Introductions & Basic Phrases
Learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and use essential Polish phrases from day one.
Essential Greetings & Polite Words
| Polish | English |
|---|---|
Dzień dobry /djen DOH-brih/ | Good day / Hello (formal) |
Cześć /cheshch/ | Hi / Bye (informal) |
Dobry wieczór /DOH-brih VYEH-choor/ | Good evening |
Dobranoc /doh-BRAH-nots/ | Good night |
Do widzenia /doh vee-DZEH-nyah/ | Goodbye (formal) |
Do zobaczenia /doh zoh-bah-CHEH-nyah/ | See you later |
Proszę /PROH-sheh/ | Please / You're welcome / Here you go |
Dziękuję /jen-KOO-yeh/ | Thank you |
Przepraszam /psheh-PRAH-shahm/ | Excuse me / I'm sorry |
Tak /tahk/ | Yes |
Nie /nyeh/ | No / Not |
Dobrze /DOH-bzheh/ | Good / OK / Well |
Introducing Yourself
| Polish | English |
|---|---|
Mam na imię... /mahm nah EE-myeh/ | My (first) name is...Mam na imię Anna. — My name is Anna. |
Nazywam się... /nah-ZIH-vahm sheh/ | My (last) name is... / I am called...Nazywam się Kowalski. — My last name is Kowalski. |
Jestem... /YES-tem/ | I am...Jestem Marek. — I am Marek. |
Skąd jesteś? /skohnt YES-tesh/ | Where are you from? (informal) |
Skąd Pan/Pani jest? /skohnt pahn/PAH-nee yest/ | Where are you from? (formal m/f) |
Jestem z... /YES-tem z/ | I am from... |
Bardzo mi miło /BAHR-dzoh mee MEE-woh/ | Nice to meet you |
Miło mi /MEE-woh mee/ | Nice to meet you (shorter) |
Meeting Someone New
Dzień dobry! Mam na imię Anna. A Pan?
Good day! My name is Anna. And you (sir)?
Dzień dobry! Jestem Marek. Bardzo mi miło.
Good day! I am Marek. Nice to meet you.
Bardzo mi miło. Skąd Pan jest?
Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
Jestem z Krakowa. A Pani?
I am from Kraków. And you (ma'am)?
Jestem z Warszawy.
I am from Warsaw.
Miło Panią poznać!
Nice to meet you (formal, to a woman)!
Classroom & Survival Phrases
Polish Formality: Pan & Pani
Polish has a strict formal/informal distinction. Use "Pan" (sir) and "Pani" (ma'am) with strangers, elders, in shops, and at work. "Ty" (you, informal) is for friends, family, and peers your age. When Poles want to switch to informal, they'll say "Mówmy sobie po imieniu" (Let's use first names) or "Mów mi po imieniu" (Call me by my first name). Always start formal when unsure.