Catalog / Polish Language Basics Cheatsheet
Polish Language Basics Cheatsheet
A quick reference guide to the fundamental elements of the Polish language, including pronunciation, basic grammar, essential phrases, and common vocabulary. Designed for beginners to get started with Polish.
Pronunciation Guide
Vowels
|
a |
Pronounced like ‘a’ in ‘father’. |
|
e |
Pronounced like ‘e’ in ‘bed’. |
|
i |
Pronounced like ‘i’ in ‘machine’. |
|
o |
Pronounced like ‘o’ in ‘bore’. |
|
u |
Pronounced like ‘oo’ in ‘food’ (also written as ‘ó’). |
|
y |
A sound between ‘i’ and ‘u’, similar to the ‘i’ in ‘bit’. |
Nasal Vowels
|
ą |
Pronounced like ‘on’ in French ‘bon’ at the end of words or before l/ł; otherwise closer to ‘om’. |
|
ę |
Pronounced like ‘en’ in French ‘bien’ at the end of words or before l/ł; otherwise closer to ‘em’. |
Consonants
|
ć, dź, ń, ś, ź |
Palatalized consonants, similar to ‘ch’, ‘j’, ‘ny’, ‘sh’, ‘zh’ but softer. |
|
cz |
Pronounced like ‘ch’ in ‘church’. |
|
sz |
Pronounced like ‘sh’ in ‘shoe’. |
|
rz |
Pronounced like ‘zh’ in ‘measure’ (same as ‘ż’). |
|
w |
Pronounced like ‘v’ in ‘van’. |
|
ł |
Pronounced like ‘w’ in ‘water’ for most Polish speakers. |
Basic Grammar
Nouns and Genders
|
Polish nouns have three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Gender affects adjective and verb agreement.
|
Cases
|
Polish has seven cases that indicate the function of a noun in a sentence:
|
Verbs
|
być |
To be |
|
mieć |
To have |
|
mówić |
To speak |
|
robić |
To do, to make |
|
iść |
To go |
|
chcieć |
To want |
Verb Conjugation (Example: być - to be)
|
ja |
jestem (I am) |
|
ty |
jesteś (you are) |
|
on/ona/ono |
jest (he/she/it is) |
|
my |
jesteśmy (we are) |
|
wy |
jesteście (you are) |
|
oni/one |
są (they are) |
Essential Phrases
Greetings & Basic Expressions
|
Dzień dobry |
Good morning/Good day |
|
Dobry wieczór |
Good evening |
|
Cześć |
Hi/Hello (informal) |
|
Do widzenia |
Goodbye |
|
Proszę |
Please/You're welcome |
|
Dziękuję |
Thank you |
|
Przepraszam |
Excuse me/Sorry |
|
Jak się masz? |
How are you? (informal) |
|
Jak się Pan/Pani ma? |
How are you? (formal) |
Basic Questions
|
Jak masz na imię? |
What's your name? (informal) |
|
Jak się Pan/Pani nazywa? |
What's your name? (formal) |
|
Skąd jesteś? |
Where are you from? |
|
Gdzie jest...? |
Where is...? |
|
Ile to kosztuje? |
How much does it cost? |
|
Czy mówisz po angielsku? |
Do you speak English? |
Emergency Phrases
|
Pomocy! |
Help! |
|
Ogień! |
Fire! |
|
Policja! |
Police! |
|
Potrzebuję lekarza |
I need a doctor |
|
Zgubiłem się |
I am lost (masculine) |
|
Zgubiłam się |
I am lost (feminine) |
Common Vocabulary
Numbers
|
Jeden |
One |
|
Dwa |
Two |
|
Trzy |
Three |
|
Cztery |
Four |
|
Pięć |
Five |
|
Sześć |
Six |
|
Siedem |
Seven |
|
Osiem |
Eight |
|
Dziewięć |
Nine |
|
Dziesięć |
Ten |
Days of the Week
|
Poniedziałek |
Monday |
|
Wtorek |
Tuesday |
|
Środa |
Wednesday |
|
Czwartek |
Thursday |
|
Piątek |
Friday |
|
Sobota |
Saturday |
|
Niedziela |
Sunday |
Basic Nouns
|
Kobieta |
Woman |
|
Mężczyzna |
Man |
|
Dziecko |
Child |
|
Dom |
House |
|
Praca |
Work |
|
Czas |
Time |
|
Pieniądze |
Money |
|
Jedzenie |
Food |
|
Woda |
Water |