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“Where do you live?”

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“I live in Tokyo.”

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은행 계좌를 만들고 싶어요

eunhaeng gyejwaleul mandeulgo sip-eoyo.

I want to open a bank account.

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The Polish sentence structure is one of the most important things to study at the beginning of your language-learning journey. Constructing sentences in Polish is easy when you know the rules. So, are you ready to master the Polish word order?

Table of Contents

1. Polish Word Order: Overview
2. Polish Word Order Rules: SVO
3. Word Order with Adverbs
4. Polish Word Order with Modifiers
5. Check Your Understanding: Translation Exercise
6. Final Thoughts

1. Polish Word Order: Overview 

Let’s start with the basics: the Polish sentence structure for beginners. 

The basic word order in Polish is the so-called SVO, which means that the subject comes first, followed by the verb and the object (if there is an object). 

The word order in Polish isn’t fixed, but the SVO is a very common sentence structure. Polish allows for considerable creativity, particularly for the sake of emphasis. Having said that, using the SVO structure should come naturally to you as an English speaker, so try to stick to it in the beginning.

2. Polish Word Order Rules: SVO

As we said before, the Polish word order looks like this: 

subject + verb + (object) = SV(O)

The subject in a sentence is simply the doer of an activity, which is expressed by the verb. The object is the part of a sentence that’s affected by the verb. Like in English, an object isn’t always required in Polish sentences. 

Personal pronouns are dropped in Polish when it’s clear who the “doer” is. This means that a simple sentence in Polish could consist of only a verb. For example: 

• Czytam. 

“I’m reading.”

Most sentences, for obvious reasons, are more complicated than that: 

• Czytam (v) gazetę (o). 

“I’m reading a newspaper.”

To emphasize the “doer,” you can also say: 

• Ja (s) czytam (v) gazetę (o). 

“I’m reading a newspaper.”

The form of the verb czytać (“to read”) indicates that the subject is the first person singular, so it’s not really necessary to use a personal pronoun here.

Also note that Polish doesn’t have the simple or continuous aspects. This means that the same verb form is used to express both. For example: 

Czytam (v) gazetę (o). This sentence can be translated as “I’m reading a newspaper,” or “I read a newspaper.”

The meaning is derived from the context.

1- Emphasis and Word Order

From time to time, people change the word order in spoken Polish to stress a different part of the sentence: 

• (Ja) gazetę czytam. 

“I’m reading a newspaper.”

This sentence stresses the fact that I’m reading a newspaper and not something else. Please remember that it’s not necessary to use a personal pronoun. When it’s there, it’s read as emphasis: It’s I (and not somebody else) who’s reading the newspaper. 

2- Different Kinds of Sentences

The Polish sentence structure remains the same for different types of sentences, such as affirmation and negation: 

Affirmation

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) gazetę (o). 

“I’m reading a newspaper.”

Negation

• (Ja) (s) nie czytam (v) gazety (o). 

“I’m not reading a newspaper.”

Nie, used for negation, always directly precedes the verb. 

Exclamatory sentences

• Czytaj (v) gazetę (o)! 

“Read a newspaper!”

The subject is missing in this example, as it wouldn’t sound natural. 

Questions

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) gazetę (o)? 

“Am I reading a newspaper?”

Polish questions in spoken language are usually indicated by a rising tone. Sometimes in spoken Polish, and as a rule in written Polish, we add czy:

• Czy (ja) (s) czytam (v) gazetę (o)?

“Am I reading a newspaper?”

Czy doesn’t translate well into English as its meaning depends on the context. Have a look at the examples below:

• Czy czytałeś gazetę? 

“Were you reading a newspaper?” 

• Czy przeczytasz gazetę? 

“Will you read a newspaper?”

• Czy on czyta gazetę? 

“Does he read a newspaper?”

Remember to simply add czy in front of a sentence to form a question when you’re writing.

Now that we’ve covered the basic word order in Polish for simple sentences, let’s move on to discuss more complex ones. 

3. Word Order with Adverbs 

In Polish language word order, we usually place adverbs before the verb they modify. Here’s a number of examples for this Polish sentence structure: 

• (Ja) (s) szybko (a) czytam (v). 

“I read fast.”

Adverbs of manner, such as szybko (“fast”) and wolno (“slowly”), are placed in front of the verb. Would you like to learn some more adverbs? Check out our article, where you can find over 100 of them. 

• (Ja) (s) codziennie (a) czytam (v) gazetę (o). 

“I read a newspaper every day.”

Adverbs of time and frequency are also placed after the subject, but in front of the verb, if the sentence is a full SVO in Polish. To practice adverbs of frequency, go to our lesson titled “How often do you go to the gym in Poland?“

• (Ja) czytam (v) gazetę (o) w domu. 

“I read a newspaper at home.”

• (Ja) (s) w domu (a) czytam (v) gazetę (o). 

“I read a newspaper at home.”

Adverbs of place are often placed toward the end of the sentence. 

1- Change of Placement for Emphasis

The only time we’d change the structure is, yet again, for emphasis: 

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) szybko (a). 

“I read fast.”

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) gazetę (o) codziennie. 

“I read a newspaper every day.”

• (Ja) (s) w domu (a) czytam (v) gazetę (o). 

“I read a newspaper at home.”

4. Polish Word Order with Modifiers

Modifiers usually modify nouns, and are placed in front of them. Modifiers include adjectives, determiners, numerals, and relative clauses. Relative clauses are an exception as they’re placed after nouns. 

1- Placement of Adjectives

Adjectives describe qualities of nouns, like in the example below: 

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) ciekawą (adj) gazetę (o). 

“I’m reading an interesting newspaper.”

As you can see above, the adjective breaks up the (S)VO structure, creating (S)VADJO. Have a look at some more examples: 

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) starą (adj) gazetę (o). 

“I’m reading an old newspaper.”

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) lokalną (adj) gazetę (o). 

“I’m reading a local newspaper.”

Do you want to learn more adjectives in Polish? Check out this list of high-frequency adjectives. 

2- Determiners and Their Placement

A determiner lets you know which noun you’re talking about. Here’s an example of a determiner: 

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) tę (det) gazetę (o). 

“I’m reading this newspaper.”

Polish determiners also include: 

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) tamtą (det) gazetę (o). 

“I’m reading that newspaper.”

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) tamte (det) gazety (o). 

“I’m reading those newspapers.”

3- Polish Word Order with Numerals

“Numerals” is a fancy word for numbers. Just like other modifiers, they’re placed in front of the noun:

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) jedną (num) gazetę (o). 

“I read one newspaper.”

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) dwie (num) gazety (o). 

“I read two newspapers.”

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) trzy (num) gazety (o). 

“I read three newspapers.”

The pattern remains the same for all numerals. Do you know numbers in Polish well? If not, consult these pages: 

• Numbers 1 to 10

• Numbers 11 to 100

• Numbers 100 to 10,000

4- Polish Word Order Rules for Relative Clauses

A relative clause is an additional way to identify a noun. They’re an exception among modifiers, placed after the noun. Here’s a number of examples for Polish:

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) gazetę (o), którą lubię. 

“I’m reading a newspaper that I like.”

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) gazetę (o), którą mi poleciłeś. 

“I’m reading a newspaper that you’ve recommended to me.”

• (Ja) (s) czytam (v) gazetę (o), której nie znajdziesz w wielu sklepach. 

“I’m reading a newspaper that you won’t find in many shops.”

The main difference between the word order in Polish vs. English for relative clauses is that Polish rarely uses non-defining relative clauses. For example: 

“My mom, whom I love deeply, lives in England.” 

The direct translation is Moja mama, którą bardzo kocham, mieszka w Anglii, which is correct but not natural in Polish. A native speaker would be more likely to use two separate sentences to express the same idea. 

Have you noticed that relative clauses are preceded by a comma in Polish? You can learn more about Polish punctuation in the Wikipedia entry on Polish orthography. 

5. Check Your Understanding: Translation Exercise

Reading an article is one thing, and making sure that you understand it and can use what you’ve learned is another. This is why we’ve prepared a translation exercise for you. It will help you remember what you’ve read. Remember: practice makes perfect!

Step 1 

Translate the sentence “I eat a sandwich,” to Polish. Mark the subject, the verb, and the object. Are all parts of the sentence necessary or can you omit some? If you’re not sure, read the section Polish Word Order Rules: SVO again.

Step 2

Form a question with czy from the sentence “I eat a sandwich.”

Step 3

Add the adverb teraz (“now”) to the sentence “I eat a sandwich.”

Step 4

Add the adjective smaczną (“delicious”) in the correct form to the sentence “I eat a sandwich.” Speaking of delicious food, you should learn about the top 5 Polish dishes. 

Step 5

Include the determiner tę (“this”) to the sentence “I eat a sandwich.”

Step 6

Make the sentence “I eat a sandwich,” more specific by including the numeral jedną (“one”).

Step 7

Expand the sentence “I eat a sandwich,” by adding the relative clause którą mi kupiłeś (“that you’ve bought for me”). Don’t forget about the comma. 

How did it go? Was it difficult? Let us know in the comments section. 

6. Final Thoughts

Today you’ve learned a very important thing, and now you know how to form simple and more complicated sentences in Polish. You can also see the differences between the Polish vs. English sentence structures. Take your time to learn about the word order in Polish grammar, as it’s something you’ll have to build on in order to speak Polish well. 

Knowing the basic word order in Polish isn’t enough to become a fluent speaker, though. You’ll need more than that to master the language. Fortunately, PolishPod101 has everything you need! Create your lifetime account today and get access to countless audio and video lessons with native speakers. 

Remember to let us know about the results of your translation exercise before you go. 

Happy learning!

What time is it in Poland right now? Depending on your time zone, you may have to add or subtract hours to find this out, because this Eastern European country is in the GMT+2 time zone. 

Knowing the time in Poland allows you to be punctual for meetings and events, but to communicate effectively, you also need to know how to tell the time in Polish. Fortunately for you, we’ve prepared this resource to help you learn everything you need to know about it.

Table of Contents

1. Asking for the Time in Polish
2. Hours in Polish
3. Minutes in Polish
4. Polish Clock Time: “Half” and “Quarter”
5. General Time References
6. Adverbs of Time
7. Idiomatic Expressions, Proverbs, and Sayings
8. Final Thoughts

1. Asking for the Time in Polish

When you live in Poland or visit the country for a holiday or vacation, you may be approached by a stranger asking you for the time. You don’t want to be caught off-guard in this situation. Here’s some indispensable vocabulary to help you know when someone is asking you for the time—or when you want to know the current time in Polish yourself! 

• Która godzina? 

“What time is it?“

While this is the most common expression to ask about the time, godzina actually means “hour.” The word for “time” in Polish is czas. 

• Przepraszam, czy wiesz która jest godzina? 

“Excuse me, do you know what time it is?” [Informal]

In the informal context, we use the second person singular of the verb wiedzieć (“to know”), which is wiesz (“you know”).

• Przepraszam Panią, czy wie Pani, która jest godzina? 

“Excuse me, do you know what time it is?” [Formal, to a woman]

In the formal context, we use the third person singular of the same verb (wie – “he/she/it knows”) with the right form of the noun Pani (“Ma’am”) when dealing with a woman or Pan (“Sir”) when dealing with a man: 

• Przepraszam Pana, czy wie Pan, która jest godzina? 

“Excuse me, do you know what time it is?”

There’s also another Polish expression used to ask about time: Czy masz zegarek? It translates literally as “Do you have a watch?” Remember that there’s a difference between the word “watch” (zegarek) and “clock” in Polish (zegar). 

Sometimes you have to ask about the time in a specific context, such as when you want to know what time an event or a meeting will take place. It’s important to be on time in Poland, and especially important not to be late for work as Polish people are pretty strict about it.

• O której jest…? 

“What time is…?”

…spotkanie? 

“…the meeting?”

…Twoja randka? 

“…your date?”

…impreza? 

“…the party?”

How do you tell someone the current time or the time of an event that’s yet to come? You’ll find out in the next section. If you’d like to know survival phrases related to time, such as “What time does the museum open?“, spend some time exploring PolishPod101. 

2. Hours in Polish 

Although in Polish, both the twelve-hour clock and the twenty-four-hour clock are used, the twenty-four-hour clock is preferred in formal communication. Let’s first focus on the twelve-hour clock, which is used in many English-speaking countries. 

1- Twelve-hour Clock 

Does six o’clock mean six o’clock in the morning in Polish, or in the evening? As you can see, using the twelve-hour clock may cause confusion. This is why, when the context isn’t clear, you should clarify what time of day you mean by adding certain expressions, similar to A.M. and P.M. in English: 

• Dwunasta 

“12 o’clock”

• Dwunasta w nocy / Północ 

“Twelve at night” / “Midnight”

• Dwunasta w południe / Południe 

“12 P.M.” / “Midday” / “Noon”

Both “midnight” and “midday” are an exception to the rule, but otherwise, the way to say A.M. and P.M. in Polish is predictable. 

• Pierwsza 

“1 o’clock”

• Pierwsza rano 

“1 A.M.“

• Pierwsza po południu 

“1 P.M.“

The next hours follow the same pattern as “1 o’clock.” So to express “A.M.,” we add rano after the name of the hour; to express “P.M.,” we add po południu.

• Druga 

“2 o’clock”

• Trzecia 

“3 o’clock”

• Czwarta 

“4 o’clock”

• Piąta 

“5 o’clock”

From six P.M. onwards, you don’t say szósta po południu, but szósta wieczorem meaning “6 in the evening”: 

• Szósta 

“6 o’clock”

• Szósta wieczorem 

“6 P.M.”

The pattern of saying “in the evening” in Polish continues for the remaining hours:

• Siódma 

“7 o’clock”

• Ósma 

“8 o’clock”

• Dziewiąta 

“9 o’clock”

• Dziesiąta 

“10 o’clock”

• Jedenasta 

“11 o’clock”

How do you use them in a sentence? It’s very simple. Have a look: 

• Która jest godzina w Polsce? 

“What is the time in Poland?”

• Jest jedenasta rano. 

“It’s 11 A.M.”

• Jest ósma wieczorem. 

“It’s 8 P.M.”

In other words, we simply use the conjugated verb jest and add the hour with or without the indicator for A.M./P.M. Just like in English, in Polish, people often use numbers instead of full written words (e.g. for “7 A.M.” they’d write 7 rano instead of siódma rano). 

2- Twenty-four-hour clock

Talking about the time using the twenty-four-hour clock is much simpler. It’s also less confusing as there are twenty-four hours in a day. When you name one of these hours, there’s no doubt what you mean:

• Która godzina? 

“What time is it?”

• Jest… 

“It’s…”

…północ – 00:00 – “midnight”

…pierwsza – 01:00 – “…1 A.M.”

…druga – 02:00 – “…2 A.M.”

…trzecia – 03:00 – “…3 A.M.”

…czwarta – 04:00 – “…4 A.M.”

…piąta – 05:00 – “…5 A.M.”

…szósta – 06:00 – “…6 A.M.”

…siódma – 07:00 – “…7 A.M.”

…ósma – 08:00 – “8 A.M.”

…dziewiąta – 09:00 – “9 A.M.”

…dziesiąta – 10:00 – “10 A.M.”

…jedenasta – 11:00 – “11 A.M.”

…dwunasta – 12:00 – “12 P.M.”

…trzynasta – 13:00 – “1 P.M.”

…czternasta – 14:00 – “2 P.M.”

…piętnasta – 15:00 – “3 P.M.”

…szesnasta – 16:00 – “4 P.M.”

…siedemnasta – 17:00 – “5 P.M.”

…osiemnasta – 18:00 – “6 P.M.”

…dziewiętnasta – 19:00 – “7 P.M.”

…dwudziesta – 20:00 – “8 P.M.”

…dwudziesta pierwsza – 21:00 – “9 P.M.”

…dwudziesta druga – 22:00 – “10 P.M.”

…dwudziesta trzecia – 23:00 – “11 P.M.”

…dwudziesta czwarta – 24:00 – “12 A.M.” 

The last expression is only acceptable in speech. In writing, you’d use the word at the beginning of the list: północ for “midnight.” 

3- Useful Expressions

Here’s a handful of useful expressions and examples of how to use them, so that you can do a bit more than just saying the time in Polish.

• Jest już piąta po południu.

“It’s already 5 o’clock!”

• Nie ma jeszcze czwartej. 

“It’s not 4 o’clock (yet).” 

• Już prawie dwudziesta pierwsza. 

“It’s almost 9 P.M.” 

3. Minutes in Polish

“A minute” in Polish is minuta. Using the hours and minutes together will allow you to give someone the exact time in Polish.

Let’s look at how to write time in Polish a few different ways:

• Jest… 

“It’s…”

…11.38

…11:38

…11³⁸ 

…11³⁸

If you don’t know the numbers in Polish well yet, study the numbers from 1-10 and 11-10:

• Jest jedenasta trzydzieści osiem. 

“It’s eleven thirty-eight.”  

That reminds me of one special way of telling time in Poland. Since 1936, a “speaking clock” (zegarynka) has been telling time in Polish to everyone who calls a special number (19226).  

1- Using “Past” and “To” with Minutes

It’s useful to know how to use “past” (po) and “to” (za) when telling the time in Polish. The following examples show you how to use these words while answering the question: “What’s the current time in Poland?”:

• Jest dwanaście po trzeciej.

“It’s 12 past 3.”

• Jest dwadzieścia dwie po drugiej.

“It’s 22 past 2.”

Are you wondering why you see the word trzeciej instead of trzecia, and drugiej instead of druga? This is because nouns in Polish have cases. You can find out more about them by visiting the lesson Painless Polish Grammar.

After “half past,” we start to use “to” (za): 

• Jest za dwadzieścia dwunasta. 

“It’s 20 to 12.” 

If we were to translate it literally, it’d be “It’s in 20 (minutes) 12.” It makes no sense in English, but shows you that the structure of how to say time in Polish with za and minutes is:

Za (“to”) + number of minutes “missing” + the upcoming hour 

Here’s another example: 

• Jest za pięć ósma. 

“It’s 5 to 8.” (Or in literal translation “It’s in 5 [minutes] 8.”)

Did you notice that there’s no need to say what time of day it is? It’s because with conversations about the exact time, the context is almost certainly understandable for both speakers. 

2- Useful Expressions with “Minute”

“A minute” in Polish, just like in English, is used in a number of idiomatic expressions. You’ll find them below:

• Potrzebna mi jeszcze minutka. 

“I need one more minute.”  

• Czy masz minutę?

“Do you have a minute?”

Another way of saying the same thing is Czy masz chwilę? (“Do you have a spare moment?”)  

• Zabierze Ci to dwie minuty. 

“It’ll take you two minutes.”

4. Polish Clock Time: “Half” and “Quarter”

To become a pro in telling time in Polish, you need to acquire skills to talk about “halves” and “quarters.” 

1- Quarter Past and To

The good news is that you already know how to say: 

• Jest dziewiąta piętnaście.

“It’s 9:15.”

• Jest piętnaście po trzeciej.

“It’s 15 past 3.”

• Jest za piętnaście czwarta.

“It’s 15 to 4.”

You can express the same idea by mentioning a “quarter” (kwadrans):

• Jest kwadrans po drugiej. 

“It’s a quarter past two.” 

• Jest za kwadrans dwunasta. 

“It’s a quarter to 12.” 

That wasn’t too difficult, was it? I have no idea why the BBC in the article 10 Facts about the Polish Language claims it’s one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn… 

2- Half Past and To

You also already know how to say “half past.” We covered this topic earlier on, but here’s a reminder on how to answer the question “What is the time in Poland?”: 

• Jest trzynasta trzydzieści. 

“It’s 13:30.”

It’s also possible to say that thirty minutes are “missing” before a certain hour. In English there’s no such thing, but try to think about it as “half to.” To say “It’s 13:30” in this manner, you’d say: 

• Jest w pół do drugiej. 

Literally: “It’s half to two.”

After jest, you need to add w pół do (“half to”) and the hour that’s about to come. Have a look at another example:

• Jest w pół do czwartej. 

“It’s half past three.” (Literally: “It’s half to four.”)

I know it’s a new idea, but with some practice you’ll get the hang of it!

5. General Time References

You already know that to say A.M. in Polish, we add rano to the hour. You also know that to say P.M. in Polish, we use po południu until five o’clock, and wieczorem from six o’clock onwards. There are also other time references that are useful when you’re trying to learn time in Polish:

wcześnie rano	“early in the morning“
wschód Słońca	“sunrise”
wczesne popołudnie	“early in the afternoon“
zachód Słońca	“sunset”

Here you can see the above-mentioned expressions used in sentences:

• Wstaję wcześnie rano. 

“I wake up early in the morning.”

• Oglądam wschód Słońca. 

“I watch the sunrise.” Noqw  Poland. For instance, in the morning, you should greet people by saying Dzień Dobry (“Good morning”) and in the evening you say Dobry wieczór (“Good evening”).

Would you like to learn more about this topic? Check out the lessons Saying Hello No Matter the Time of Day in Polish and Polish Farewells on PolishPod101. 

1- Weeks, Months, and Years

You know how to talk about specific parts of the day and how to answer the question “What time is it in Poland?”, but you should also learn other expressions referring to longer periods of time: 

tydzień — “week”

• Tydzień to 7 dni. 

“A week is 7 days.”

miesiąc — “month”  

• Miesiąc to 30 lub 31 dni.

“A month is 30 or 31 days.”

rok — “year”

• Rok to 12 miesięcy.

“A year is 12 months.”

Knowing how to tell time in Polish and how to ask for it are important skills, but it’s equally important for you to be able to talk about dates. If you don’t know how to do it yet, read our article about reading dates in Polish.

6. Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time are used to indicate when something happened or how long it lasted. They include the following: 

• Mam czas teraz.

“I have time now.”

• Obecnie jestem w Warszawie.

“Currently I’m in Warsaw.”

• Urodzili się w tym samym czasie.

“They were born at the same time.”

• Piję kawę po śniadaniu.

“I drink coffee after breakfast.”

• Jem śniadanie przed pracą.

“I eat breakfast before work.”

• Niedługo skończę.

“I’ll finish soon.”

• Wyjeżdżam na długi czas.

“I’m going away for a long time.”

• Zrób to tak szybko jak to możliwe.

“Do it as soon as possible.”

7. Idiomatic Expressions, Proverbs, and Sayings

You’ve mastered the skills you need to chat about the Polish clock time. Well done! Now, it’s time to learn a number of idiomatic expressions, proverbs, and sayings to enrich your Polish vocabulary.  

1- Idiomatic Expressions Related to Time

• Marnujesz czas.

“You’re wasting your time.”

• To strata czasu.

“It’s a waste of time.”

• Nie ma czasu do stracenia.

“There’s no time to waste.”

There are also two Polish equivalents for “It’s high time…” (Najwyższy czas… and Najwyższa pora…):

• Najwyższy czas/Najwyższa pora na naukę polskich przysłów.

“It’s high time to learn Polish proverbs.”

2- Proverbs and Sayings Related to Time

What English proverbs and sayings related to time are also used in Polish? Let’s have a look:

• Czas to pieniądz.

“Time is money.”

• Jak ten czas leci! / Ale ten czas leci! 

“Time flies.”

• Czas leczy wszystkie rany. 

“Time heals all wounds.”

• Komu w drogę, temu czas.

Roughly translated as “It’s time to go.” 

This proverb means that the faster you start doing something, the faster you’ll finish. 

• Nie czas żałować róż, gdy płoną lasy. 

This proverb translates as “Don’t cry over roses, when the forest is on fire.” 

This is a reminder of priorities and the need to focus on the biggest problem first. 

8. Final Thoughts

We hope that you’ve enjoyed learning about telling the time in Polish. You’ll have no problems answering the question “What is the time in Poland?”, giving people the exact time in Polish, or asking them about the time if you forget your watch. You’ve also memorized a number of useful expressions related to time. 

If you want to become more confident in your Polish skills, get a free account with PolishPod101. It’s an amazing opportunity to practice the language by listening to real life dialogue with native speakers on a platform available 24/7.  

Don’t forget to let us know what time it is where you are right now, in Polish. In case you have any questions, don’t be shy. We’re here for you!

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!

Do you remember being a kid? The world was bigger, our imaginations seemed to cover more ground, and weekends, summer vacation, and holidays were the best thing ever!

In Poland, International Children’s Day doesn’t mean a day away from school, but it is a day of fun and enjoyment for children across the country! In this article, you’ll learn about Polish Children’s Day celebrations, the holiday’s history, and some useful vocabulary.

Let’s get started.

1. What is International Children’s Day?

This holiday has roots in the United States, having started when a Massachusetts pastor gave a special sermon for and about children in 1857. However, International Children’s Day officially began in 1925 when the World Conference on Child Welfare declared it in Geneva, Switzerland. The holiday quickly spread from then on, and International Children’s Day in Poland was officially recognized in 1950.

Polish Children’s Day is predominantly a day for children to have zabawa (“fun”) and enjoy themselves. There’s also an emphasis on protecting children’s rights—particularly those outlined in the Konwencja o prawach dziecka (“Convention on the Rights of the Child”)—to ensure that they have a fulfilling dzieciństwo (“childhood”).

→ See our vocabulary lists on the Must-Know Terms for Family Members and Common Polish Phrases to Know About Having a Baby for some relevant vocab!

2. Children’s Day Date

Each year, Poles celebrate International Children’s Day on June 1. This is when many other countries (though not all) celebrate this holiday as well.

3. How to Celebrate International Children’s Day

Activities for International Children’s Day vary from year to year, and there are no set traditions set in place. This is not a national holiday, meaning that children (unfortunately) still have to go to school on International Children’s Day.

Still, schools and parents do what they can to make this a radosny (“joyful”) holiday for the kids. Schools often organize special activities, usually involving sports competitions or other games such as tug-of-war. Parents may spend extra time with their children, make their child’s favorite dinner, or give their child a new zabawka (“toy”) and słodycze (“sweets”).

On International Children’s Day, Poland is also experiencing its first bout of summer. This makes Children’s Day in Poland a fantastic time to engage in outdoor activities such as picnics or outdoor games. In 2015, even then-Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz got involved, inviting several children for a picnic with her.

Another defining feature of Poland’s take on this holiday is the Parliament of Children and Youth. Each year on Children’s Day, Poland’s chosen high school students—determined by the quality of essays they write on a given topic—meet together and discuss modern topics of interest concerning the country’s youth. The parliament has gathered together each year since 1994, and Poland is the first European country to have organized such a parliament.

→ How will you spend your summer vacation? See our vocabulary list about summer activities, and let us know in the comments!

4. Brushing Your Teeth…?

If you have kids—or remember being one—we’re sure you know the struggle of getting a child to brush their teeth regularly.

Many Polish parents face this struggle every day, but on Children’s Day, they make a special concession for their children. Yep! Most Polish kids don’t have to brush their teeth before bed on this holiday (even after eating so many sweets…).

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Children’s Day

Let’s review some of the vocabulary words from this article!

• Dziecko — “Child” [n. neut]
• Słodycze — “Sweets” [n. neut]
• Zabawka — “Toy” [n. fem]
• Zabawa — “Fun” [n. fem]
• Dzieciństwo — “Childhood” [n. neut]
• Szczęśliwy — “Happy” [adj.]
• Radosny — “Joyful” [adj.]
• Bawić się — “Play” [v.]
• Lizak — “Lollipop” [n. masc]
• Konwencja o prawach dziecka — “Convention on the Rights of the Child” [fem]

If you want to hear the pronunciation of each word and phrase listed above, be sure to check out our Polish International Children’s Day vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about International Children’s Day in Poland with us, and that you took away some valuable information about Polish culture!

Do you celebrate Children’s Day in your country? If so, what are the most common traditions and celebrations? Let us know in the comments!

If you want to continue learning about Polish culture and the language, PolishPod101.com has several free resources for you:

• Learn How to Talk About Your Family in Polish
• Warsaw Uprising Day: Remembering the Warsaw Uprising
• Barborka: Miner’s Day & Saint Barbara’s Day in Poland
• Essential Vocabulary for Life Events in Polish
• Company for the Evening: Learn Polish with Great Polish TV

This only scratches the surface of everything that PolishPod101.com has to offer the aspiring Polish-learner. To make the most of your study time, create your free lifetime account today; for access to exclusive content and lessons, upgrade to our Premium or Premium PLUS plans.

We want to help you reach your language-learning goals, and we’ll be here with you every step of the way there.

Happy International Children’s Day from the PolishPod101 family!

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. 🙂

For Labor Day, Poland consistently gets a whopping three-day weekend to relax, celebrate, and protest for more workers’ rights. But this holiday doesn’t resonate well with everyone!

In this article, you’ll learn about Labor Day traditions and history in Poland, and pick up some useful vocabulary words along the way.

Let’s get started.

1. What is Labor Day?

International Labor Day is a public holiday in Poland, and is also part of the Majówka (May holidays). Because May 3 is another major holiday in the country, many people take not one day off, but at least three.

In Poland, Labor Day is a day for workers to odpoczywać (“rest” ) from their normal day-to-day duties. Some people take advantage of this day to demonstrate for more employees’ rights or to simply honor the working class. Perhaps most importantly, Labor Day is associated with patriotyzm (“patriotism” ), considering that May 3 is Poland’s Constitution Day.

Despite the laid-back nature of this holiday today, there’s a lot of controversy in Poland regarding Labor Day. This is because, during the communist rule in Poland, Labor Day was largely associated with the communist agenda and was one of the most important holidays at the time.

→ Study our vocabulary list for Jobs / Work to learn some practical Labor Day words!

2. When is Labor Day?

Each year, Poles celebrate Labor Day on May 1. This is the same date as the rest of the world, except for the United States, which celebrates on the first Monday of September.

3. Labor Day Traditions & Celebrations in Poland

On Labor Day, Poland has plenty of time to relax, because Labor Day is part of a długi weekend (“long weekend holiday” ).

During this time, cities compete with each other based on the number of attractions, organizing picnics, concerts, performances, exhibitions, fairs, tastings of regional dishes, and reconstructions of historical events. During the picnic in the Mazovia region, the region’s largest knightly tournament takes place, while at the Museum of Battle of Grunwald, people can watch an International Horseback Archery Competition.

A favorite tradition is to spędzać czas z rodziną (“spend time with family” ), often outdoors in the fresh spring air. Many families go on a picnic together (usually with BBQ food!), or sometimes a longer trip to somewhere outside their city or town. Though not as common as it once was, some places in Poland still hold Labor Day parades and demonstrations for more workers’ rights.

As we mentioned earlier, Labor Day is considered a patriotic holiday. Many people decorate their buildings or homes with the Polish flag!

→ We have vocabulary lists on Cooking and Polish Foods. Check them out to learn some related words and phrases. 😉

4. Making Up for Lost Time

This long Labor Day weekend sounds great, until you realize that one of the days (May 2) isn’t actually a holiday. How do Poles make up for losing this normal workday?

Usually, Poles need to go into work on a designated weekend day in order to make up for this lost time. But it’s well worth it for three days off in a row!

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Labor Day in Poland

Ready to review some of the vocabulary words from this lesson? Here’s a list of the most important words and phrases for Labor Day in Poland!

• Odpoczywać — “Rest” [v.]
• Święto Pracy — “Labor Day” [n. neut]
• Flaga — “Flag” [n. fem]
• Patriotyzm — “Patriotism” [n. masc]
• Dzień wolny od pracy — “Day off” [n. masc]
• Robotnik — “Worker” [n. masc]
• Pochód — “March” [n. masc]
• Uczcić — “Celebrate” [v.]
• Długi weekend — “Long weekend holiday” [n. masc]
• Majówka — “Picnic” [n. fem]
• Spędzać czas z rodziną — “Spend time with family”
• Protest — “Protest” [n. masc]
• Biało-czerwony — “White-and-red” [adj.]

To hear the pronunciation of each word and phrase, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Polish Labor Day vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about Labor Day in Poland with us, and that you took away some valuable information.

How do you celebrate Labor Day in your country? Are Labor Day traditions similar or very different from those in Poland? We look forward to hearing from you in the comments!

If you’re interested in learning more about Polish culture and the language, check out the following pages on PolishPod101.com:

• Company for the Evening: Learn Polish with Great Polish TV
• Should You Study Polish at Home or Abroad?
• Warsaw Uprising Day: Remembering the Warsaw Uprising
• Polish National Independence Day: Traditions & History
• Learn How to Talk About Your Family in Polish

For even more great Polish-learning content, create your free lifetime account today. To get exclusive lessons for even faster learning, you can also upgrade to our Premium or Premium PLUS plans!

Happy Labor Day! 🙂

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!