In your journey as a Polish speaker, you won’t have to get very far before you encounter the delicious quandary of food. And honestly, what’s the point of learning the language if you can’t talk about the killer kluski śląskie you had last night, or ask for another top-up of your krupnik? Beyond knowing the names of common drinks and dishes you’re likely to encounter at a Polish restaurant, you’ll also want to know some basic Polish food words to get you through any exchange with a waiter or discussion with your friends as you negotiate your dinner plans.
Is your body ready for meat, fermented foods and vodka? Well, make sure your vocabulary is, too. Below, we’ve listed some essential Polish food words you’ll need to know. Just click the play button on each word below to hear how it’s pronounced.
Polish Meal-Related Words
To eat — jeść – zjeść (imperf. – perf.)
To drink — pić – wypić (imperf. – perf.)
Breakfast — śniadanie
Lunch — obiad
Dinner — kolacja*
Dessert — deser
Appetizers — przystawki
Main course — danie główne
*For dinner — na kolację
Polish Food Words
Fruit — owoce
Potato — ziemniak
Tomato — pomidor
Rice — ryż
Bread — chleb
Cheese — ser
Meat — mięso
Beef — wołowina
Pork — wieprzowina
Poultry — drób
Fish — ryba
Seafood — owoce morza
Sweets — słodycze
Polish Drink Words
Drink — napój
Mineral water — woda mineralna
Juice — sok
Milk — mleko
Coffee — kawa
Lemonade — lemoniada
Wine — wino
Beer — piwo
Tea — herbata
Tap water — woda z kranu
Soft drink — napój orzeźwiający