celsius – dwadzieścia pięć stopni Celsjusza

Asking a local what the outside temperature will be is another useful question for planning your day. It’s easy if you know the Polish term for ‘degrees Celsius’.

14- His body temperature was far above the usual 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit – Jego temperatura znacznie przekraczała normalne 98,6 stopni Fahrenheita.

Although the Fahrenheit system has been replaced by Celsius in almost all countries, it’s still used in the US and a few other places. Learn this phrase in Polish in case one of your companions develops a raging fever.

15- Clear sky – czyste niebo

Clear skies mean you’ll probably want to get the camera out and capture some nature shots – not to mention the great sunsets you’ll have later on. Twilight can lend an especially magical quality to a landscape on a clear sky day, when the light is not filtered through clouds.

16- Light drizzle – lekka mżawka

Days when it’s drizzling are perfect for taking in the cultural offerings of Poland. You could go to the mall and watch a Polish film, visit museums and art galleries, explore indoor markets or even find the nearest climbing wall. Bring an umbrella!

17- Temperature on a thermometer – temperatura na termometrze

Because of the coronavirus, many airports are conducting temperature screening on passengers. Don’t worry though – it’s just a precaution. Your temperature might be taken with a no-touch thermometer, which measures infrared energy coming off the body.

18- Humid – wilgotno

I love humid days, but then I’m also a water baby and I think the two go
together like summer and rain. Find a pool or a stream to cool off in – preferably in the shade!

19- With low humidity the air feels dry – Przy niskiej wilgotności powietrze wydaje się suche.

These are the best days to go walking the hills and vales. Just take at least one Polish friend with you so you don’t get lost!

20- The wind is really strong – Wiatr jest bardzo silny.

A strong wind blows away the air pollution and is very healthy in that respect. Just avoid the mountain trails today, unless you fancy being blown across the continent like a hot air balloon.

21- It’s windy outside – Na dworze jest wietrznie.

Wind! My least favourite weather condition. Of course, if you’re a kitesurfer, a windy day is what you’ve been waiting for!

22- Wet roads can ice over when the temperature falls below freezing – Mokre drogi zamarzają, gdy temperatura spada poniżej zera.

The roads will be dangerous in these conditions, so please don’t take chances. The ice will thaw as soon as the sun comes out, so be patient!

23- Today is very muggy – Dzisiaj jest bardzo duszno.

Muggy days make your skin feel sticky and sap your energy. They’re particular to high humidity. Cold shower, anyone? Ice vest? Whatever it takes to feel relief from the humidity!

24- Fog – mgła

Not a great time to be driving, especially in unknown territory, but keep your fog lights on and drive slowly.

25- Hurricane – huragan

Your new Polish friends will know the signs, so grab some food and candles and prepare for a night of staying warm and chatting about wild weather in Poland.

26- Big tornado – duże tornado

If you hear these words, it will probably be obvious already that everyone is preparing for the worst! Definitely do whatever your accommodation hosts tell you to do when a tornado is expected.

27- It’s cloudy today – Dzisiaj jest pochmurno.

While there won’t be any stargazing tonight, the magnificent clouds over Poland will make impressive photographs. Caption them in Polish to impress your friends back home!

28- Below freezing temperatures – temperatury poniżej zera

When the temperature is below freezing, why not take an Uber and go shopping for some gorgeous Polish winter gear?

29- Wind chill is how cold it really feels outside – Temperatura odczuwalna, to taka, jaką faktycznie się odczuwa na dworze.

Wind doesn’t change the ambient temperature of the air, it just changes your body temperature, so the air will feel colder to you than it actually is. Not all your Polish friends will know that, though, so learn this Polish phrase to sound really smart!

30- Water will freeze when the temperature falls below zero degrees celsius – Woda zamarza, gdy temperatura spada poniżej zera stopni Celsjusza.

If you’re near a lake, frozen water is good news! Forgot your ice skates? Don’t despair – find out where you can hire some. Be cautious, though: the ice needs to be at least four inches thick for safe skating. Personally, I just slide around on frozen lakes in my boots!

31- Waiting to clear up – czekać, aż się rozpogodzi

Waiting for the weather to clear up so you can go exploring is frustrating, let’s be honest. That’s why you should always travel with two things: a scintillating novel and your Polish Nook Book.

32- Avoid the extreme heat – unikać upałów

Is the heat trying to kill you? Unless you’re a hardened heatwave hero, definitely avoid activity, stay hydrated and drink electrolytes. Loose cotton or linen garb is the way to go!

33- Frost – szron

Frost is water vapour that has turned to ice crystals and it happens when the earth cools so much in the night, that it gets colder than the air above it. Winter is coming!

34- Rain shower – lekki deszcz

Rain showers are typically brief downpours that drench the earth with a good drink of water.

35- In the evening it will become cloudy and cold – Wieczorem zachmurzy się i będzie zimno.

When I hear this on the Polish weather channel, I buy a bottle of wine (red, of course) and wood for the fireplace. A cold and cloudy evening needs its comforts!

36- Thunderstorm – burza z piorunami

Keep an eye on the Polish weather maps if it looks like a big storm is coming, so you’ll be well-informed.

37- Ice has formed on the window – mróz na szybie

You could try this phrase out on the hotel’s helpful cleaning staff, or fix the problem yourself. Just add a scoop or two of salt to a spray bottle of water – that should work!

38- Large hailstones – wielkie kule gradu

As a kid, I found hail crazy exciting. Not so much now – especially if I’m on the road and large hailstones start pummeling my windscreen!

39- Rolling thunder – dudniący grzmot

The rumble of rolling thunder is that low-volume, ominous background sound that goes on for some time. It’s strangely exciting if you’re safely in your hotel room; it could either suddenly clear up, or escalate to a storm.

40- Sleet – deszcz ze śniegiem

Sleet is tiny hard pieces of ice made from a mixture of rain and melted snow that froze. It can be messy, but doesn’t cause major damage the way hail does. Pretty cool to know this word in Polish!

2. Words for the first day of spring

You know the feeling: your heart skips a beat when you wake up and spring has sprung! Spring will reward you with new blossoms everywhere, birdsong in the air, kittens being born in the neighborhood and lovely views when you hit the trails. Pack a picnic and ask a new Polish friend to show you the more natural sights. Don’t forget a light sweater and a big smile. This is the perfect time to practice some Polish spring words!

3. Do You Know the Essential Summer Vocabulary?

Summer! Who doesn’t love that word? It conjures up images of blue skies, tan skin, vacations at the beach and cruising down the coast in an Alfa Romeo, sunglasses on and the breeze in your hair. Of course, in Poland there are many ways to enjoy the summer – it all depends on what you love to do. One thing’s for sure: you will have opportunities to make friends, go on picnics, sample delicious local ice-cream and maybe even learn to sing some Polish songs. It’s up to you! Sail into Polish summer with this summer vocab list, and you’ll blend in with ease.

4. Must-Know Autumn vocabulary

Victoria Ericksen said, “If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour,” and I agree. Who can resist the beauty of fall foliage coloring the Polish landscape? Birds prepare to migrate; travelers prepare to arrive for the best weather in Poland.

The autumnal equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night almost equal in length. The cool thing about this event is that the moon gets really bright – the ‘harvest moon’, as it’s traditionally known.

So, as much as the change of season brings more windy and rainy days, it also brings celebration. Whether you honor Thanksgiving, Halloween or the Moon Festival, take some time to color your vocabulary with these Polish autumn words.

5. Winter

Winter is the time the natural world slows down to rest and regroup. I’m a summer girl, but there are fabulous things about winter that I really look forward to. For one, it’s the only season I get to accessorize with my gorgeous winter gloves and snug down coat!

Then, of course, there’s ice skating, holiday decorations and bonfires. As John Steinbeck said, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” Get ready for the cold season with our list of essential Winter words!

6. PolishPod101 can prepare you for any season.

Now that you know how to inquire and comment on the weather in Poland, you
can confidently plan your weather-ready travel itinerary. How about this for an idea: the next
time you’re sitting in a Polish street café, try asking someone local this question:

“Do you think the weather will stay like this for a few days?” If you loved learning these cool Polish weather phrases with us, why not take it a step further and add to your repertoire? PolishPod101 is here to help!

Did you know there are many different types of calendars?

As you probably know – a calendar is a system of organizing days in weeks and months for specific purposes, according to Wikipedia.

Worldwide, most countries use the Gregorian calendar. Some just work on the same framework, meaning that time is divided into units based on the earth’s movement around the sun – the “solar calendar”. Other calendars keep time by observing the moon’s movements, a combination of the moon and the sun’s movements, and seasons.

Through PolishPod101, you can learn all about this and so much more! Our themed, culturally relevant lessons are skillfully designed so you can do your planning perfectly for a holiday or a date.

Having a good plan for a visit or a trip is like studying well for an exam. You’re just so much better prepared! For that, you could well need specific phrases to plan around appointments and such, especially on business trips. Make sure to use the charts we provide here with the days of the week in Polish, as well as the months in Polish to navigate your way as you plan. Great resources!

Also – always remember to have fun!

Table of Contents

1. Why Will It Help To Know How To Talk About Dates in Polish?
2. Talking About your Plans
3. Can PolishPod101 Help You In Other Ways Too?

1. Why Will It Help To Know How To Talk About Dates in Polish?

Well, that’s not a difficult question to answer. No matter why you’re travelling, it would be best to at least know the names of days and months in Polish. You don’t want to miss your flight or an appointment because you confused “piątek” (Friday) with “sobota” (Saturday)! Or maybe you planned a holiday for “lipiec” (July), but you booked a flight for “czerwiec” (June) by accident!

Avoid this confusion by learning the Polish calendar before you leave.

Now, as promised, the 15 phrases to help you make and discuss plans.

2. Talking About your Plans

Perhaps you’re working in Poland, or maybe you’re enjoying a prolonged holiday. Fabulous! Memorize these phrases so you can be sure to successfully negotiate meetings, appointments, dates, events, the list goes on!

1. Co robisz w ten weekend?

“What are you doing this weekend?”

This question is usually a preamble to inviting someone somewhere. Given that it’s over the weekend, it probably means a casual get-together or another social event. (But not necessarily! A manager or boss could also ask this for entirely different reasons.)

It’s a handy phrase to know when you’ve made Polish or expat friends in the country. Or, be the one doing the inviting. Then train your ear to learn the following phrases so you can understand the response.

2. W tym tygodniu podróżuję.

“I am traveling this weekend.”

This could be a reply if you’re not available because you’re doing other fun stuff.

No matter why you are visiting Poland, do take the time to explore the country! It’s beautiful and it has so many wonderful, interesting spots ready to be visited.

3. Planuję zostać w domu.

“I am planning to stay at home.”

Maybe you feel unwell, but don’t want to give too much information? Or maybe you have work to do? Perhaps you just need some quiet gardening time…it doesn’t matter. This response is polite and honest without oversharing.

It could also be a slightly open-ended response, depending on how you deliver it. Because hey, being home could still mean your plans are flexible, right?

That said – depending on your relationship with the inviter, nuances like these will probably not be so apparent in a foreign culture. So, best to use this excuse for declining an invitation only if you are truly set on staying in.

4. W tym tygodniu jestem zajęty.

“This week I am busy.”

Another polite phrase that gives a reason for declining an invitation but without oversharing details.

Don’t decline too many invitations, though! You don’t want people to think that you’re too busy to hang out with them. They will stop inviting you out, and you know how the saying goes – all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy…! Being social is good for the soul.

5. Jutro jestem wolny.

“I am free tomorrow.”

Yay! Perhaps you were approached by that person and they asked about your availability for a date. This would be a fine reply. Not too eager, but still indicating that you’re interested.

Or maybe you’re just replying to a colleague or manager’s request for a meeting. Polite, honest and clear.

Alternatively, you’re just busy right now, and plans are not going the way they were…well, planned. Compromise is a lovely thing! And this phrase sounds just like that.

Use it to indicate that you want to accommodate an invitation or the inviter’s plans, despite your current unavailability. Only if you are really free, of course.

6. Czy możemy to przełożyć?

“Can we reschedule this?”

So, life happened and you are unable to meet obligations or attend a planned meeting. This is a suitable question to ask if you wish to indicate your willingness to still engage with whatever is on the table.

Obviously you should (ideally) not ask to reschedule a party or big meeting! (Unless you’re the boss or it’s your own party, of course.) But if there’s reasonable wiggle room regarding arrangements, then this one’s your question.

7. Będę miał dość czasu pod koniec miesiąca.

“I will have enough time at the end of the month.”

A go-to phrase when events or activities are likely to take up a lot of your time, such as going away for a weekend, spending the day at a local market, or writing your manager’s quarterly report (with 20 flow-charts in Powerpoint) – anything that won’t only take an hour or two.

8. Jaki termin najbardziej Ci odpowiada?

“When is the best time that suits you?”

Remember phrase #5? That was a possible reply to this question. Asked by your crush, very possibly! Or, it could be asked by any other person for any other reason, doesn’t matter.

If this is addressed to you, it usually means that the person respects your time and schedule, which is a good thing. It probably also means that their own schedule is flexible, another good thing.

This is also a polite question to ask when a manager or senior colleague wants to meet with you. Let them decide on the time, and be as accommodating as possible. This attitude shows respect for seniority – good for career building. (Within reason, of course. You don’t need to postpone your wedding or your paid-up holiday to Australia because your manager wants to see you.)

9. Czy ta data Ci odpowiada?

“Is this date OK with you?”

But – if the other party insists that you choose a time for a meeting, appointment, or date etc., then do so! Respond with this nice, somewhat casual question that leaves space for negotiation, but only needs a simple reply.

Suitable for friends, and casual acquaintances and colleagues.

10. Czy jesteś dostępny tego dnia?

“Are you available on that day?”

This is the a-bit-more-formal version of the previous question. Again, it has room for negotiation, but only needs a simple response – nice and neat!

Maybe this is the go-to question when you’re addressing your seniors at work, or a person much older than you.

11. Czy możemy to zrobić tak szybko, jak to możliwe?

“Can we do it as soon as possible?”

This question has an urgency to it that should preferably be responded to with the same. A simple reply will be good – yes or no. Less negotiable, this is still polite because it’s a question that gives you a choice.

But stand ready with one of the phrases in this article to help tie down a time and date!

12. Jestem dostępny każdego wieczoru.

“I’m available every evening”

If you’re going to reply with this phrase, context is everything.

– If it’s your manager asking you to put in a bit of overtime, and you are available to – great reply! When deadlines are tight and everybody is stressing, your willingness to go the extra mile can only improve your relationship with your boss.

(Still, no need to be a doormat! If you get asked to work overtime too often, or if everyone else is goofing around while you have to graft, then re-evaluate the situation. And if you feel you’re being exploited a bit, don’t stress! Equip yourself with the diplomatic, yet assertive responses right in this article.)

– If it’s an old friend or longtime significant other asking to hang out – good reply. You know one another and appearances don’t matter any longer.

– If it’s a new crush who just asked when you’d be available for a date – stop. Not such a great reply. Tone down a bit! “Interested but not overly eager” is what you’re going for here.

Refer back to response #5, or use a counter-question, such as #1. Whatever suits you.

But if they – or anyone else – invite you to scale the Himalayas with them, then the next phrase will probably be the only sane response!

13. Muszę to zaplanować z dużym wyprzedzeniem.

“I need to plan this well in advance.”

So, as said under #9, perhaps you’re invited to join someone conquer the Himalayas.

Or your company manager wants you to plan the Party that Tops All Year-End Parties Forever.

Simply – if you get asked to do something that you know will need a lot of thorough planning, this is a good phrase to respond with.

It’s an assertive phrase that demonstrates two things regarding your attitude:

a) That you know your own abilities, and respect your own schedule.
b) That your respect other people’s time and schedule too.

Then just be sure to actually do that planning well in advance!

14. Musimy znaleźć inny termin.

“We need to find another date.”

So, you’re in negotiations regarding a date.

This is an assertive statement that should probably not be used with a “My way or the highway” attitude.

That stuff only works in the movies – think sharp-tongued Samuel L. Jackson. Or fierce Kristen Stewart. Yea, they can be scary, so tone down that tone.

Also, be mindful that fickle people who change plans all the time don’t keep friends! Taking others’ needs into consideration, while simultaneously having your way is a delicate art that takes proper cultivation. Use this phrase sparingly – we have better ones here to negotiate with.

Of course, if your planned trip to the dentist falls on the same day as the only Billie Eilish concert close by…well, priorities are priorities. Feel free to call the dentist with this phrase. Or even better, use the next one.

15. Nie mogę tego zrobić w tym dniu.

“I cannot do it on that day.”

This is the low-key-but-still-firm cousin of the previous phrase. You’re stating a personal fact, and depending on your tone, this can be as non-negotiable as you prefer.

Again, only use this when you really mean it, if you’re visiting Poland or any other foreign country.

So, that’s it, folks! Which phrase did you find the most helpful? Let us know in the comments!

3. Can PolishPod101 Help You In Other Ways Too?

Well yes, of course!

We think you will find these phrases easy to use when talking about dates and months in Polish. But knowing how to employ them properly could help you avoid sticky situations!

PolishPod101 is uniquely geared to help you with this and so much more.

This InnovativeLanguage.com initiative is one of many online language-learning courses. With us, you’ll find it easy and fun to learn a new language, and here are a few reasons why:

• Immediately upon enrollment, you’ll receive hundreds of well-designed lessons to get you going.
• Watch superb recordings of native Polish speakers in cool slide-shows – the easy way to practice till you sound just like a native speaker yourself!
• Also immediately upon enrollment, you’ll get access to a huge library of free resources! These include extensive, theme-based Vocabulary Lists and a Word of the Day List (For free, hot bargains!) These alone are sure to give your vocab-learning boxing gloves.
• You’ll also immediately be able to use an excellent and free Polish online dictionary. Necessary for quick, handy translations, no matter where you find yourself.
• For the serious learner, there are numerous enrollment upgrades available, one of which offers you a personal, online Polish host. Allow us to hold your hand and support you in your learning!

If you’re serious about mastering Polish easily yet correctly, PolishPod101 is definitely one of, if not the best, online language learning platforms available. Talking about your plans or dates in Polish need not ever spoil your stay.

So, hurry up—enroll today!

Did you know that only some reptiles and birds don’t parent their offspring? Except for crocodiles, all reptiles (and one family of bird species called megapodes) hatch from eggs and grow up alone, without any family.

The rest of us need family if we are to survive and thrive – humans and animals alike!

At PolishPod101, we know how important family is. Therefore, we take care to teach you all the important vocabulary and phrases pertaining to family.

Table of Contents

1. Why Is It Important to Know Polish Vocabulary about Family?
2. Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first
3. How PolishPod101 Can Help You Learn Polish Family Terms

1. Why Is It Important to Know Polish Vocabulary about Family?

Well, if you’re serious about studying any new language, then learning about the most important social unit in Polish culture would be a crucial part of your education.

What is family, though? Strictly speaking, it’s a group of people who live together and are supposed to take care of one another. Some of them are genetically linked.

Family isn’t just about who we’re related to by blood, of course. It’s also one of the main influences in shaping every child’s life.

Family is Important for Children’s Healthy Development

Family is the single most important influence in a child’s life. Children depend on parents and family to protect them and provide for their needs from the day they were born.

Primary caregivers, which usually comprise parents and family, form a child’s first relationships. They are a child’s first teachers and are role models that show kids how to act and experience the world around them.

By nurturing and teaching children during their early years, families play an important role in making sure children are ready to learn when they enter school.

Families Can Take All Shapes and Sizes

However, the way families are put together is by no means standard.

Single-parent and same-gender households have become a new norm the past few decades, and there’s no shame in this. When there is love, connection and proper care, a child can thrive anywhere.

Everyone also knows that sometimes friends can become like family and remain with us for life, because it’s all about human connection.

After all, we share many commonalities simply because we’re human, and we are programmed to connect with one another and belong to a group. This is very important for our well-being and survival.

It’s All About Feeling Connected

As John Northman, a psychologist from Buffalo, NY, told WebMD – feeling connected to others contributes to mental as well as physical health.

He pointed out that when people feel connected, they feel better physically, and they’re also less likely to feel depressed.

Or, if they do feel depressed, they’d be in a better position to get out of it when they feel they are connecting with others. This is because they would be psychologically supported too, Northman said.

There has even been some links drawn between addiction and feeling disconnected from others. According to an article in Psychology Today, research indicates that addiction is not solely a substance disorder, but also affected by people feeling insecurely attached to others.

It showed that securely attached individuals tend to feel comfortable in and enjoy life, while insecurely attached people typically struggle to fit in and connect.

2. Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first

So, it’s clear that for most of us, family is our entry point into connection and belonging. This is true of every culture, so in every country, family takes prominence.

For this reason, PolishPod101 offers culturally-relevant lessons that will equip you well to understand families in Poland.

Here are some of the most important Polish vocabulary and quotes about family and parenting!

A) Polish Family Vocabulary

Let’s start with the basic vocabulary. Without this collection of words, you’ll have a hard time describing any member of your family at all.

Family Terms
Family rodzina	Great grandfather pradziadek
Mother matka	Grandmother babcia
Father ojciec	Grandfather dziadek
Wife żona	Grandchild wnuk
Husband mąż	Granddaughter wnuczka
Parent rodzic	Grandson wnuk
Child dziecko	Aunt ciocia
Daughter córka	Uncle wujek
Sister siostra	Niece siostrzenica
Brother brat	Nephew bratanek
Younger sister młodsza siostra	Younger brother młodszy brat
Older brother starszy brat	Great grandmother prababcia
Cousin kuzynka	Mother-in-law teściowa
Father-in-law teść	Sister-in-law szwagierka
Brother-in-law szwagier	Partner partner

B) Quotes About Family

One of the ways to improve your Polish language skills is by memorizing quotes from books, or poems.

Either source some from Polish literature, or make use of ours!

Nie wybiera się swojej rodziny. Oni są darem od Boga dla ciebie, jak i ty jesteś darem dla nich.

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” – Desmond Tutu

Rodzina nie jest czymś ważnym. Jest wszystkim.

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox

Rodzina oznacza, że nikt nie będzie pozostawiony z tyłu lub zapomniany.

“Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.” – David Ogden Stiers

Moja rodzina jest moją mocą i moją słabością.

“My family is my strength and my weakness.” – Aishwarya Rai

Rodzina jest jednym z arcydzieł natury.

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” – George Santayana

Gdy masz kłopoty, to twoja rodzina jest tym, co cię wspiera.

“When trouble comes, it’s your family that supports you.” – Guy Lafleur

Rodzina jest pierwszą zasadniczą komórką życia społecznego.

“The family is the first essential cell of human society.” – Pope John XXIII

Nie ma czegoś takiego jak zabawa dla całej rodziny.

“There is no such thing as fun for the whole family.” – Jerry Seinfeld

Musisz bronić swojego honoru i swojej rodziny.

“You have to defend your honor. And your family.” – Suzanne Vega

Wszystkie szczęśliwe rodziny są do siebie podobne. Każda nieszczęśliwa rodzina jest nieszczęśliwa na swój sposób.

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” – Leo Tolstoy

C) Test Your Knowledge!

Do you feel you have learned a lot in this blog? Let’s quickly test that!

In the table below, match the Polish vocabulary on the left with the definition of the relative in the right column.

MY RELATIVES
Relative Name	Definition
1. rodzina	a. My male child
2. matka	b. My older male sibling
3. ojciec	c. My female sibling
4. żona	d. My child’s child
5. mąż	e. My child’s female child
6. rodzic	f. My female parent
7. dziecko	g. My grandparent’s mother
8. córka	h. Mother to one of my parents
9. syn	i. Relatives
10. siostra	j. My female child
11. brat	k. My younger male sibling
12. młodsza siostra	l. Male spouse
13. młodszy brat	m. The father of one of my parents
14. starszy brat	n. My child’s male child
15. prababcia	o. My children’s father or mother
16. pradziadek	p. The sister of one of my parents
17. babcia	q. The brother of one of my parents
18. dziadek	r. My male parent
19. wnuk	s. My sibling’s female child
20. wnuczka	t. My sibling’s male child
21. wnuk	u. My male sibling
22. ciocia	v. My parents’ sibling’s child
23. wujek	w. Female spouse
24. siostrzenica	x. The grandfather of one of my parents
25. bratanek	y. The person I am a parent to
26. kuzynka	z. My younger female sibling

How did it go? Don’t worry if you had trouble with it – you’ll get there! With a bit of practice, and our help at PolishPod101, you’ll soon have these family terms under the belt.

3. How PolishPod101 Can Help You Learn Polish Family Terms

We hope that we helped you expand your family in Polish vocabulary!

PolishPod101, with its innovative online learning system, stands out among online learning platforms to help you master Polish easily.

Our lessons are tailored not only to increase your language skills, but to also inform you of Polish culture, including the Polish family structure.

When you sign up, you will get instant access to tools like:

1 – An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
2 – A new Polish word to learn every day
3 – Quick access to the Polish Key Phrase List
4 – A free Polish online dictionary
5 – The excellent 100 Core Polish Word List
6 – An almost limitless Lesson Library for learners of all levels

Further speed up your learning with the help of a personal tutor, who will first assess your current Polish language abilities to personalize your training and tailor it to your needs.

Hard work always pays off, and to help you in this, PolishPod101 will be there every step of the way toward your Polish mastery!

Answers: 1.i. 2.f. 3.r. 4.w. 5.l. 6.o. 7.y. 8.j. 9.a. 10.c. 11.u. 12.z. 13.k. 14.b. 15.g 16.x. 17.h. 18.m. 19.d. 20.e. 21.n. 22.p. 23.q. 24.s. 25.t. 26.v.

Learning a language is an odyssey, but if you want to travel to Poland it’s important to learn useful vocabulary for your trip as quickly as possible. How to do that? By learning the most useful Polish phrases for travel that we have compiled for you in this blog post!

You can memorize the basic Polish phrases for travelers or write them down to always have access to them if you forget anything. The more you’re going to practice during your trip, the better you’re going to remember them.

Table of Contents

1. Basic Expressions
2. Transport
3. Shopping
4. Restaurants
5. Asking for and Giving Directions
6. Emergencies
7. Flattery Phrases
8. Useful Phrases to Go through Language Problems
9. Bonus: Basic Hotel Phrases
10. Final Thoughts

1. Basic Expressions  

Polish travel phrases by default need to include some basic expressions useful in every situation. Here are some handy greetings:

• Dzień dobry! – Good Day!
  Used in formal and semi-formal situations during the day.

• Dobry wieczór! – Good evening!
  Said in formal and semi-formal situations in the evening.

• Cześć! – Hi!
  Used with friends and in informal situations.

Used with friends and in informal situations.

Would you like to learn even more ways of saying hello in Polish? Read our blog post “How to Say Hello in Polish and Other Polish Greetings”.

It’s equally important to learn other polite expressions before traveling such as:

• Dziękuję! / Dzięki! – Thank you! / Thanks!
  Dziękuję is universal, while dzięki is reserved for informal contexts.


• Przepraszam. – Excuse me, I’m sorry
  You can say przepraszam when asking for something:
  
  Ex. Przepraszam, czy może się Pan / Pani przesunąć? – Excuse me, could you move, please? 
  
  You can equally use it when apologizing:
  
  Ex. A: Jestem na Ciebie bardzo zły! – I’m very angry with you!
  B: Przepraszam. – I’m sorry.


• Przykro mi. – I’m sorry.
  Przykro mi is used to express sadness about something that happened.
  
  Ex. A: Arleta na mnie nakrzyczała. – Arleta has shouted at me.
  B: Przykro mi. / Przykro mi to słyszeć. – I’m sorry. / I’m sorry to hear that. 

Some other basic Polish phrases for travelers are:

• Tak – yes


• Nie – no


• Lubię [object] – I like [object]
  
  Ex. Lubię koty. – I like cats.
  
  Lubię takes the accusative case, in other words, the basic form of words found in dictionaries. 


• Nie lubię [object] – I don’t like [object]
  
  Ex. Nie lubię kotów. – I don’t like cats. 
  
  Nie lubię is followed by the genitive case. You can learn more about Polish cases in our lesson on painless Polish grammar. 

• Nie mówię (dobrze) po polsku. – I don’t speak Polish (well).


• Super! / Ekstra! – Cool!
  


• Czy mógłby Pan / Pani zrobić mi / nam zdjęcie? – Could you take a picture of me / us, Sir / Madam?

As part of your Polish education you may also want to learn about the basic Polish sentence structure.

2. Transport

Traveling around the country you are in is a part of most adventures abroad. Let’s start with useful taxi phrases:

• Chciałbym / Chciałabym dojechać do [destination]. – I’d like to get to [destination].
  
  The forms are for male and female speakers respectively.
  
  Ex. Chciałbym / Chciałabym dojechać do dworca kolejowego. – I’d like to get to the train station.


• Ile ten kurs będzie kosztować? – How much will this trip cost me?
  


• Czy mógłby się Pan / Czy mogłaby się Pani zatrzymać? – Could you stop the car, Sir / Madam?

Is getting a taxi in Poland easy? You’ll learn everything you need from a guide on taxis in Poland. If you’re on a budget traveling by bus may be a better alternative for you:

• Gdzie powinienem / powinnam wysiąść? – Where should I get off?
  
  The first verbal form would be used by a male speaker, the second by a female speaker.


• Którym autobusem mogę dojechać do [destination]? – Which bus should I take to get to [destination]?
  
  Ex. Którym autobusem mogę dojechać do centrum? – Which bus should I take to get to the city center?
  


• Może mi Pan / Pani powiedzieć, kiedy dojedziemy? – Could you tell me when we arrive, Sir / Madam? 

Another option, particularly for long distance traveling, are trains. Here are some handy phrases:

• Ile kosztuje bilet do [destination]? – How much is a ticket to [destination]?
  
  Ex. Ile kosztuje bilet do Krakowa? – How much is a ticket to Cracow?


• Poproszę bilet do [destination]. – A ticket to [destination], please.
  
  Ex. Poproszę bilet do Krynicy Morskiej. – A ticket to Krynica Morska, please.
  


• Gdzie jest peron numer [number]? – Where is the platform [number]?
  
  Ex. Gdzie jest peron numer 3? – Where is platform number 3?

Before traveling on a train you may also want to familiarize yourself with two lessons on train rides in Poland: reading the train schedule and reading your train ticket.

3. Shopping

Whether you love shopping or you like to keep it to the bare minimum, you’ll definitely have to buy some things during your trip. Below you’ll find useful expressions for when it happens:

• Ile to kosztuje? – How much does it cost?


• Ile kosztuje kilogram [object]? – How much is a kg of [object]?
  
  Ex. Ile kosztuje kilogram ziemniaków? – How much is a kg of potatoes?
  


• Czy jest na coś promocja? – Is there a promotion on anything?
  


• Co by Pan / Pani polecił / poleciła? – What would you recommend Sir / Madam?
  


• Czy mogę zapłacić kartą? – Can I pay by card?
  


• Reszty nie trzeba. – You can keep the change.  

Of course, the salesperson is likely to give you some numbers when answering your questions. To understand what they’re saying, learn how to use Polish numbers for daily usage with us. 

4. Restaurants

Traveling means also trying food of a given culture. Thus common Polish phrases for travelers have to include phrases useful when visiting restaurants:

• Na ile osób stolik? – A table for how many people do you need?


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


• Jestem wegetarianinem / wegetarianką. – I’m a vegetarian.
  
  Jestem weganinem / weganką. – I’m a vegan.
  
  In both expressions the first forms are for female speakers and the second forms for male speakers. 
  


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


• Wszystko było pyszne. – Everything was delicious.
  


• (Ja) poproszę spaghetti bolognese. – I’ll have spaghetti bolognese, please.
  


• Czy można prosić rachunek? – Can I have the bill, please? 

To learn what dishes to expect in Poland, check out our lesson on 10 Polish foods. 

5. Asking for and Giving Directions

Asking for directions and being asked about them is a common tourist experience when visiting any country abroad. For these reasons it simply had to make it to our list of Polish language travel phrases: 

• Gdzie jest [location]? – Where is [location]?
  
  Ex. Gdzie jest Muzeum Narodowe? – Where is the National Museum?


• Jak dojechać / dojść do [location]? – How to get to [location]?
  
  Ex. Jak dojechać do dzielnicy Kazimierz? – How to get to the Kazimierz district?
  
  If you use the verb dojechać, you ask about getting somewhere by private or public transport. You can’t use it if you could walk to a given place. 
  
  Jak dojść do stacji metra? – How to get to a subway station?
  
  The verb dojść refers to getting somewhere on foot. 
  


• Proszę skręcić w lewo / w prawo. – Please turn left / right.


• Proszę iść prosto. – Please go straight.
  


• [Location] będzie po prawej / lewej. – [Location] will be on your right / left.
  
  Ex. Apteka będzie po prawej / lewej. – The pharmacy will be on your right / left.

If you think you’ll be on foot a lot, our blog post on Polish directions (please link to my December article, not published yet) is a must before your trip. 

6. Emergencies

Ideally, you wouldn’t have to use any Polish travel phrases for emergencies during your trip. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to predict what may happen when traveling, which is why it’s also good to remember these Polish phrases:

• Pomocy! / Ratunku! – Help!


• Proszę zadzwonić na 112! – Please call 911!
  


• Proszę zadzwonić po karetkę / pogotowie! – Please call an ambulance!
  


• Czy jest tutaj lekarz? – Is there a doctor here?


• Zgubiłem / Zgubiłam paszport / portfel. – I’ve lost my passport / wallet.
  
  The first form is for male speakers, the second for female speakers. 

To be sure that you’re prepared for every situation, visit also our lesson on an emergency situation in Poland and the Polish police’s resource on personal safety that includes all relevant emergency numbers.   

7. Flattery Phrases

Flattery can win the hearts of other people, particularly when it’s sincere. That’s why common Polish phrases for travelers should also include some for expressing flattery: 

• Lubię Polaków / Polki. – I like Polish people / Polish women.


• Lubię polskie jedzenie. – I like Polish food.
  


• Lubię Polskę. – I like Poland.
  


• Chciałbym / Chciałabym, żebyśmy się zaprzyjaźnili. – I’d like us to be friends.
  
  The forms of the verb chcieć are for male and female speakers respectively. 
  
  Chciałabym, żebyśmy się zaprzyjaźnili / zaprzyjaźniły. – I’d like us to be friends.
  
  Female speakers have two options. If they’re talking to a man they’d say zaprzyjaźnili. If they’re talking to a woman they’d say zaprzyjaźniły. As the rule in Polish is that even one man in a group makes it masculine in gender, the only form for male speakers is zaprzyjaźnili. 
  


• Masz konto na Facebooku / Instagramie? – Are you on Facebook / Instagram?
  


• Dasz mi swój numer? – Could I have your number? 

These phrases go hand in hand with the top 10 compliments you always want to hear. 

8. Useful Phrases to Go through Language Problems

Even if you learn all Polish language travel phrases you may encounter some language problems. To go through them you’ll need some expressions:

• Mówisz po angielsku? – Do you speak English?
  
  The above is an informal version of this question.
  
  Mówi Pan / Pani po angielsku? – Do you speak English, Sir / Madam?
  
  The second version is used in formal situations.


• Nie rozumiem, możesz powtórzyć? – I don’t understand, can you repeat, please? (informal)
  
  Nie rozumiem, może Pan / Pani powtórzyć. – I don’t understand, can you repeat, please, Sir / Madam? (formal)
  


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


• Możesz to napisać? – Can you write it down, please? (informal)
  
  Może to Pan / Pani napisać? – Can you write it down, please, Sir / Madam? (formal)
  


• Jak to przeczytać? – How do you read this?

9. Bonus: Basic Hotel Phrases

Polish hotels and guesthouses in Polish cities are likely to have staff who’ll speak English well. In smaller towns or independent accommodation arrangements it may be more of an issue. These Polish phrases for travel will assist you if you’re stuck:

• Czy mają Państwo wolne pokoje? – Do you have any free rooms?


• Chciałbym / Chciałabym zarezerwować pokój dwuosobowy. – I’d like to book a double room.
  
  The first form is masculine and the second for female speakers. 
  


• Czy w pokoju są ręczniki? – Are there towels in the room?
  


• Czy pokój ma widok na morze? – Is it a room with a sea view?
  


• Ile kosztuje pokój dla jednej osoby? – How much is a single room?

Have you used any of these Polish language travel phrases yet? Let us know in the comments’ section. 

10. Final Thoughts 

Thanks to this blog post you’ve learnt basic Polish phrases for travelers. They’ll be useful in many everyday situations you could encounter during your travels. Don’t be shy and use Polish as much as you can when in Poland as this is the best language learning opportunity you could imagine. 

Polish travel phrases aren’t everything. Common Polish phrases for travelers are useful but they won’t allow you to have advanced conversations on any topic. To achieve that level you need a platform to structure your learning for you. PolishPod101 is just the right place for you. Try it today! 

Especially if you’re planning a prolonged visit to Poland, using the correct Polish numbers for counting in Polish could be very important! Number systems are the other alphabet in any language. In fact, it is a language all of its own, and it serves a multitude of excellent purposes.

Table of Contents

1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems
2. Why is it Important to Learn Polish Numbers?
3. Learning Polish Numbers
4. Why Choose PolishPod101 to Learn all about Polish Numbers?

1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems

1. The Ishango Bone

The origin of counting, and with it numbers, is not clear to historians. While their art showed that prehistoric man had a concept of numbers, the first indication of a formal system was found to be only between 20,000 and 35,000 thousand years old. This discovery came around 1960 in the form of the so-called Ishango Bone found in the Congo, Central Africa.

The 10cm/4 inch piece of bone was a fibula from a baboon. It showed markings with a neat, unified pattern of small lines – far too organized and sophisticated to have formed spontaneously. Archeologists believe that those thin markings were carved to keep score of, or count, something. The lines seemed to represent a sequence of prime numbers and a series of duplications. Some even called it the first-ever pocket calculator!

2. Mesopotamia and Greece

Yet, evidence suggests that it wasn’t until about 4,000 years ago that humans truly started counting and using numbers. Together with the development of civilization came developed agriculture, and the need for measurement and score-keeping was increased.

For this reason, a formal number system and mathematics were developed first in the Middle East, in what was then called Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia was roughly situated in the area of modern-day Iraq and Kuwait. Allegedly, the system was pretty simple at first. Citizens used tokens that represented a certain number of items, such as one token equalling four goats, etc. This eventually evolved into a system of score marks pressed into clay, which ultimately went on to influence Greek mathematics.

3. Hindu-Arabic Numbers

Zero, meanwhile, was conceived later and elsewhere. Inspired by the Hindu religion, which allows for the concept of infinity and eternity, the Indians invented a symbol to represent nothing. The magic of the zero lies not in itself but its combination with other numbers.

The Indians were also the creators of today’s numbers, which are often referred to as Hindu-Arabic numbers. These comprise one or a combination of just ten symbols or digits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0.

Europe learned of this numeric system only around 1200 A.D., when they were introduced to it by an Italian mathematician called Leonardo Pisano Bigollo.

Pisano, also known as Fibonacci, is famous for the discovery of a mathematical sequence with countless applications. Yes, math buffs, it’s the well-known Fibonacci sequence, also called the Golden Mean.

The Roman numeric system, which was clumsy next to the newer inventions, gradually lost popularity in the West. It’s from here that they “slowly spread to conquer the world,” as Steven Law puts it.

2. Why is it Important to Learn Polish Numbers?

For us at PolishPod101, this is an easy question to answer! Because we know that numbers are a global unifier.

Counting and numbers have made our lives easier since they were first formulated, even in their most primitive forms.

Without knowing your numbers, you can’t properly communicate about or deal with the following:

1) Your date/time of birth, i.e., your age: This is vital information to be able to give to people like doctors, employers, law enforcement, and so forth.

2) Banking: Worldwide, our monetary systems are built on numbers. Interest, credit scores, and loans all rely on math beyond simple finger counting.

3) Time: Without knowing how to say numbers, you can’t talk or ask about the time and expect to get a useful response. You don’t want to miss an appointment or schedule something for the wrong hour!

4) Ordering data: Numbers bring order to a mostly random life! Scientists even say that numbers and the way they are organized underpin the whole universe. From using them to count your meals’ calories and the number of likes your posts get on social media, to drawing up intricate data charts and explaining existence itself – numbers are what makes these things possible.

All of the above and more are reasons why it is important to know your numbers if you plan on travelling or becoming a foreign worker abroad, in Poland or anywhere else!

3. Learning Polish Numbers

Now, let’s explore the Polish number system a bit more! Take a look at this infographic.

Can you make out for yourself what the Polish numbers between one (1) and nine (9) look and sound like? Easy, right?

Or, if you struggled a bit, no problem. Why not listen to how Polish numbers one (1) through ten (10) sound when pronounced by our native Polish speaker and friendly PolishPod101 teacher?

Then, share with us in the comments your native language’s romanized pronunciation of your number system. We’d love to see all the different ways the same numbers can be pronounced!

When you have mastered the first ten numbers, you have basically nailed the most significant part of the number system. Well done! Curious to learn the numbers from eleven upward? No problem! Why not subscribe and enroll with us now to immediately enjoy this lesson, teaching you all about Polish numbers eleven (11) to one hundred (100)?

Finally, if you’re curious how the numbers look once you’ve broken one hundred, why not check out our Polish number vocabulary page? You can see the numbers we’ve just covered, all the way up to four thousand (4,000). Plus, you can also see the Polish words for different numbers used in example sentences, to get an idea of how you can use them in your day-to-day conversations!

4. Why Choose PolishPod101 to Learn all about Polish Numbers?

PolishPod101, like all Innovative Language Learning ventures, takes the pain out of learning a new language by adding a lot of fun. It’s never an easy thing to learn a new language, but we formulated all your lessons so they’re nicely bite-sized, and geared to keep you motivated!

Also, we created a great number of fantastic tools to help keep struggle and boredom out of the learning process.

• Fun and Easy Learning: It’s a commonly-known fact that when learning is made easy and fun, student motivation rises. And as motivation rises, so does the effort to learn – what a beautiful cycle! PolishPod101’s language learning system is designed to get you speaking from the onset. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective, and fun audio podcast lessons. Our Learning Center is comprehensive and state-of-the-art, with a vibrant user community to connect with! Our lessons are recorded with native hosts and voice actors, providing a diverse range of dialects in your lessons. You can be confident that native speakers will understand you when speaking Polish!
• Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Polish with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Polish dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about PolishPod101…!
• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Polish teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
• Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Polish word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Polish level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

So, why wait? Sign up with PolishPod101 right away! Also, let us know in the comments if you’ve used this blog post, or any of the free lessons anywhere to master Polish numbers. Or, even better – share your birthdate using what you’ve learned!

You’re learning to speak Polish, and it’s going well. Your confidence is growing! So much so that you feel ready to share your experiences on social media—in Polish.

At Learn Polish, we make this easy for you to get it right the first time. Post like a boss with these phrases and guidelines, and get to practice your Polish in the process.

1. Talking about Your Restaurant Visit in Polish

Eating out is fun, and often an experience you’d like to share. Take a pic, and start a conversation on social media in Polish. Your friend will be amazed by your language skills…and perhaps your taste in restaurants!

Maciek eats at a restaurant with his friends, posts an image of his food, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Obiadek na mieście. Nie ma to jak dobry schabowy!
“Eating out. There is nothing like a good pork cutlet.”

1- Obiadek na mieście.

First is an expression meaning “Eating out.”
In this phrase “dinner” is a diminutive. The latter part literally means “on the town” and is used whenever you go out to eat, do some shopping or run some errands.

2- Nie ma to jak dobry schabowy!

Then comes the phrase – “There is nothing like a good pork cutlet.”
You can use the phrase “there is nothing like a” when saying that something is good and usually traditional. This phrase is very nostalgic. “Pork cutlets” are arguably one of the most traditional Polish dishes, and the first dish a Polish person will miss when traveling abroad.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Baw się dobrze!

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Have a good time!”
This is a warmhearted wish for a good time.

2- Mniam, aż mi ślinka leci!

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Yummy, my mouth is watering!”
Tomek expresses a personal opinion about an observation – always a conversation starter!.

3- Wygląda apetycznie.

His supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “This looks delicious.”
Another positive comment, Maciek’s supervisor wishes to be part of the conversation.

4- Ślinotok…

His girlfriend’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Mouth watering.”
Ania shares everyone’s sentiments in a short and sweet comment.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

miasto (city): “city”

bawić się (“enjoy, have fun, play” ): “enjoy, have fun, play”

ślina: “saliva”

apetycznie: “invitingly (about food)”

ślinotok: “salivation”

wyglądać (to look): “to look like”

mniam: “yummy”

So, let’s practice a bit. If a friend posted something about having dinner with friends, which phrase would you use?

Now go visit a Polish restaurant, and wow the staff with your language skills!

2. Post about Your Mall Visit in Polish

Another super topic for social media is shopping—everybody does it, most everybody loves it, and your friends on social media are probably curious about your shopping sprees! Share these Polish phrases in posts when you visit a mall.

Kasia shop with her sister at the mall, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

Na doła najlepsze są zakupy.
“When you are down, shopping is the best medicine.”

1- Na doła

First is an expression meaning “when you are down.”
Literally, this expression means “in a pit,” but it’s similar to the English phrase “to be down,” suggesting that the downward direction is generally associated with “bad moods” across different cultures and languages.

2- najlepsze są zakupy

Then comes the phrase – “shopping is the best.”
Here we have the plural form of the verb ‘to be,’ because the noun ‘shopping’ doesn’t have a singular form in Polish.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Tylko wszystkiego nie wydaj.

Her boyfriend, Maciek, uses an expression meaning – “Just don’t spend all your money.”
Maciek enters the conversation with a realistic bit of advice.

2- Dobrze, że nie wzięłaś mojej Magdy ze sobą.

Her boyfriend’s college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “It’s good you didn’t take my Magda with you.”
This is a comment with personal details known possibly only to Kasia and Maciek’s friend Tomek. We assume he’s referring here to his girlfriend or wife. This type of comment could well elicit a response from the poster, encouraging conversation.

3- Jak szaleć to na całego.

Her high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “When you go crazy, you shouldn’t hold yourself back.”
Different from Maciek, Ania feels Kasia should not be limited in her spending. This type of commenting can evoke participation – a nice way to keep a thread alive!

4- Świetna ta spódnica!

Her boyfriend’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “This is a great skirt!”
Ula expresses appreciation for something he observes in the photo.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

na doła: “when feeling down”

tylko (just, only): “just, only”

wziąć: “to take “

szaleć (“get crazy, get mad, rock” ): “get crazy, get mad, rock”

świetny (great): “great”

spódnica (“skirt” ): “skirt”

zakupy: “shopping”

So, if a friend posted something about going shopping, which phrase would you use?

3. Talking about a Sport Day in Polish

Sports events, whether you’re the spectator or the sports person, offer fantastic opportunity for great social media posts. Learn some handy phrases and vocabulary to start a sport-on-the-beach conversation in Polish.

Maciek goes to the gym, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Nie ma jak siłka po pracy.
“There is nothing better than hitting the gym after work.”

1- Nie ma jak

First is an expression meaning “There is nothing like.”
This expression literally means “There is nothing like.” One can use it to express that they believe something is great and enjoyable.

2- siłka po pracy

Then comes the phrase – “gym after work.”
The first part of this expression is a less formal way of saying “gym”. This word comes from “force, strength.” The second part means “after work.”

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Podziwiam…

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “I admire you…”
This is a compliment, and will always go down well on a thread!

2- Wysiłek fizyczny jest bardzo ważny dla zdrowia.

His supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “Exercising is very important for your health.”
Bartek sounds a bit like a parent or an uncle with this advice – all in good spirit, though, and not inappropriate.

3- Wreszcie się wujek wziął za ten brzuszek piwny.

His girlfriend’s nephew, Franek, uses an expression meaning – “Finally, you (uncle) took care of your beer belly.”
Franek is maybe a bit young, so he uses sarcasm in an attempt to be humorous. Or perhaps this is the way he and Maciek banter with each other! Unless you know the poster well, or it is part of thread’s general style, criticizing someone’s appearance on social media could be disastrous.

4- Napisz lepiej ile wytrzymałeś?

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Better write down how long you lasted.”
This comment is similar in feel to Franek’s, so perhaps this is the way the males joke around with each other!

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

siłka: “gym”

podziwiać: “to admire”

ważny: “important”

wziąć się za: “to start dealing with (a problem)”

wytrzymać: “withstand”

ile (How many?): “How many?”

napisać (“to write; to write down” ): “to write, to write down”

Which phrase would you use if a friend posted something about sports?

But sport is not the only thing you can play! Play some music, and share it on social media.

4. Share a Song on Social Media in Polish

Music is the language of the soul, they say. So, don’t hold back—share what touches your soul with your friends!

Kasia listens to her favorite music, posts a link to a song, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

No taką muzykę to ja lubię…
“Well, this kind of music I do like!”

1- No taką muzykę

First is an expression meaning “Well, such a music.”
The first part is a very useful expression meaning “Well such a.” It is usually followed by a positive statement with a noun at the front (here “music” ) in the accusative form.

2- to ja lubię

Then comes the phrase – “this I like .”
By using an inversion in this sentence (putting “this” at the beginning), the statement becomes stronger. It’s important to use it in this order because it connects the previous part.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Fajne to.

Her neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Cool.”
Short and sweet, there’s no doubt how this poster feels about the song.

2- Przypomina mi się nasz pierwszy taniec…

Her boyfriend, Maciek, uses an expression meaning – “It reminds me of our first dance.”
The music makes Maciek nostalgic and feeling a bit romantic – always good to share positive memories on a friend’s feed!

3- Z tego, co pamiętam, to leciało na naszej studniówce.

Her high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “(As far) as I remember, they played this song at our prom.”
Ania has different but nevertheless positive memories of this song.

4- Maciek, jaki z Ciebie romantyk!

Her boyfriend’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “Maciek, what a romantic guy you are!”
Excellent! Ula is responding not to Kasia’s post, but Maciek’s, which means the conversation is alive! The comment is playful and harmless.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

muzyka (music): “music”

fajne: “cool”

przypominać się: “remind of”

pamiętać (to remember): “remember “

romantyk: “romantic person”

jaki (what…like, what (describing masculine nouns)): “what…like, what (describing masculine nouns)”

studniówka: “prom”

Which song would you share? And what would you say to a friend who posted something about sharing music or videos?

Now you know how to start a conversation about a song or a video on social media!

5. Polish Social Media Comments about a Concert

Still on the theme of music—visiting live concerts and shows just have to be shared with your friends. Here are some handy phrases and vocab to wow your followers in Polish!

Maciek goes to see a concert with his friends, posts an image of the band, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Dają czadu!
“They rock!”

1- dają

First is an expression meaning “they give.”
This is the plural form of “to give,” but in this phrase it means more like “show.” The whole phrase is a set expression, so one cannot change the verb or the noun.

2- czadu

Then comes the phrase – “rock, power.”
This word, meaning “power,” or just “rock,” is used as a set with the previous verb to form the phrase “They rock.” It is usually used by young people.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Miłej zabawy!

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Have fun!”
This is a warmhearted wish from Ola which is commonly used this way.

2- Zazdroszczę!

His girlfriend’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “I envy you!”
Ania clearly wishes she was part of the fun.

3- Nie najgorszy ten zespół.

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “This band isn’t too bad.”
Tomek shares a personal opinion about the band. He’s not raving about them, but he doesn’t dislike them either, so he’s feelings about them are mild.

4- Tylko nie wróć za późno.

His girlfriend, Kasia, uses an expression meaning – “Just don’t come back too late.”
Girlfriends! Perhaps she is concerned because he has to work tomorrow…or she just misses him.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

czad: “coolness”

zabawa: “fun”

zazdrościć: “envy”

zespół (“band, team” ): “band, team”

wrócić: “come back”

za (behind): “too”

późno: “late”

If a friend posted something about a concert, which phrase would you use?

6. Talking about an Unfortunate Accident in Polish

Oh dear. You broke something by accident. Use these Polish phrases to start a thread on social media. Or maybe just to let your friends know why you are not contacting them!

Kasia has broken her iPhone’s screen, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

I po iPhonie…
“And that’s it for my iPhone.”

1- I

First is an expression meaning “and.”
This conjunction is usually translated to “and” in English. In Polish it is usually used to connect two nouns rather than two sentences. Here, it starts the phrase, which means that there was something before that (but we don’t know what).

2- po iPhonie

Then comes the phrase – “that’s it for my iPhone..”
This literally means “after iPhone,” but this kind of expression is used to say that an event is over or, like in this case, that something is not working anymore. Notice that “iPhone” is a word that came from English; however, Poles like to change the endings depending on the grammatical case being used.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Zawsze możesz wymienić ekran.

Her neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “You can always replace the screen. ”
Ola has practical advice for Kasia.

2- I po co szajsfona kupowałaś?

Her boyfriend’s college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “And why did you buy the Not-So-Good-Phone?”
Tomek is probably not a fan of iPhones! This is a harmless comment which could elicit conversation about phone preferences.

3- Głowa do góry! Ważne, że działa!

Her boyfriend’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “Cheer up! It works and that’s what’s important!”
Ula also points out a positive aspect to Kasia’s situation.

4- A mówiłem cioci, żeby uważała.

Her nephew, Franek, uses an expression meaning – “I told you, auntie, that you should be careful.”
Franek sounds like Kasia’s mother! This type of comment can be playful and joking too.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

po (in): “after”

ekran: “screen”

szajsfon: “smartphone (slang)”

głowa (head): “head”

ciocia: “auntie”

żeby: “so that”

uważać (“to consider” ): “to consider”

If a friend posted something about having broken something by accident, which phrase would you use?

So, now you know how to discuss an accident in Polish. Well done!

7. Chat about Your Boredom on Social Media in Polish

Sometimes, we’re just bored with how life goes. And to alleviate the boredom, we write about it on social media. Add some excitement to your posts by addressing your friends and followers in Polish!

Maciek is bored, posts an appropriate selfie, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Umieram z nudów…
“I’m dying of boredom…”

1- umieram z

First is an expression meaning “I’m dying from.”
Poles love to complain, and one of the ways of doing that is by using this phrase. Note that the word that follows will be always a noun.

2- nudów

Then comes the phrase – “boredom.”
“Boredom” is a plural noun, which doesn’t have a singular form. In this phrase, it’s in the genitive case because the first part requires it.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Może coś obejrzysz?

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Maybe you should watch something?”
Ola offers advice again, eager that Maciek doesn’t suffer!

2- Posprzątaj mi pokój!

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Clean up my room!”
Tomek has practical advice as well, but he is most probably joking around.

3- Inteligentni ludzie się nigdy nie nudzą.

His girlfriend’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Intelligent people are never bored.”
Ania is stepping on thin ice! She probably has a very good relationship with Maciek, or this could sound like criticism. She is probably joking and wanting to draw him out.

4- Jest fajna pogoda, może pójdziesz na spacer?

His girlfriend, Kasia, uses an expression meaning – “It’s nice weather. Maybe go for walk?”
Kasia offers practical, down-to-earth advice.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

umierać: “die”

coś (anything; something): “anything; something”

pokój (room): “room”

nudzić się: “be bored”

fajna: “cool”

pogoda (weather): “weather”

spacer (“walk” ): “walk”

nuda: “boredom”

If a friend posted something about being bored, which phrase would you use?

Still bored? Share another feeling and see if you can start a conversation!

8. Exhausted? Share It on Social Media in Polish

Sitting in public transport after work, feeling like chatting online? Well, converse in Polish about how you feel, and let your friends join in!

Kasia is exhausted after work, posts an image of herself looking dog-tired, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

Padam… Nóg nie czuję.
“I’m dying… I don’t feel my legs.”

1- Padam…

First is an expression meaning “I’m dying….”
This literally means “I’m falling down” and is very often used to communicate that one is so tired that he or she cannot stand anymore.

2- Nóg nie czuję.

Then comes the phrase – “I don’t feel my legs..”
This is yet another very common phrase to complain about being tired, especially after walking a lot.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Kolacja czeka.

Her boyfriend, Maciek, uses an expression meaning – “Dinner’s waiting.”
Maciek is being supportive and encouraging – a sweet comment from a boyfriend. Kasia can look forward to a welcoming home.

2- Masaż?

Her neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Massage?”
Is Ola offering a massage or is she making a suggestion? Only she and Kasia will know!

3- Nie przepracowuj się tak.

Her high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Don’t work too hard.”
Ania is showing her sympathy with Kasia’s predicament, offering caring advice.

4- Weź gorącą kąpiel.

Her boyfriend’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “Take a hot bath.”
Yet more advice – Kasia has a whole list of things she could do at home to feel better!

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

padać (“to fall (of atmospheric precipitation)” ): “to fall (of atmospheric precipitation)”

kolacja: “supper”

masaż: “massage”

przepracowywać się: “work too hard”

kąpiel: “bath”

brać kąpiel: “take a bath”

czekać (“wait” ): “wait”

czuć: “feel”

If a friend posted something about being exhausted, which phrase would you use?

Now you know how to say you’re exhausted in Polish! Well done.

9. Talking about an Injury in Polish

So life happens, and you manage to hurt yourself during a soccer game. Very Tweet-worthy! Here’s how to do it in Polish.

Maciek has broken his leg, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

No i noga w gipsie.
“And a leg in a cast!”

1- no i

First is an expression meaning “and .”
Yet another way of saying “and.” It is used mostly at the beginning of a sentence and is closer in meaning to “and then” or “and finally.”

2- noga w gipsie.

Then comes the phrase – “a leg in the cast.”
This expression literally means “a leg in a cast.” Note that the first part meaning “leg” can be changed to any body part without having to change the latter part.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Daj się podpisać!

His girlfriend’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Let me sign it for you!”
Ania chooses to respond positively to this shocking news. Perhaps she already knew?

2- Jak to zrobiłeś?

His girlfriend, Kasia, uses an expression meaning – “How did you do that?”
Well, Kasia learns about this only now, and she is curious as to how he injured himself.

3- Zdrowiej szybko!

His high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “Get well soon!”
This is a traditional, often-used comment to wish someone good health.

4- Spokojna głowa, dasz radę!

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “No worries, you’ll manage!”
Tomek feels confident that Maciek won’t suffer too much.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

noga (“leg” ): “leg”

podpisać: “sign”

zrobić (“to take (pictures only); to do, to make” ): “to take (pictures only); to do, to make”

szybko (fast): “fast”

spokojny: “peaceful”

głowa (head): “head”

dać radę: “keep going, manage”

gips: “cast”

If a friend posted something about being injured, which phrase would you use?

We love to share our fortunes and misfortunes; somehow that makes us feel connected to others.

10. Starting a Conversation Feeling Disappointed in Polish

Sometimes things don’t go the way we planned. Share your disappointment about this with your friends!

Kasia is disappointed that it’s raining, posts an image of it pouring down, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

Nie znoszę deszczu…
“I hate rain…”

1- nie znoszę

First is an expression meaning “I can’t stand.”
This is a relatively strong way to say that one hates something. You can use a softer expression, but this one sounds better when complaining about the rain.

2- deszczu

Then comes the phrase – “rain.”
“Rain” is in the genitive case. You have to use this case because the whole sentence is a negation.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- My na wakacjach i też pada.

Her neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “We’re on vacation and it’s also raining.”
Ola is sharing Kasia’s sentiments and shares a personal detail – a good way to keep a conversation going on a thread!

2- Głowa do góry!

Her high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Cheer up!”
Ania has short and bold advice for the situation.

3- My jesteśmy w Indonezji i na pogodę nie narzekamy.

Her supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “We’re in Indonesia, and we can’t complain about the weather.”
Bartek is luckier; he shares this with a personal detail.

4- Ja też nie.

Her boyfriend, Maciek, uses an expression meaning – “Me neither.”
Use this expression to show you are feeling determined.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

znosić: “put up with”

wakacje: “vacation”

do (to, until): “to, until”

narzekać: “complain”

też (also, too): “also, too”

góra (mountain): “up, upwards”

pogoda (weather): “weather”

deszcz (rain): “rain”

How would you comment in Polish when a friend is disappointed?

Not all posts need to be about a negative feeling, though!

11. Talking about Your Relationship Status in Polish

Don’t just change your relationship status in Settings, talk about it!

Maciek ask Kasia to be his girlfriend, posts an image of them together, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Moja druga połówka…
“My other half…”

1- moja

First is an expression meaning “my.”
This form of “my” is used only when referring to a feminine noun. For masculine and neuter nouns one would have to change the ending.

2- druga połówka

Then comes the phrase – “second half.”
One can use “second half” to refer to a loved one, or to put it simply, to their “other half”.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Gratulacje!

His girlfriend’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations!”
This traditional comment on any news of this nature is commonly and widely used.

2- Nareszcie!

His high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “It’s high time!”
Ula probably saw this relationship coming! Hers is a positive comment in this context.

3- Super.

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Super.”
Ola also thinks this is good news and says so with a short and sweet comment.

4- Łał!

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Wow!”
Tomek is also amazed, also keeping his comment short.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

moja: “my”

gratulacje: “congratulations”

nareszcie: “finally”

super (super): “super”

łał: “wow”

druga (“second” ): “second”

połówka: “half”

What would you say in Polish when a friend changes their relationship status?

Being in a good relationship with someone special is good news – don’t be shy to spread it!

12. Post about Getting Married in Polish

Wow, so things got serious, and you’re getting married. Congratulations! Or, your friend is getting married, so talk about this in Polish.

Kasia gets married, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

Z moim jedynym.
“With my one and only.”

1- z moim

First is an expression meaning “with my.”
“With my” suggests that the object of the sentence is a man or another masculine noun. For a woman you would have to change the ending.

2- jedynym

Then comes the phrase – “only, sole.”
“Only” here is really more like “the only one”. It will always refer to a man. For a woman you would have to change the ending.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Moja żona.

Her husband, Maciek, uses an expression meaning – “My wife.”
Sometimes, less is more, and Maciek is clearly very proud to call Kasia his wife. His short, sweet comment speaks volumes!

2- Szybcy jesteście.

Her high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “You guys are fast.”
Ania makes an observation that could be neutral or loaded in nature, depending on the personal context.

3- Tak się cieszę!

Her husband’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “I’m so happy!”
Ula is clearly very happy about this marriage.

4- Serdecznie Wam gratuluję.

Her supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “I would like to congratulate you.”
Bartek’s slightly stilted comment is the longer version of the traditional way to congratulate people on happy events.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

z (with): “with”

żona (wife): “wife”

szybki: “fast”

cieszyć się: “enjoy”

serdecznie: “heartily”

wy: “you (plural)”

gratulować: “congratulate”

mój (my, mine): “my, mine”

How would you respond in Polish to a friend’s post about getting married?

For the next topic, fast forward about a year into the future after the marriage…

13. Announcing Big News in Polish

Wow, huge stuff is happening in your life! Announce it on social media in Polish.

Maciek is going to be a dad, posts an image of him and a pregnant Kasia, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Niedługo będzie nas troje.
“Soon there will be three of us.”

1- niedługo

First is an expression meaning “soon.”
This adverb actually means “not long,” however we write it as one word. You can use it when talking about things that will happen soon. The word usually comes at the beginning of the sentence.

2- będzie nas troje

Then comes the phrase – “there will be three of us.”
This phrase is in the future tense. It signifies that a change will happen.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Wspaniale!

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Great!”
Ola leaves an enthusiastic, one-word comment to express how she feels about this news.

2- Chłopczyk czy dziewczynka?

His wife’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “A boy or a girl?”
Ania wants more information, which is a good way to keep a conversation rolling.

3- Oby się nie wdało w tatę!

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Hopefully it won’t be like its daddy!”
Tomek makes fun of his friend and pulls his leg with this comment.

4- Będę miał kuzyna!

His wife’s nephew, Franek, uses an expression meaning – “I will have a cousin!”
Franek seems happy for a change! He states the obvious, but it means a lot to him.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

troje: “three”

wspaniale: “wonderfully “

dziewczynka (“girl (2-15)” ): “girl (2-15)”

oby: “may, if only”

mieć (to have): “have “

chłopczyk: “boy “

kuzyn: “cousin”

niedługo: “soon”

Which phrase would you choose when a friend announces their pregnancy on social media?

So, talking about a pregnancy will get you a lot of traction on social media. But wait till you see the responses to babies!

14. Posting Polish Comments about Your Baby

Your bundle of joy is here, and you cannot keep quiet about it! Share your thoughts in Polish.

After the birth of their baby, Kasia posts an image of the sweet angel, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

Nasza córeczka!
“Our daughter!”

1- nasza

First is an expression meaning “our.”
This possessive pronoun communicates that one thing is owned by two or more people. The ending of it will change depending on the gender of the noun that follows.

2- córeczka

Then comes the phrase – “lovely daughter.”
Even though this noun means “daughter,” it is a diminutive, which changes the meaning to “lovely daughter,” showing the love that parents have for their child.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Najpiękniejsza na świecie.

Her husband, Maciek, uses an expression meaning – “The most beautiful one in the world.”
Daddy is clearly very proud! His post is in answer to Kasia’s.

2- Wykapany tatuś!

Her college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Just like daddy!”
Tomek thinks the girl takes after her father!

3- Moje gratulacje!

Her supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “My congratulations!”
Bartek shows his happiness with this short but positive comment.

4- Jaki słodziuch!

Her husband’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “What a cutie!”
Ula leaves an opinion about the baby, and his observation is quite common where babies are concerned.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

córeczka: “lovely daugther”

świat (world): “world”

tatuś: “daddy”

gratulacje: “congratulations”

jaki (what…like, what (describing masculine nouns)): “what…like, what (describing masculine nouns)”

moje (mine): “my”

słodziuch: “cute little thing”

wykapany: “just like (sb)”

If your friend is the mother or father, which phrase would you use on social media?

Congratulations, you know the basics of chatting about a baby in Polish! But we’re not done with families yet…

15. Polish Comments about a Family Reunion

Family reunions – some you love, some you hate. Share about it on your feed.

Maciek attends a family reunion, posts an image of the food-laden table, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Pękam… Nie ma to jak pierogi babci…
“I’m going to explode… There’s nothing like grandma’s pierogies.”

1- Pękam…

First is an expression meaning “I’m going to explode….”
This single verb literally means “to explode, to burst, to spring.” However, you can also use like in this phrase, meaning “to overeat.” Pierogies are sweet or savory dumplings common to Poland.

2- Nie ma to jak pierogi babci…

Then comes the phrase – “There is nothing like grandma’s pierogies..”
Polish people love pierogies. There are more than 100 kinds of them. But everyone knows that grandma’s pierogies are the best of all.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Wyglądają przepysznie.

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “They look delicious.”
Ola expresses her appreciation of the pierogies.

2- Nareszcie trochę przytyjesz!

His wife’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Finally you will gain some weight!”
Ania thinks Maciek is going to eat too much! She’s playful and joking with him, of course.

3- A gdzie to tak ładnie?

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Where is it? So nice.”
Tomek clearly wishes he could share in the feast!

4- Pójdzie w brzuszek.

His wife’s nephew, Franek, uses an expression meaning – “You will get a belly!”
Franek’s opinion is probably harmless because family can admonish one another like this.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

pękać: “explode, burst”

przepysznie: “deliciously “

trochę (a little): “a bit”

ładnie: “nice”

brzuszek: “tummy”

babcia (grandmother, grandma): “grandmother, grandma”

przytyć: “gain weight”

wyglądać (to look): “to look”

Which phrase is your favorite to comment on a friend’s photo about a family reunion?

16. Post about Your Travel Plans in Polish

So, the family are going on holiday. Do you know how to post and leave comments in Polish about being at the airport, waiting for a flight?

Kasia goes on holiday, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

No to urlop!
“Here come the holidays!”

1- no to

First is an expression meaning “well then.”
One can use this phrase to indicate that he or she will start something. It shows the speaker’s enthusiasm and engagement.

2- urlop

Then comes the phrase – “holiday.”
Even though this noun translates to “holiday” in English, in Polish it’s used only to refer to a work holiday.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Przywieźcie nam pogodę!

Her neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Bring us back nice weather!”
Ola is making conversation, using the weather as a topic.

2- Udanych wakacji.

Her supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “Have a nice holiday.”
This is a traditional positive wish when someone goes on holiday leave.

3- Odezwijcie się po przyjeździe.

Her husband’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “Let me know when you’re back.”
Ula leaves a friendly instruction as a comment.

4- Musimy się spotkać po przyjeździe.

Her college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “We have to meet (up) when you’re back.”
Tomek probably wants to chat about his friend’s holiday, right?

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

urlop (vacation, leave): “vacation, leave”

pogoda (weather): “weather”

udany: “successful”

odezwać się: “let…know, call”

musieć (“to have to, must” ): “to have to, must”

po (in): “after”

przyjazd: “arrival”

przywieźć: “bring”

Choose and memorize your best airport phrase in Polish!

Hopefully the rest of the trip is better!

17. Posting about an Interesting Find in Polish

So maybe you’re strolling around at the local market while on holiday, and find something interesting. Here are some handy Polish phrases!

Maciek finds something interesting at a market, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Ale czad!
“How cool!”

1- ale

First is an expression meaning “what a.”
This is usually a conjunction. However at the beginning of a sentence it means “what a.” It shows the amazement of the speaker.

2- czad

Then comes the phrase – “power.”
Young people love to use this phrase. Its other meaning is “carbon monoxide,” but most people use it to say that something is cool.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- A to co?

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “What is that?”
Ola wants to know more about Maciek’s find.

2- Yyy… Powiedz, że tego nie kupiłeś…

His wife, Kasia, uses an expression meaning – “Um… Please tell me that you didn’t buy this…”
Kasia is clearly not impressed with Maciek’s find!

3- Toż to klasyk!

His high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “Wow, that’s a classic (one)!”
Ula doesn’t seem to agree with Kasia, and thinks Maciek found something classic.

4- Też chcę!

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “I want one too!”
Tomek joins Ula in this positive statement.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

ale (but): “what a “

to (this): “this”

powiedzieć (to say; to tell): “to say; to tell”

klasyk: “classic”

też (also, too): “also, too”

chcieć (to want): “to want”

toż: “but”

kupić (to buy): “to buy”

Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s interesting find?

Perhaps you will even learn the identity of your find! Or perhaps you’re on holiday, and visiting interesting places…

18. Post about a Sightseeing Trip in Polish

Let your friends know what you’re up to in Polish, especially when visiting a remarkable place! Don’t forget the photo.

Kasia visits a remarkable place, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

60 minut opóźnienia, ale warto było…
“60-minute delay, but it was worth it…”

1- 60 minut opóźnienia

First is an expression meaning “60-minute delay.”
Poles love to complain about almost anything, and definitely one of the best ways to do so is by complaining about trains, planes, or buses being delayed. Which, by the way, still happens in Poland quite often.

2- ale warto było

Then comes the phrase – “it was worth waiting for”.
This phrase shows that something was worth doing. Note that the verb describing the action will be always in the infinitive.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Pięknie tam macie…

Her supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “You have it very beautiful there…”
Bartek comments with an opinion that shows his appreciation.

2- Też bym tak chciała…

Her neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “I would like this too…”
Ola would like to be where Kasia is!

3- Następnym razem weźcie mnie ze sobą do walizki.

Her high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Next time bring me with you in a suitcase.”
Ania is also not where she would like to be! This is a fun, joking comment.

4- Nieźle Wam tam!

Her husband’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “It’s pretty nice there, huh!”
Ula leaves a positive, appreciative comment.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

opóźnienie: “delay”

pięknie (beautiful, beautifully): “beautiful, beautifully”

tak (“yes” ): “so”

następny (next): “next”

nieźle: “not bad”

walizka (“suitcase” ): “suitcase”

razem: “together “

ale (but): “but”

Which phrase would you prefer when a friend posts about a famous landmark?

Share your special places with the world. Or simply post about your relaxing experiences.

19. Post about Relaxing Somewhere in Polish

So you’re doing nothing yet you enjoy that too? Tell your social media friends about it in Polish!

Maciek takes a rest, posts a selfie showing him relaxing in the sun, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Ciepełko i słoneczko!
“Warm and sunny!”

1- Ciepełko

First is an expression meaning “warm.”
This actually translates to “warmth.” It’s presented here in its diminutive form which shows the positive feelings of the writer.

2- i słoneczko

Then comes the phrase – “and sun.”
Same as with the noun above, the word “sun” is also in its diminutive form to match the mood of the entire phrase. This is a very common way of writing in social media, even among adults.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Nie za dobrze Wam tam.

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “You sure you’re not enjoying it a little too much.”
Tomek is joking around a bit with this comment. He is probably envious of Maciek!

2- Zazdroszczę… A u nas pełna zima.

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “I envy you… Here we’re in the middle of winter.”
Ola is making it clear that she’s envious! She also shares a personal detail about the weather where she is.

3- Zamień się!

His wife’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Switch places with me!”
Ania also makes her wish clear.

4- Ależ tam pięknie!

His supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “Oh, how beautiful!”
Bartek thinks the place where Maciek rests is beautiful, and says so simply!

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

ciepełko: “warm”

dobrze (well): “well”

zazdrościć: “envy”

zamienić się: “switch with sb”

ależ: “oh”

tam (there): “there”

pięknie (beautiful, beautifully): “beautiful, beautifully”

zima: “winter”

Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s feed?

The break was great, but now it’s time to return home.

20. What to Say in Polish When You’re Home Again

And you’re back! What will you share with friends and followers?

When Kasia when back home, she posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

No i jesteśmy z powrotem…
“And we’re back…”

1- No i jesteśmy

First is an expression meaning “Here we are.”
You can use this phrase when arriving somewhere, but only if you’re with more than one person. For example you could use it when traveling somewhere with friends or family.

2- z powrotem…

Then comes the phrase – “back….”
This word, meaning “back,” is usually used with verbs describing movement, like “to go” or “to come,” as well as the copula “to be.” It is the same as the English phrase “I am back.”

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- I jak było?

Her neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “How was it?”
Ola partakes in the conversation with a question.

2- Powrót do szarej rzeczywistości?

Her high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Back to reality?”
This could a rhetorical question, meaning Ania doesn’t really expect an answer, but it could well be a conversation starter too!

3- Witamy z powrotem.

Her supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “Welcome back.”
Kasia’s supervisor wishes her a welcome return.

4- To co? Planujecie kolejny urlop?

Her husband’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “So what? Are you planning the next vacation?”
Ula thinks maybe Kasia is down about the return, and he tries to cheer her up.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

z powrotem: “back”

jak (how): “how”

powrót: “return”

witamy: “welcome”

urlop (vacation, leave): “vacation, leave”

planować (to plan): “to plan”

szara: “grey”

rzeczywistość: “reality”

How would you welcome a friend back from a trip?

What do you post on social media when you’re partaking in something special, like a charity event?

21. It’s Time to Celebrate in Polish

It’s an important occasion and you wish to post something about it on social media. What would you say?

Maciek joins a charity event for a worthy cause, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Już 3 serduszka w tym roku!
“Already 3 hearts this year!”

1- Już 3 serduszka

First is an expression meaning “Already 3 hearts.”
The “hearts” in this expression refer to stickers you get when you donate money to the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity of Warsaw. These stickers are a way of saying “thank you for the donation,” but are also a way of marking people who have already donated. This way you won’t be asked to donate a second time, but most people will donate a few times anyway.

2- w tym roku

Then comes the phrase – “in this year.”
This phrase is made of the preposition meaning “in” and a phrase meaning “this year,” which needs to be in the genitive case.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- My też z żoną pomagamy.

His supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “My wife and I also donate.”
Bartek is making conversation with this comment.

2- Wrzucisz za mnie?

His wife’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “Will you donate for me?”
Ania clearly wants to be part of this!

3- Nasz Wojtuś jest wolontariuszem.

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Our Wojtus is a volunteer.”
This is again a comment where context would be important. Who is Wojtus?

4- Zacny cel!

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Worthy cause!”
Tomek comments with his appreciative opinion.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

serduszko: “little heart”

też (also, too): “also, too”

wrzucać: “throw in”

wolontariusz: “volunteer”

zacny: “noble”

cel (“goal, aim” ): “goal, aim”

pomagać (help): “help”

żona (wife): “wife”

If a friend posted something about a charity event, which phrase would you use?

This type of public events are not the only special ones to remember!

22. Posting about a Birthday on Social Media in Polish

Your friend or you are celebrating your birthday in an unexpected way. Be sure to share this on social media!

Kasia celebrates her birthday, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

Co za niespodzianka! Dziękuję, jesteście wspaniali!
“What a surprise! Thank you so much; you are wonderful!”

1- Co za niespodzianka!

First is an expression meaning “What a surprise!”
This phrase is used to express amazement and excitement. It also shows gratitude.

2- Dziękuję, jesteście wspaniali!

Then comes the phrase – “Thank you, you are wonderful!”
This is a great way to show one’s gratitude for something. You can use it when referring to a group of people but not to a single person.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Wszystkiego najlepszego.

Her neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Best wishes.”
Ola congratulates Kasia with a traditional, very short well-wish.

2- Latek przybywa.

Her high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “More and more years.”
Ania is joking with her friend here, commenting on growing older.

3- Najlepszego, kochanie.

Her husband, Maciek, uses an expression meaning – “All the best, baby.”
Maciek is leaving a short wish for his wife.

4- Spóźnione 100 lat!

Her college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Happy belated birthday!”
Tomek obviously forgot her birthday, but makes up for it with this belated birthday wish.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

niespodzianka: “surprise”

wszystko (“everything” ): “everything”

latka: “years (diminutive)”

kochanie: “sweetheart”

spóźniony (to be late): “late”

100 (sto): “one hundred”

co (what): “what”

przybywać: “increase”

If a friend posted something about birthday greetings, which phrase would you use?

23. Talking about New Year on Social Media in Polish

Impress your friend with your Polish New Year’s wishes this year. Learn the phrases easily!

Maciek celebrates New Year, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

Szczęśliwego nowego roku!

“Happy New Year”

1- Szczęśliwego

First is an expression meaning “happy.”
As in many other countries, in Poland, you usually wish friends and family a “happy” New Year. There are other expressions, however, that are less popular, especially among the younger generation.

2- nowego roku!

Then comes the phrase – “new year.”
In Poland people often send New Year’s greetings to each other. However, many people don’t realize that the “New Year” part should be written in lowercase letters, otherwise it will mean just the first day of the year.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Nawzajem.

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “And to you too.”
Ola responds directly to Maciek’s post, wishing him the same for the New Year.

2- Szampańskiej zabawy

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Champagne fun!”
Tomek is making conversation with this comment. The champagne refers to celebrations.

3- Do siego roku!

His high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “Happy New Year!”
Ula responds with another New Year’s greeting.

4- No i kolejny rok za nami!

His wife’s high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “And yet another year has passed!”
This is just a comment to make conversation, appropriate for this thread.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

nowy (new): “new”

nawzajem: “likewise”

szampański: “champagne”

do siego roku: “Happy New Year”

kolejny: “next”

za (behind): “behind”

zabawa: “fun”

szczęśliwy (happy): “happy”

Which is your favorite phrase to post on social media during New Year?

But before New Year’s Day comes another important day…

24. What to Post on Christmas Day in Polish

What will you say in Polish about Christmas?

Kasia celebrates Christmas with her family, posts an image of the celebrations, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Kasia’s post.

Życzę wszystkim Wesołych Świąt!
“I wish you all Merry Christmas!”

1- Życzę Wszystkim

First is an expression meaning “I wish you all.”
This phrase can be used when you want to wish something to a group of people. Also, the word for “you all” should be capitalized to show respect to the reader.

2- Wesołych Świąt!

Then comes the phrase – “Merry Christmas!.”
This is a very standard phrase commonly used to wish people Merry Christmas. However, the second part – “Christmas” – actually means “Holidays” in general. Nevertheless, this phrase always means Christmas.

COMMENTS

In response, Kasia’s friends leave some comments.

1- Jak tam? Karp już przygotowany?

Her high school friend, Ania, uses an expression meaning – “How is it going? Is the carp ready?”
Ania refers to a traditional Christmas fish dish usually served on Christmas day. She’s making conversation by asking questions.

2- A prezenty są?

Her college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “Any gifts?”
Tomek is also making conversation with this question.

3- Życzę Wam spokojnych i radosnych świąt.

Her supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “I wish you a peaceful and happy Christmas.”
Use this expression to be old fashioned.

4- Kolacja gotowa?

Her husband’s high school friend, Ula, uses an expression meaning – “Is dinner ready?”
Perhaps Ula wants an update as to how far the Christmas dinner is in terms of preparation.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

wesoły: “cheerful”

karp: “carp”

prezent (gift): “gift”

spokojny: “peaceful”

kolacja: “supper”

gotowy (ready): “ready”

jak (how): “how”

przygotować: “prepare”

If a friend posted something about Christmas greetings, which phrase would you use?

So, the festive season is over! Yet, there will always be other days, besides a birthday, to wish someone well.

25. Post about Your Anniversary in Polish

Some things deserve to be celebrated, like wedding anniversaries. Learn which Polish phrases are meaningful and best suited for this purpose!

Maciek celebrates his wedding anniversary, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Maciek’s post.

No i minął rok. Dziękuję, kochanie.
“And a year has passed. Thank you, darling.”

1- No i minął rok.

First is an expression meaning “And a year has passed..”
You can use this sentence to communicate that a certain amount of time has passed. This phrase conveys the emotions of the writer and the feeling that time is passing by very quickly.

2- Dziękuję, kochanie.

Then comes the phrase – “Thank you, darling..”
In Poland people often use “darling” to refer to their loved ones. One can use it to refer to their wife or husband, but it can also be used to refer to children.

COMMENTS

In response, Maciek’s friends leave some comments.

1- Gratuluję! Macie jeszcze przed sobą wiele wspaniałych lat!

His neighbor, Ola, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations! You have lots of wonderful years ahead of you!”
Ola clearly feels positive about the marriage, and leaves a positive comment for them.

2- Na zawsze z Tobą.

His wife, Kasia, uses an expression meaning – “Always with you.”
Kasia respond to her husband’s post with a comment of devotion to him.

3- Moje gratulacje! Oby tak dalej!

His supervisor, Bartek, uses an expression meaning – “(My) congratulations! Keep it up!”
Bartek also feels positive about this anniversary and congratulates the couple.

4- No to Ci się udało, szczęściarzu!

His college friend, Tomek, uses an expression meaning – “You lucky man!”
Tomek thinks Maciek has married well and says so.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

rok (“year” ): “year”

jeszcze (yet, again): “yet, again”

na zawsze: “forever”

gratulacje: “congratulations”

szczęściarz: “a lucky man”

udać się: “to work out”

kochanie: “sweetheart”

wspaniały (“outstanding, great, fantastic” ): “outstanding, great, fantastic”

If a friend posted something about Anniversary greetings, which phrase would you use?

Conclusion

Learning to speak a new language will always be easier once you know key phrases that everybody uses. These would include commonly used expressions for congratulations and best wishes, etc.

Master these in fun ways with Learn Polish! We offer a variety of tools to individualize your learning experience, including using cell phone apps, audiobooks, iBooks and many more. Never wonder again what to say on social media!