It is not easy to start a conversation in a new language. Sometimes the stress is so great that the vocabulary and grammar rules we already learned simply slip out of our minds when we need them most. This is normal and happens to everyone, and that’s why it’s worth practicing. But how? Well, for one, start with short conversations to consolidate your knowledge and boost your confidence. To encourage you to speak, we have prepared a reference guide of Polish phrases for beginners.
Of course, these are just some of the conversations you may be involved in. However, these Polish phrases are common enough to be worth committing to memory.
Polish Phrases For Beginners
Greetings And Farewells
When you or someone else utters these phrases, it’s customary to respond using the same phrase. Here’s how a typical exchange would go in various contexts and situations.
In the morning and throughout the day:
Person 1: Dzień dobry! — Good morning!
Person 2: Dzień dobry!
In the evening:
Dobry wieczór! — Good evening!
Dobry wieczór!
Late at night:
Dobranoc! — Goodnight!
Dobranoc!
At school and among young people:
Cześć!* — Hello!
Cześć!
*Cześć is a phrase used in both greetings and farewells.
Other typical greetings and exchanges:
Jak się masz? — How are you?
Dobrze! A u Ciebie? — Fine, and you?
Jak leci? — How’s it going?
Doskonale! A Ty jak się masz? — Excellent! How are you?
Co słychać? — What’s up?
Nic szczególnego. Ale dzięki, że pytasz. — Nothing in particular. But thanks for asking.
Do zobaczenia! — See you later!
Do zobaczenia! — See you!
Do widzenia! — Goodbye!
Do widzenia! — Goodbye!
Read more: Cześć, And 16 Other Ways To Say Hello In Polish
Read more: How To Say Goodbye In Polish
Time, Weather And Price
Która (jest teraz) godzina? — What time (is it now)?
(Jest) Wpół do pierwszej. — It’s 12:30 (half one o’clock).
O której (godzinie) odjeżdża pociąg do Warszawy? — At what (time) does the train leave for Warsaw?
Kwadrans po trzeciej. — Quarter past three.
Jaka będzie dzisiaj pogoda? — What will the weather be like today?
Pochmurno. Po południu może padać. — Cloudy. It may rain in the afternoon.
Czy będzie padać? — Is it going to rain?
Nie, dziś będzie gorąco i słonecznie przez cały dzień. — No, it will be hot and sunny all day today.
Ile jest stopni? — How many degrees?
W cieniu 25, ale w słońcu aż 35. — 25 in the shade, but as high as 35 in the sun.
Ile to kosztuje? — How much does it cost?
25 złotych i 99 groszy. — 25 zloty and 99 cents.
W jakiej cenie jest chleb? — What price is the bread?
7 złotych. Razowy jest 2 złote droższy. — 7 zloty. Wholemeal is 2 zloty more expensive.
Po ile są pomidory? — How much are the tomatoes?
4 złote za kilogram. — 4 zloty per kilo.
Read more: How To Tell The Time In Polish
Read more: How To Talk About The Weather In Polish
Travel
Z którego peronu odjeżdża pociąg do Berlina? — From which platform does the train to Berlin depart?
Z peronu 2. — From platform 2.
Poproszę jeden cały* bilet i jeden ulgowy. — One full* ticket and one reduced ticket, please.
Miejsce przy oknie? — Window seat?
Poproszę. — Please.
W wagonie przedziałowym czy bezprzedziałowym? — In a compartment car or a non-compartment car?
W tym drugim. — In the latter.
Płatność kartą czy gotówką? — Payment by card or cash?
Kartą, zbliżeniowo, poproszę. — Card, contactless, please.
*Cały bilet (full ticket) is a ticket for an adult who is not entitled to any discount. You can also say: Poproszę bilet dla dorosłego i dziecka (“I would like an adult and child ticket please”).
Czy to miejsce jest wolne? — Is this seat free?
Tak, proszę bardzo. — Yes, go ahead.
Jak dojadę z Warszawy do Szczecina? — How do I get from Warsaw to Szczecin?
Pociąg bezpośredni odjeżdża za kwadrans. Z przesiadką za dwie godziny. — The direct train leaves in a quarter of an hour. With a change in two hours.
A gdzie jest przesiadka? — And where is the change?
W Poznaniu. — In Poznań.
Ile trwa podróż? — How long does the journey take?
Pięć i pół godziny bez przesiadki i sześć i pół godziny z przesiadką. — Five and a half hours without a change and six and a half hours with a change.
Read more: How To Talk About Transportation In Polish