Polish Trip Kit50 Polish phrases for your trip, with pronunciation

Greet, thank, apologise, get attention, admit you don't understand.

1. Dzień dobry jen DOH-brih
   Hello / Good morning / Good day
   Say it as you walk into any shop, café or pharmacy and to the bus driver, before anything else. Poland has no separate 'good morning': 'dzień dobry' covers the whole day until early evening. 'Cześć' (hi) is for friends only and sounds odd to a shopkeeper.
   Dzień dobry! Poproszę kawę. — Hello! A coffee, please.
2. Dobry wieczór DOH-brih VYEH-choor
   Good evening
   Switch to it from about six in the evening, or once it is dark in winter, and always when you arrive for dinner. 'Dobranoc' (good night) is for going to bed or a late-night farewell, never for arriving; on the way out say 'do widzenia'.
   Dobry wieczór, stolik dla dwóch osób, poproszę. — Good evening, a table for two, please.
3. Proszę PROH-sheh
   Please / Here you are / You're welcome
   One word with four jobs: please, here you are (as something is handed to you), you're welcome, and go ahead or come in. So every shop exchange runs 'proszę' (here you are) – 'dziękuję' – 'proszę' (you're welcome), and you are not being asked for anything. For ordering, the frame is 'poproszę' plus the item (day 2).
   Jeszcze jedną kawę, proszę. – Proszę bardzo. — One more coffee, please. – Here you are.
4. Dziękuję jen-KOO-yeh
   Thank you
   The reply is 'proszę' or 'proszę bardzo'. The trap: say 'dziękuję' as you hand over the money in a restaurant or taxi and it means 'keep the change', so stay quiet until the change is in your hand, then thank them. 'Dzięki' is the casual thanks for friends.
   Dziękuję bardzo! – Proszę bardzo. — Thank you very much! – You're welcome.
5. Przepraszam psheh-PRAH-shahm
   Excuse me / Sorry
   One word for getting a waiter's attention, stopping a stranger with a question, a small bump, and a real apology ('bardzo przepraszam', I'm very sorry). It is fine for anyone, stranger or friend. Follow it with 'pan' or 'pani' forms when you ask the stranger something (see 'do you speak English').
   Przepraszam, czy mogę zamówić? — Excuse me, can I order?
6. Przepraszam, wysiadam psheh-PRAH-shahm, vih-SHAH-dahm
   Excuse me, I'm getting off (to get past)
   Polish has no separate word for getting past: 'przepraszam' does it, and on a packed bus or tram you add 'wysiadam' (I'm getting off) to make people move. Someone behind you may ask 'pan wysiada?' or 'pani wysiada?' (are you getting off?): answer 'nie' and swap places, or 'tak' and stay where you are. In a crowd or a market, 'przepraszam' alone.
   Przepraszam, wysiadam! – Proszę. — Excuse me, I'm getting off! – Go ahead.
7. Tak / Nie tahk / nyeh
   Yes / No
   'Nie, dziękuję' is the polite full stop for street sellers, flyer hands and the 'reklamówka?' (bag?) question at every till; 'tak, poproszę' accepts. 'Nie' also means 'not' inside sentences, so you will hear it constantly without anyone refusing you.
   Coś jeszcze? – Nie, dziękuję. — Anything else? – No, thank you.
8. Czy mówi pan / pani po angielsku? chih MOO-vee pahn / PAH-nee poh ahn-GYEL-skoo formal
   Do you speak English?
   'Pan' to a man, 'pani' to a woman: that is the polite 'you' Polish uses with every stranger, and it is expected. The friends form 'mówisz' sounds rude from a tourist. Under-forties in cities usually speak good English; older people often do not, and 'trochę' means a little.
   Przepraszam, czy mówi pani po angielsku? – Trochę. — Excuse me, do you speak English? – A little.
9. Nie rozumiem nyeh roh-ZOO-myem
   I don't understand
   Pair it with 'proszę mówić wolniej' (please speak more slowly) and people slow down or switch to English. 'Nie mówię po polsku' is I don't speak Polish. Poles rarely expect visitors to know the language, so the effort itself buys goodwill.
   Nie rozumiem. Proszę mówić wolniej. — I don't understand. Please speak more slowly.
10. Do widzenia doh vee-DZEH-nyah
    Goodbye
    The farewell for shops, hotels and anyone you don't know; say it on the way out even if you bought nothing. 'Cześć' and 'na razie' are for friends. Late at night 'dobranoc' (good night) is the normal goodbye, and 'miłego dnia' (have a nice day) is the extra you will hear back.
    Dziękuję, do widzenia! – Do widzenia, miłego dnia! — Thank you, goodbye! – Goodbye, have a nice day!

Get a table, order, pay, be polite about food.

1. Stolik dla dwóch osób, poproszę STOH-leek dlah dvookh OH-soop, poh-PROH-sheh
   A table for two, please
   In most restaurants you pick a free table yourself unless someone greets you at the door or a sign asks you to wait ('prosimy czekać na wskazanie stolika'); in cafés, pubs and a 'bar mleczny' (cheap canteen) you order at the counter. 'Dla trzech / czterech osób' for three or four. 'Państwo' is the polite 'you' to a couple or group, so 'mają państwo' means 'do you have'.
   Dobry wieczór, stolik dla dwóch osób, poproszę. – Mają państwo rezerwację? — Good evening, a table for two, please. – Do you have a reservation?
2. Poproszę… poh-PROH-sheh frame
   I'd like… / I'll have…
   The ordering frame for everything: 'poproszę' plus the item, in a café, a bakery or a ticket office. The item often changes its ending (kawa becomes 'kawę', woda 'wodę'), but nobody minds if you get it wrong. 'Chcę' (I want) sounds blunt; 'chciałbym / chciałabym' (I'd like, man / woman) is the longer polite form you will also hear.
   Poproszę pierogi z mięsem. Poproszę piwo. — I'd like the meat pierogi. I'd like a beer.
3. Poproszę menu poh-PROH-sheh MEH-nee
   The menu, please
   'Menu' is pronounced 'MEH-nee' in Polish, not the French way. 'Karta' is the other word (karta dań, karta win for the wine list). 'Danie dnia' or 'zestaw dnia' is the cheap set lunch, usually a soup and a main. Tourist-area places have English menus; ask rather than assume.
   Poproszę menu. Czy jest menu po angielsku? – Tak, proszę. — The menu, please. Is there a menu in English? – Yes, here you are.
4. Poproszę kawę poh-PROH-sheh KAH-veh
   A coffee, please
   In a café 'kawa' gets the question 'jaką?' (which kind), and espresso, cappuccino, latte and americano go by their Italian names; in a restaurant or a simple bar the question is 'czarna czy z mlekiem?' (black or with milk), and 'kawa z mlekiem' is a plain milky coffee. Only in a few old-school bar mleczny does 'kawa' still mean 'kawa parzona': grounds in a glass with hot water poured on top.
   Poproszę kawę. – Czarną czy z mlekiem? – Z mlekiem. — A coffee, please. – Black or with milk? – With milk.
5. Gazowana czy niegazowana? gah-zoh-VAH-nah chih nyeh-gah-zoh-VAH-nah
   Sparkling or still?
   You will be asked this whenever you order water; note the order is the reverse of English, and 'nie' in front means 'not'. Bottled water is paid for; tap water ('woda z kranu') is safe in cities but rarely offered unless you ask. Answer with the one word and 'poproszę'.
   Woda gazowana czy niegazowana? – Niegazowana, poproszę. — Sparkling or still water? – Still, please.
6. Rachunek poproszę rah-KHOO-nek poh-PROH-sheh
   The bill, please
   The bill does not come until you ask, and you may be asked 'razem czy osobno?' (one bill or split) and 'kartą czy gotówką?'. The trap is at the handover: 'dziękuję' as you give the money means keep the change, so wait for your change if you want it. Tip about 10% for good service, in cash or on the terminal; it is welcome, not compulsory.
   Przepraszam, rachunek poproszę. – Razem czy osobno? — Excuse me, the bill, please. – Together or separately?
7. Czy mogę zapłacić kartą? chih MOH-geh zah-PWAH-cheech KAR-ton
   Can I pay by card?
   Cards are accepted almost everywhere, contactless included, down to market stalls and public toilets; Poles themselves pay with BLIK, a phone code that needs a Polish bank account, so ignore that option. Keep a little cash ('gotówka') for the odd kiosk or the church donation box. Poland uses the złoty, not the euro.
   Czy mogę zapłacić kartą? – Oczywiście, zbliżeniowo. — Can I pay by card? – Of course, contactless.
8. Na zdrowie! nah ZDROH-vyeh
   Cheers!
   Clink, look the other person in the eye, and say it; it also means 'bless you' after a sneeze. Vodka comes as chilled shots with a toast for each round, and a host will keep pouring, so 'nie, dziękuję' and a hand over the glass are perfectly acceptable.
   Na zdrowie! – Na zdrowie! — Cheers! – Cheers!
9. Smacznego! smahch-NEH-goh
   Enjoy your meal!
   Said by the waiter as the plates land and by anyone at a shared table; reply 'dziękuję' or 'dziękuję, nawzajem' (thanks, likewise). If you walk past people eating, or leave a table while others are still eating, say it too.
   Smacznego! – Dziękuję, nawzajem. — Enjoy your meal! – Thank you, you too.
10. Napiwek nah-PEE-vek sign
    Tip (on the bill or the card terminal)
    Poland has no cover charge, and service is not added except in some tourist restaurants for groups, where a 'serwis' line of about 10% appears; check the bill before tipping on top. Otherwise around 10% for good table service is normal, left in cash or chosen on the card terminal when it asks. Saying 'dziękuję' while handing over cash is the tip gesture: it means keep the change.
    Napiwek nie jest wliczony w rachunek. — The tip is not included in the bill.

Ask prices, pay, browse without buying, read the two signs that matter.

1. Ile kosztuje…? EE-leh kosh-TOO-yeh frame
   How much is…?
   Frame: 'ile kosztuje' plus the item, or 'ile to kosztuje?' while pointing. At the till, 'ile płacę?' (how much do I pay) asks for the total. Prices are in złoty (zł or PLN) and grosze; Poland is not in the euro zone, and the few tourist shops that take euros do so at a poor rate.
   Ile to kosztuje? Ile kosztuje bilet? — How much is this? How much is a ticket?
2. To za drogo toh zah DROH-goh
   That's too expensive
   Prices are fixed in shops, restaurants and taxis, and haggling there is rude. A little bargaining is fine only at flea markets and with street artists. Say it, add 'dziękuję', and walk away; nobody is offended if you are polite.
   To za drogo. Dziękuję, do widzenia. — That's too expensive. Thank you, goodbye.
3. Gotówką czy kartą? goh-TOOF-kon chih KAR-ton
   Cash or card?
   The question at every till; answer with the one word (the '-ą' ending, said 'on', means 'by'). Two follow-ups are routine: 'paragon?' (do you want the receipt) and 'reklamówka?' or 'torebka?' (a bag, charged). If you pay cash you may hear 'ma pan / pani drobne?', a plea for small change.
   Gotówką czy kartą? – Kartą, poproszę. — Cash or card? – Card, please.
4. Poproszę paragon poh-PROH-sheh pah-RAH-gon
   The receipt, please
   Every till prints a 'paragon' and the cashier must hand it over; you are not obliged to take it, but keep it for returns and for checking a price you doubt. Tax-free refunds for non-EU visitors need a separate 'TAX FREE' form that the shop issues at the time of purchase (minimum 200 zł), so ask before paying; the paragon alone is not enough. 'Faktura' is a full VAT invoice for a company; you will not need one.
   Poproszę paragon. – Proszę. — The receipt, please. – Here you are.
5. Tylko oglądam, dziękuję TIL-koh oh-GLON-dahm, jen-KOO-yeh
   I'm just looking, thanks
   The answer to 'w czym mogę pomóc?' in any shop. Polish staff rarely hover, so you will not need it often; what does matter is 'dzień dobry' on the way into a small shop and 'do widzenia' on the way out, bought something or not.
   W czym mogę pomóc? – Tylko oglądam, dziękuję. — How can I help you? – I'm just looking, thanks.
6. To wszystko, dziękuję toh FSHIST-koh, jen-KOO-yeh
   That's all, thanks
   Ends the order at a bakery, a deli counter or a market stall, where 'coś jeszcze?' comes after every item. Cheese and cold cuts are ordered by weight in 'deko' (10 g): 'dwadzieścia deko' is 200 g. 'Pół kilo' is half a kilo of fruit.
   Coś jeszcze? – To wszystko, dziękuję. — Anything else? – That's all, thanks.
7. Poproszę to poh-PROH-sheh toh
   This one, please (pointing)
   Pointing plus this phrase orders any pastry, sandwich or ticket, and dodges Polish gender endings entirely. 'Na wynos' is takeaway, 'na miejscu' is to eat here. For 'one of these' add 'jeden taki' (a pączek, a bilet), 'jedna taka' (a bułka, a drożdżówka) or 'jedno takie' (a ciastko); the pointing does the real work.
   Poproszę to. – Na miejscu czy na wynos? — This one, please. – Eat in or take away?
8. Czy jest…? chih yest frame
   Do you have…? / Is there…?
   Frame: 'czy jest' plus the thing, the simplest way to ask a shop or café whether it has something. For plurals 'czy są' (are there); the fuller polite form is 'czy mają państwo…?'. 'Rozmiar' is a clothing size, 'numer' a shoe size, both on the EU scale.
   Czy jest większy rozmiar? Czy jest Wi-Fi? — Do you have a bigger size? Is there Wi-Fi?
9. Otwarte / Zamknięte oht-FAR-teh / zahm-KNYEN-teh sign
   Open / Closed
   The two door signs; on hours lists you will see 'czynne' (open) and 'nieczynne' (closed) instead. The trap is Sunday: a trading ban shuts nearly all shops, supermarkets and malls, except about eight trading Sundays a year (the last Sunday of January, April, June and August, the Sunday before Easter and the Sundays just before Christmas). Żabka corner shops, petrol stations, pharmacies, cafés and restaurants stay open. Weekday supermarket hours are long, often 6 or 7 to 22, with no afternoon closure.
   Zamknięte w niedziele. Czynne: pon.–sob. 8–20. — Closed on Sundays. Open: Mon–Sat 8–8.
10. Wyprzedaż / Kasa vih-PSHEH-dahsh / KAH-sah sign
    Sale / Checkout
    'Wyprzedaż' is the end-of-season sale, 'promocja' is the everyday special offer on supermarket shelves, 'rabat' a discount. 'Kasa' is the till in a shop and also the ticket office at a station or museum; 'kasa nieczynna' means this one is closed, join another.
    Wyprzedaż: do 50% taniej. Kasa nr 3. — Sale: up to 50% off. Till number 3.

Find things, buy a ticket, read the signs you walk past.

1. Gdzie jest…? gjeh yest frame
   Where is…?
   Frame: 'gdzie jest' plus the place; Polish has no articles, so just say the noun. Start with 'przepraszam'. The answer uses the three direction words (na lewo, na prawo, prosto), and 'czy to daleko?' (is it far?) gets you a time in minutes.
   Gdzie jest dworzec? Gdzie jest toaleta? — Where is the station? Where is the bathroom?
2. Gdzie jest toaleta? gjeh yest toh-ah-LEH-tah
   Where is the bathroom?
   The door trap: older Polish toilets are marked with a circle for women and a triangle for men, with no words at all; newer ones say 'damska' (women) and 'męska' (men). Public toilets at stations and in parks charge a few złoty, often by card; a café, mall ('galeria') or McDonald's is the free fallback. 'WC' is understood everywhere.
   Przepraszam, gdzie jest toaleta? – Na dole, na prawo. — Excuse me, where is the bathroom? – Downstairs, on the right.
3. Gdzie jest dworzec? gjeh yest DVOH-zhets
   Where is the station?
   'Dworzec' on its own means the main train station; 'dworzec autobusowy' is the coach station, usually next door. 'Główny' after a city name (Kraków Główny) is the main station, and Warsaw's is 'Warszawa Centralna'. Only Warsaw has a 'metro'.
   Gdzie jest dworzec? – Prosto, dziesięć minut. — Where is the station? – Straight on, ten minutes.
4. Poproszę bilet do Krakowa poh-PROH-sheh BEE-let doh krah-KOH-vah
   A ticket to Kraków, please
   'W jedną stronę' is one way, 'powrotny' is return. Buy before boarding at the 'kasa', a machine or the PKP Intercity app; if you must board without a ticket, find the conductor straight away and pay a surcharge, or you are fined. City names change their ending after 'do': do Krakowa, do Warszawy, do Gdańska.
   Poproszę bilet do Krakowa. – W jedną stronę czy powrotny? – W jedną stronę. — A ticket to Kraków, please. – One way or return? – One way.
5. Który peron? KTOO-rih PEH-ron
   Which platform?
   Polish stations give two numbers: the platform ('peron') and the track ('tor') on either side of it, so listen for both in the announcement 'peron trzeci, tor drugi'. On the board, 'odjazdy' is departures, 'przyjazdy' arrivals, 'opóźniony' delayed.
   Który peron do Warszawy? – Peron trzeci, tor drugi. — Which platform for Warsaw? – Platform three, track two.
6. Na lewo / na prawo / prosto nah LEH-voh / nah PRAH-voh / PROH-stoh
   Left / right / straight on
   What every answer to 'gdzie jest' contains; 'w lewo' and 'w prawo' mean the same. 'Daleko' is far, 'blisko' near, 'za rogiem' round the corner, 'obok' next to. Expect pointing with it.
   Prosto, potem na lewo. — Straight on, then left.
7. Wejście / Wyjście VEY-shcheh / VIHY-shcheh sign
   Entrance / Exit
   One letter apart: 'wejście' with an 'e' is the way in, 'wyjście' with a 'y' the way out. 'Wstęp wolny' at a museum or church means free admission; 'wstęp wzbroniony' is no entry. Metro and station exits are numbered and named on the signs.
   Wyjście ewakuacyjne. Wstęp wolny. — Emergency exit. Free admission.
8. Pchać / Ciągnąć pkhahch / CHONG-nonch sign
   Push / Pull
   The door verbs, in the infinitive. Just as often the sign says 'od siebie' (away from you: push) or 'do siebie' (towards you: pull), which is easier to remember. 'Nacisnąć' (press) is on buttons.
   Pchać. – Ciągnąć. — Push. – Pull.
9. Skasuj bilet SKAH-sooy BEE-let sign
   Validate your ticket
   The fine that catches tourists: a paper bus or tram ticket is only valid once stamped in the yellow or orange 'kasownik' box by the door, immediately on boarding; plain-clothes inspectors fine on the spot, roughly 250–300 zł plus the fare. Tickets bought in an app (jakdojade, mPay, SkyCash) are activated in the app as you board and need no stamp, and tickets bought by card from the machine on board are already validated. A period ticket on a Warsaw city card is activated once in the validator on the first ride; on a Kraków KKM card it runs from the start date you chose when buying. Neither is stamped again. Trains are different: no stamping, just a ticket before you board.
   Skasuj bilet zaraz po wejściu. – Bilety do kontroli, proszę. — Validate your ticket as soon as you board. – Tickets for inspection, please.
10. Przystanek pshih-STAH-nek sign
    Stop (bus / tram)
    The word on every stop sign and in the announcement 'następny przystanek'. 'Na żądanie' is a request stop: press the STOP button before it or the driver sails past, and wave at the bus if you are waiting at one. 'Pętla' is the end of the line.
    Następny przystanek: Dworzec Główny. Przystanek na żądanie. — Next stop: Main Station. Request stop.

Check in, get online, and get help when something goes wrong.

1. Mam rezerwację mahm reh-zer-VAHTS-yeh
   I have a reservation
   The check-in opener at hotels and restaurants; 'na nazwisko' plus your surname gives the name. Reception will ask for your passport ('paszport') to register you and hand it back. Resort towns and some cities add a small 'opłata miejscowa' or, in spa towns, 'opłata klimatyczna' (local tax, a few złoty per person per night), often payable only in cash at reception.
   Dzień dobry, mam rezerwację na nazwisko Smith. — Hello, I have a reservation under Smith.
2. Poproszę klucz poh-PROH-sheh klooch
   The key, please
   Big hotels use key cards ('karta'); guesthouses ('pensjonat') and older hotels still keep the keys at reception, so hand it in when you go out and ask for it, with the room number, when you return. 'Pokój' is the room.
   Poproszę klucz. Pokój dwanaście. — The key, please. Room twelve.
3. Jakie jest hasło do Wi-Fi? YAH-kyeh yest HAHS-woh doh VEE-fee
   What's the Wi-Fi password?
   'Hasło' is the password and 'Wi-Fi' is said 'vee-fee'. In cafés it is often printed on the receipt or a board by the counter. Free Wi-Fi is everywhere, and EU SIM cards roam at home rates.
   Jakie jest hasło do Wi-Fi? – Jest na karcie w pokoju. — What's the Wi-Fi password? – It's on the card in your room.
4. O której jest śniadanie? oh KTOO-rey yest shnyah-DAH-nyeh
   What time is breakfast?
   'O której' is at what time; the answer 'od… do…' gives the range, often later at weekends. A Polish hotel breakfast is a savoury buffet: bread, cold cuts, cheese, eggs, pickles and 'twaróg' (white cheese). The other question you need is 'o której jest wymeldowanie?' (check-out).
   O której jest śniadanie? – Od siódmej do dziesiątej. — What time is breakfast? – From seven to ten.
5. Pomocy! poh-MOH-tsih
   Help!
   Shout it; everyone understands. The emergency number is 112, with English-speaking operators; 999 (ambulance) and 997 (police) still work too. 'Złodziej!' (thief!) if someone grabs a bag.
   Pomocy! Proszę wezwać karetkę! — Help! Call an ambulance!
6. Potrzebuję lekarza poh-tsheh-BOO-yeh leh-KAH-zhah
   I need a doctor
   'Potrzebuję' is I need. Call 112 in an emergency; the hospital emergency department is the 'SOR'. EU visitors use the EHIC card there; others pay and claim on insurance. For anything minor, a pharmacy first, or a private clinic (Medicover, LUX MED) where walk-in appointments in English are easy to get.
   Potrzebuję lekarza. Źle się czuję. — I need a doctor. I don't feel well.
7. Gdzie jest apteka? gjeh yest ahp-TEH-kah
   Where is the pharmacy?
   Look for the green cross and the word 'Apteka'; there is one on almost every street. 'Apteka całodobowa' is open 24 hours, and every pharmacy door lists the nearest one. Pharmacists give advice and sell many remedies over the counter; basic painkillers are also sold in Żabka and petrol stations.
   Gdzie jest najbliższa apteka? – Za rogiem. — Where is the nearest pharmacy? – Round the corner.
8. Proszę wezwać policję PROH-sheh VEZ-vahch poh-LEETS-yeh
   Call the police, please
   'Proszę' plus a verb is the polite way to ask anyone to do something. Police is 112 or 997; for insurance you need a report ('zgłoszenie') made at a police station ('komisariat'), so bring your passport. The 'straż miejska' (city guard) in uniform in town centres will also help.
   Proszę wezwać policję. Ukradziono mi portfel. — Call the police, please. My wallet has been stolen.
9. Zgubiłem się / Zgubiłam się zgoo-BEE-wem sheh / zgoo-BEE-wahm sheh
   I'm lost
   'Zgubiłem' if you are a man, 'zgubiłam' if you are a woman: Polish past tenses carry the speaker's gender. Follow it with 'gdzie jest' and the place, or show the address on your phone; 'czy to daleko?' (is it far?) gets a useful answer.
   Zgubiłam się. Gdzie jest Rynek Główny? — I'm lost. Where is the Main Square?
10. Czy może pan / pani zamówić taksówkę? chih MOH-zheh pahn / PAH-nee zah-MOO-veech tahk-SOOF-keh formal
    Can you call a taxi, please?
    Formal 'pan / pani' request; hotels and restaurants will happily do it. In practice the apps (Bolt, Uber, FreeNow) are cheaper with a fixed price, and licensed rank taxis show a company name and phone number and use the meter. Never take a car from the men saying 'taxi?' in the arrivals hall at Warsaw or Kraków airport.
    Czy może pani zamówić taksówkę? – Oczywiście, dokąd? — Can you call a taxi, please? – Of course, where to?