Free · No account · 69 languages

Figure it out. Say it. Remember it.

Don't memorize the language — learn to build it. Construct real sentences yourself, then say them out loud.

Your progress stays private in your browser

Popular languages

Pick one and build your first sentence in under a minute.

Travel phrasebooks

The phrases you actually need — greetings, taxis, restaurants, emergencies — for the city you're visiting.

🇨🇳 BeijingChina · MandarinPhrasebook →🇨🇳 ShanghaiChina · MandarinPhrasebook →🇪🇸 MadridSpain · SpanishPhrasebook →🇪🇸 BarcelonaSpain · SpanishPhrasebook →🇦🇪 DubaiUAE · ArabicPhrasebook →🇦🇪 Abu DhabiUAE · ArabicPhrasebook →🇹🇷 IstanbulTurkey · TurkishPhrasebook →🇵🇹 LisbonPortugal · PortuguesePhrasebook →

🇬🇧🇪🇸🇩🇪🇮🇷🇳🇵🇵🇭

The game

Path — speak your way home

A new eastbound line each run. Construct a sentence at every city. The clock only bites when you miss. Madrid · Berlin · Tehran · Kathmandu · Manila.

🔥 Good evening — your Polish path

0/0 lessons built

A ~5-minute daily loop that keeps Polish alive. Start anywhere.

Languages map

Click a country. Start the language.

A world map of courses we actually teach — not a booking map, and not Path.

🎯 Build Challenge

Build a sentence you've never seen

You already know two Polish words. Can you construct a brand-new sentence from them?

I wantquiero

coffeecafé

So how would you say “I want coffee.”?

That's LanguagePath.

The LanguagePath Method™

Reason it out — don't cram it in

You won't memorize phrases. You'll construct real sentences, then listen and rebuild them. Every step reuses what you already built — so the language compounds.

1 · UNDERSTANDGet one piece of the language.

2 · CONSTRUCTBuild a sentence you've never seen.

3 · SAYSay it out loud before you reveal.

4 · HEARListen and compare with the target.

5 · REBUILDReuse those pieces in the next sentence.

Language Bridges™

You're not always starting from zero

Every language you already know hands you free bridges to a new one. Words stick on first contact when you spot the connection.

English — information
French — informations
Spanish — información
Portuguese — informação

Add the languages you already speak in the 🌐 Hub → Settings — then tap ✨ Bridge on any phrase to surface the real cognates and shared roots that make new words click.

Real sentences you'll learn to build in Polish

Build real sentences from pieces you already know. Tap any phrase to hear it — then you'll build them yourself.

What you'll learn in Polish

0/0 lessons

Each lesson builds on the last, reusing what you already know. Tap a lesson to jump in.

Explore the Learning Library

Short, interactive pages on specific skills and situations — each one teaches you something real, then hands you straight into a course.

Learn practical Arabic for life in the UAEHow to say greetings in SpanishSpanish numbers 1–20Introduce yourself in SpanishSer vs Estar — the two Spanish 'to be' verbsArabic greetings (MSA)

Explore all learning topics →

Frequently asked questions

Is LanguagePath free?

Yes, every lesson, course and tool is free to use, with no account or sign-up. Two things are optional and paid: LanguagePath Pro ($4.99 a month or $29 a year), which removes ads and adds extra AI practice, and printable Travel Phrase Pack PDFs ($9 per city, or $19 for all 8). Advertising only loads after you consent — the site stays fully usable if you reject it.

Do I need an account?

No. Your progress is saved in your own browser's local storage. Nothing is uploaded to a server.

How is LanguagePath different?

You don't memorize phrases — you reason them out. The teacher gives you a piece, you build real sentences yourself, say them aloud, then reveal and check. Every step reuses what you already built.

Which languages can I learn?

Nine flagship courses (Mandarin, Arabic, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, Telugu, Farsi) plus dozens more in the picker. Each Path rolls a new eastbound line of cities from languages you can practise here.

What is Path?

Path is LanguagePath’s race: construct a sentence at each city. Misses cost days; a clean build costs nothing. The eighty-day clock is the rule, not the title. Explore → Path, or tap Play Path above.

🧠 How this works

Polish — Polish is built the reason-it-out way: you learn the pieces, then construct real sentences yourself. It starts with everyday, useful sentences.

The 3 rules of the method

🗣️ Say everything out loud. Silent reading doesn't build speech. Speak before you reveal.

⏸️ Always pause and try first. When you hit a challenge, actually work it out — getting it slightly wrong is how it sticks. Then tap Reveal.

🔁 Don't fear forgetting. Everything comes back through use in later steps. Keep moving; understanding beats memorizing.

Your course (≈10 min each)

Do roughly one a day. They build in order — each lesson reuses the last.

Planning a trip to Kraków, Poland?

Learning Polish for a trip? Use the phrases from this course on the ground, and sort the rest here.

✈️ Find flights 🏨 Find a hotel 🎟️ Tours & tickets 📶 Travel eSIM 🛡️ Travel insurance

Flight delayed or cancelled? Check compensation with AirHelp → · or Compensair →

Partner links: LanguagePath may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. How this works.

⭐ LanguagePath Pro: no ads, the whole course offline, and more AI practice. $4.99/month or $29/year. See Pro →

🎧 Lessons

Tap to begin. Speak each answer aloud before revealing.

🔁 Spaced recall

Your daily warm-up. Sentences you've built come back at growing gaps — but don't recall them from memory. Rebuild each one from its pieces, every time; that's what makes them permanent. Read the English, work it out aloud, then reveal.

🧩 Build

The real test of the method: brand-new sentences you've never seen, made only from words and structures you've already learned. You can't recall these — you have to construct them. That's fluency in miniature.

👂 Listening drills

Real conversations hit your ear with no subtitles. Here you only hear the language — work out the meaning, then reveal. This trains the skill you'll actually use in real conversations.

🗣️ Shadowing

A powerful way to develop more natural rhythm and pronunciation: hear a line and repeat it immediately, copying the rhythm and melody — not translating. 10–15 focused minutes beats an hour of tired mimicry.

✚ Chunk builder

Heard a useful phrase out in the world? Capture it here. Every chunk you save joins your Recall, Listen, Shadow and Quiz automatically — so it actually sticks.

📺 Resources & daily plan

Free listening you can understand and enjoy — the comprehensible-input piece. Mix these with your lessons.

💬 Real conversations

Full exchanges you'll actually have, start to finish. Tap 🔊 on any line, or play the whole conversation. Try covering the English and reading the other language aloud.

🎯 Quiz

Test yourself across everything you've learned. Multiple-choice both ways, plus a typing challenge. You need 80% to call a set solid.

🤖 Conversation partner

The practice no drill gives you: a real back-and-forth. Chat with an AI partner that stays at a beginner level and gently corrects you — a powerful way to turn what you've learned into speech.

🌍 Culture & etiquette

Speaking well is half of it — these unwritten rules will make locals warm to you instantly.

🗂️ Pocket phrases

Grab-and-go reference for real situations — greetings, numbers, emergencies that you just need ready. Search or filter, tap 🔊.

🔊 Sounds

Quick grammar

🌐 Hub

Your command centre — progress across every language, one daily plan, a single review that spans them all, and a phrase explorer that shows how your languages connect.

Learning Polish: a practical guide

This is a written companion to the free Polish course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.

What Polish is like

Polish spelling is reliable once you know its sounds: cz is like 'ch', sz like 'sh', ł like 'w', and rz and ż both like the 's' in measure. The language adds little endings to nouns and verbs depending on their role, so kawa (coffee) becomes kawę when you say 'a coffee' — but people understand you no matter what.

Words you may already know

🏴 English. Polish already uses Latin letters, so you can read the words — you just have to learn the sounds. Many Poles speak English, but any dziękuję goes a long way. 🇷🇺 Russian / Ukrainian. Polish is a Slavic cousin to Russian and Ukrainian. You'll spot shared roots like woda (voda), brat, and matka — but Polish uses the Latin alphabet and different sounds.

Pronunciation notes

Polish may look intimidating — szczęście, anyone? — but its letters are consistent. Learn the sounds below and you can read almost any word aloud.

cz — like the "ch" in chip — a hard, plain ch, as in cześć = cheshch · czekolada = cheh-koh-LAH-dah.
sz — like the "sh" in shop, as in szkoła = SHKOH-wa.
ż — like the "s" in measure — a soft "zh", as in żółty = ZHOO-tih.
rz — same sound as ż — a soft "zh", as in rzeka = ZHEH-kah.
ą — a nasal "on", said through the nose like the on in "bont", as in piątek = PYON-tek.
ę — a nasal "en" in the middle, but at the word's end it sounds like a plain "e", as in pięć = pyench · dziękuję = jen-KOO-yeh.
ł — like the "w" in water, as in miło = MEE-woh · stół = stoow.
ś / ć — soft, "sigh"-like "sh" (ś) and soft "chee" (ć), as in siostra = SHOS-trah · być = bich.

First phrases

The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.

Polish	Pronunciation	Meaning
Cześć	cheshch	Hi
Dzień dobry	jen DOH-brih	Good morning
Dobry wieczór	DOH-brih VYEH-choor	Good evening
Do widzenia	doh vee-DZEH-nyah	Goodbye
Nazywam się Alex	nah-ZIH-vahm sheh	My name is Alex
Proszę	PROH-sheh	Please / you're welcome
Dziękuję	jen-KOO-yeh	Thank you
Dziękuję bardzo	jen-KOO-yeh BAR-dzoh	Thanks a lot
Przepraszam	psheh-PRAH-shahm	Excuse me / sorry
Tak	tahk	Yes
Nie	nyeh	No
Jeden	YEH-den	1
Dwa	dvah	2
Trzy	tshih	3
Pięć	pyench	5
Dziesięć	JEH-shench	10
Woda	VOH-dah	water
Kawa	KAH-vah	coffee
Chleb	hlehb	bread
Rachunek	rah-HOO-nek	the bill
Gdzie jest...?	g-dzyeh yest	Where is...?
W prawo	f PRAH-voh	to the right
W lewo	f LEH-voh	to the left
Dworzec	DVOH-zhets	the station
Ile to kosztuje?	EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh	How much is it?
Czy mogę przymierzyć?	chih MOH-geh pshih-MYEH-zhehch	Can I try it on?
Za drogo	zah DROH-goh	too expensive
Biorę to	BYOH-reh toh	I'll take it
Pomocy!	poh-MOH-tsih	Help!
Nie rozumiem	nyeh roh-ZOO-myem	I don't understand

How the Polish course is structured

The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:

Greetings & being polite — cześć · dzień dobry · dziękuję · proszę
Polite phrases — dziękuję · proszę · przepraszam · nie ma za co
Numbers 1–10 — jeden · dwa · trzy · dziesięć
I want" — chcę & proszę o — chcę · proszę o · poproszę
Food & drink — woda · kawa · chleb · rachunek
Getting around — gdzie jest · w prawo · w lewo · dworzec
Questions & "do you have…?" — czy ma pan/pani · czy jest · ile kosztuje
Family & people — rodzina · matka · ojciec · przyjaciel
Time, days & weather — dziś · jutro · poniedziałek · pogoda
Small talk & your name — nazywam się · jak masz na imię · miło mi
Health & emergency — pomocy · lekarz · apteka · nie rozumiem
Tying it together — chcę · czy ma pan · gdzie jest · a capstone scene
Airport & tickets — lotnisko · paszport · bilet · bramka
The taxi — taksówka · hotel · zatrzymać
The hotel — rezerwacja · pokój · klucz · noc
Ask for help — nie rozumiem · wolniej · angielski

Inside the lessons

Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.

Greetings & being polite

Key pieces: cześć · dzień dobry · dziękuję · proszę

Let's start with the first words you'll use: cześć — hi (and bye). Say it out loud.

cześć (cheshch) — hi / bye
dzień dobry (jen DOH-brih) — good morning (formal)
dobry wieczór (DOH-brih VYEH-choor) — good evening
do widzenia (doh vee-DZEH-nyah) — goodbye

To say “Good morning, how are you?” in Polish: Dzień dobry, jak się masz? (jen DOH-brih, yahk sheh mahsh). Built from dzień dobry = good morning; jak się masz? = how are you?.

Two more essentials: dziękuję (thank you) and proszę (please / you're welcome).

To say “Thank you very much” in Polish: Dziękuję bardzo (jen-KOO-yeh BAR-dzoh). Built from dziękuję = thank you; bardzo = very much.

To ask how someone is: Jak się masz? (informal). The reply is Dobrze, dziękuję — well, thanks.

Jak się masz? (yahk sheh mahsh) — How are you?
Dobrze, dziękuję (DOH-bzheh, jen-KOO-yeh) — Well, thanks
W porządku (foh ZHON-dkoo) — Not bad / OK

To say “Hi, how are you?” in Polish: Cześć, jak się masz? (cheshch, yahk sheh mahsh). Built from cześć = hi; jak się masz? = how are you?.

Polite phrases

Key pieces: dziękuję · proszę · przepraszam · nie ma za co

Being polite opens every door. dziękuję = thank you, proszę = please (and you're welcome).

dziękuję (jen-KOO-yeh) — thank you
proszę (PROH-sheh) — please / you're welcome
przepraszam (psheh-PRAH-shahm) — excuse me / sorry
nie ma za co (nyah mah ZAH tsoh) — you're welcome

To say “Excuse me, thank you” in Polish: Przepraszam, dziękuję (psheh-PRAH-shahm, jen-KOO-yeh). Built from przepraszam = excuse me; dziękuję = thank you.

Przepraszam covers both 'excuse me' and 'sorry'. Nie ma za co is the reply to a thank-you.

To say “Yes, please” in Polish: Tak, proszę (tahk, PROH-sheh). Built from tak = yes; proszę = please.

To say “No, thank you” in Polish: Nie, dziękuję (nyeh, jen-KOO-yeh). Built from nie = no; dziękuję = thank you.

Numbers 1–10

Key pieces: jeden · dwa · trzy · dziesięć

Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: jeden, dwa, trzy .

jeden (YEH-den) — 1
dwa (dvah) — 2
trzy (tshih) — 3
cztery (CHTEH-rih) — 4
pięć (pyench) — 5
sześć (sheshch) — 6
siedem (SHEH-dem) — 7
osiem (OH-shem) — 8
dziewięć (JEH-vyench) — 9
dziesięć (JEH-shench) — 10

To say “Two coffees, please” in Polish: Poproszę dwie kawy (poh-PROH-sheh DVYEH KAH-vih). Built from poproszę = I'd like; dwie = two; kawy = coffees.

To ask how much: Ile to kosztuje? = how much is it? Combine it with numbers to shop.

To say “How much is it?” in Polish: Ile to kosztuje? (EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh). Built from ile = how much; to kosztuje = does it cost.

To say “It's five zlotys” in Polish: Pięć złotych (pyench ZWO-tih). Built from pięć = five; złotych = zlotys.

I want" — chcę & proszę o

Key pieces: chcę · proszę o · poproszę

The key verb to want: chcę — I want. Say it out loud.

To say “I want a coffee” in Polish: Chcę kawę (htseh KAH-veh). Built from chcę = I want; kawę = coffee.

More polite: proszę o… = I'd like…, and poproszę… when you order.

To say “I'd like a water, please” in Polish: Poproszę wodę (poh-PROH-sheh VOH-deh). Built from poproszę = I'd like; wodę = water.

To say “I'd like coffee, please” in Polish: Proszę o kawę (PROH-sheh oh KAH-veh). Built from proszę o = I'd like; kawę = coffee.

Note how kawa changes to kawę when you want it — that's Polish case, and it's nothing to fear.

Food & drink

Key pieces: woda · kawa · chleb · rachunek

Eating out? Key words: woda (water), kawa (coffee), chleb (bread).

woda (VOH-dah) — water Memory hook: ≈ water (cf. vodka).
kawa (KAH-vah) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ coffee (via Turkish kahve).
herbata (hehr-BAH-tah) — tea
chleb (hlehb) — bread
piwo (PEE-voh) — beer
menu (MEH-noo) — the menu Memory hook: ≈ English menu.

To say “Water and bread, please” in Polish: Poproszę wodę i chleb (poh-PROH-sheh VOH-deh ee hlehb). Built from poproszę = I'd like; wodę = water; i = and; chleb = bread.

i = and. Smacznego! = enjoy your meal, and smaczne means tasty.

To say “It's delicious!” in Polish: Bardzo smaczne! (BAR-dzoh SMACH-neh). Built from bardzo = very; smaczne = tasty.

To say “The bill, please” in Polish: Poproszę rachunek (poh-PROH-sheh rah-HOO-nek). Built from poproszę = I'd like; rachunek = the bill.

Getting around

Key pieces: gdzie jest · w prawo · w lewo · dworzec

The most useful question in any city: Gdzie jest…? — where is…?

Gdzie jest...? (g-dzyeh yest) — Where is...?
w prawo (f PRAH-voh) — to the right
w lewo (f LEH-voh) — to the left
prosto (PROH-stoh) — straight ahead
dworzec (DVOH-zhets) — the station

To say “Where is the station?” in Polish: Gdzie jest dworzec? (g-dzyeh yest DVOH-zhets). Built from gdzie jest = where is; dworzec = the station.

To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Polish: Gdzie jest toaleta? (g-dzyeh yest toh-ah-LEH-tah). Built from gdzie jest = where is; toaleta = the bathroom. toaleta ≈ toilet.

W prawo and w lewo tell you which way to turn. 'Straight ahead' is prosto .

To say “Straight ahead” in Polish: Prosto (PROH-stoh). Built from prosto = straight ahead.

Questions & "do you have…?"

Key pieces: czy ma pan/pani · czy jest · ile kosztuje

To ask someone if they have something politely: Czy ma pan…? (to a man) or Czy ma pani…? (to a woman). czy makes it a question.

Czy ma pan...? (chih mah pahn) — Do you have...? (to a man)
Czy ma pani...? (chih mah PAH-nee) — Do you have...? (to a woman)
czy jest...? (chih yest) — Is there...?
ile to kosztuje? (EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh) — How much is it?

To say “Do you have a room?” in Polish: Czy ma pani pokój? (chih mah PAH-nee POH-kool). Built from czy = (question word); ma pani = do you have (to a woman); pokój = a room.

czy turns a statement into a yes/no question. Czy jest…? = is there…?

To say “Is there wifi?” in Polish: Czy jest wifi? (chih yest WEE-fee). Built from czy jest = is there; wifi = wifi.

To say “Do you have a table?” in Polish: Czy ma pan stolik? (chih mah pahn STOH-leek). Built from czy = (question word); ma pan = do you have (to a man); stolik = a table.

Family & people

Key pieces: rodzina · matka · ojciec · przyjaciel

Family words: rodzina (family), matka (mother), ojciec (father).

rodzina (roh-DJEE-nah) — family
matka (MAHT-kah) — mother Memory hook: ≈ mother (same root).
ojciec (OY-chets) — father
brat (braht) — brother Memory hook: ≈ brother (same root).
siostra (SHOS-trah) — sister
przyjaciel (pshih-YAH-chehl) — friend

To say “I have a family” in Polish: Mam rodzinę (mahm roh-DJEE-neh). Built from mam = I have; rodzinę = family.

Mam… = I have… It's the key verb to say what you've got.

To say “I have a brother” in Polish: Mam brata (mahm BRAH-tah). Built from mam = I have; brata = brother.

To say “I have a friend” in Polish: Mam przyjaciela (mahm pshih-YAH-cheh-lah). Built from mam = I have; przyjaciela = friend.

Time, days & weather

Key pieces: dziś · jutro · poniedziałek · pogoda

Today is dziś (or dzisiaj ), tomorrow is jutro .

dziś (jeech) — today
jutro (YOO-troh) — tomorrow
poniedziałek (poh-nyeh-DJAH-wek) — Monday
niedziela (nyeh-DJEE-lah) — Sunday
pogoda (poh-GOH-dah) — the weather
jaka jest pogoda? (YAH-kah yest poh-GOH-dah) — what's the weather?

To say “See you tomorrow” in Polish: Do jutra (doh YOO-trah). Built from do = until; jutra = tomorrow.

Ask about the weather: Jaka jest pogoda? — what's the weather like?

To say “It's raining” in Polish: Pada deszcz (PAH-dah deshch). Built from pada = it's falling; deszcz = rain.

To say “It's sunny” in Polish: Jest słonecznie (yest swoh-NECH-nyeh). Built from jest = it is; słonecznie = sunny.

Small talk & your name

Key pieces: nazywam się · jak masz na imię · miło mi

Introduce yourself: Nazywam się… = my name is…, and Miło mi = nice to meet you.

To say “My name is Alex” in Polish: Nazywam się Alex (nah-ZIH-vahm sheh Alex). Built from nazywam się = my name is; Alex = your name.

To ask someone's name: Jak masz na imię? (informal).

To say “What's your name?” in Polish: Jak masz na imię? (yahk mahsh nah EE-myeh). Built from jak masz na imię = what are you called?.

To say “Nice to meet you” in Polish: Miło mi (MEE-woh mee). Built from miło = nice; mi = to me.

To say “I am from America” in Polish: Jestem z Ameryki (YEH-stem zah ah-MEH-rih-kee). Built from jestem = I am; z = from; Ameryki = America. Ameryka ≈ America.

Health & emergency

Key pieces: pomocy · lekarz · apteka · nie rozumiem

The most important words if you need help: pomocy (help!), lekarz (doctor), apteka (pharmacy).

pomocy (poh-MOH-tsih) — help!
lekarz (LEH-kahsh) — the doctor
apteka (ahp-TEH-kah) — the pharmacy Memory hook: ≈ apothecary (old pharmacy).
nie rozumiem (nyeh roh-ZOO-myem) — I don't understand

To say “Help!” in Polish: Pomocy! (poh-MOH-tsih). Built from pomocy = help.

To say “I don't understand” in Polish: Nie rozumiem (nyeh roh-ZOO-myem). Built from nie = not; rozumiem = I understand.

To say you need help: Potrzebuję pomocy . And Nie czuję się dobrze = I don't feel well.

To say “I need help” in Polish: Potrzebuję pomocy (poh-tsheh-BOO-yeh poh-MOH-tsih). Built from potrzebuję = I need; pomocy = help.

To say “I don't feel well” in Polish: Nie czuję się dobrze (nyeh CHOO-yeh sheh DOH-bzheh). Built from nie czuję się = I don't feel; dobrze = well.

Tying it together

Key pieces: chcę · czy ma pan · gdzie jest · a capstone scene

Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.

To say “Hello, how are you?” in Polish: Dzień dobry, jak się masz? (jen DOH-brih, yahk sheh mahsh). Built from dzień dobry = good morning; jak się masz? = how are you?.

To say “I'd like a coffee, please” in Polish: Poproszę kawę (poh-PROH-sheh KAH-veh). Built from poproszę = I'd like; kawę = coffee.

To say “Where is the station?” in Polish: Gdzie jest dworzec? (g-dzyeh yest DVOH-zhets). Built from gdzie jest = where is; dworzec = the station.

To say “How much is it?” in Polish: Ile to kosztuje? (EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh). Built from ile to kosztuje? = how much is it?.

Airport & tickets

Key pieces: lotnisko · paszport · bilet · bramka

You have landed. The building is the lotnisko . Your document is a paszport .

lotnisko (lot-NEES-koh) — airport
paszport (PAHSH-port) — passport
bilet (BEE-leht) — ticket
bramka (BRAHM-kah) — gate

To say “Where is the airport?” in Polish: Gdzie jest lotnisko? (g-dzyeh yest lot-NEES-koh). Built from gdzie jest = where is; lotnisko = airport.

To say “Here is my passport” in Polish: Oto mój paszport (OH-toh mooy PAHSH-port). Built from oto = here is; mój paszport = my passport.

To say “A ticket, please” in Polish: Poproszę bilet (poh-PROH-sheh BEE-leht). Built from poproszę = I'd like; bilet = ticket.

To say “Where is the gate?” in Polish: Gdzie jest bramka? (g-dzyeh yest BRAHM-kah). Built from gdzie jest = where is; bramka = gate.

The taxi

Key pieces: taksówka · hotel · zatrzymać

The driver is waiting. taksówka is the Polish word. Tell them chcę jechać do hotelu .

taksówka (tak-SOOF-kah) — taxi
kierowca (kyeh-ROV-tsah) — driver
chcę jechać (htseh YEH-hahch) — I want to go
proszę tu zatrzymać (PROH-sheh too zah-TZIH-mach) — please stop here

To say “Taxi, please” in Polish: Taksówka, proszę (tak-SOOF-kah, PROH-sheh). Built from taksówka = taxi; proszę = please.

To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Polish: Chcę jechać do hotelu (htseh YEH-hahch doh ho-TEH-loo). Built from chcę = I want; jechać = to go (by vehicle); do hotelu = to the hotel.

To say “Stop here, please” in Polish: Proszę tu zatrzymać (PROH-sheh too zah-TZIH-mach). Built from proszę = please; tu = here; zatrzymać = stop.

To say “How much is it?” in Polish: Ile to kosztuje? (EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh). Built from ile = how much; to kosztuje = does it cost.

The hotel

Key pieces: rezerwacja · pokój · klucz · noc

At the desk: mam rezerwację — I have a reservation.

hotel (ho-TEL) — hotel
rezerwacja (reh-zer-VAH-tsyah) — reservation
pokój (POH-kooy) — room
klucz (klooch) — key
jedna noc (YED-nah nots) — one night

To say “I have a reservation” in Polish: Mam rezerwację (mahm reh-zer-VAH-tseh). Built from mam = I have; rezerwację = a reservation (object case).

To say “A room for one night, please” in Polish: Poproszę pokój na jedną noc (poh-PROH-sheh POH-kooy nah YED-non nots). Built from poproszę = I'd like; pokój = room; na jedną noc = for one night.

To say “The key, please” in Polish: Klucz, proszę (klooch, PROH-sheh). Built from klucz = key; proszę = please.

To say “Where is my room?” in Polish: Gdzie jest mój pokój? (g-dzyeh yest mooy POH-kooy). Built from gdzie jest = where is; mój pokój = my room.

Ask for help

Key pieces: nie rozumiem · wolniej · angielski

When Polish is too fast: wolniej, proszę — slower, please.

wolniej (VOL-nyey) — slower
jeszcze raz (YEH-shcheh rahs) — again
angielski (ahn-GYEL-skee) — English
czy może pan pomóc? (chih MOH-zheh pahn POH-moots) — can you help?

To say “I don't understand” in Polish: Nie rozumiem (nyeh roh-ZOO-myem). Built from nie = not; rozumiem = I understand.

To say “Speak slowly, please” in Polish: Wolniej, proszę (VOL-nyey, PROH-sheh). Built from wolniej = slower; proszę = please.

To say “Can you help me?” in Polish: Czy może pan mi pomóc? (chih MOH-zheh pahn mee POH-moots). Built from czy może pan = can you (to a man); mi = me; pomóc = help.

To say “Do you speak English?” in Polish: Czy mówi pan po angielsku? (chih MOO-vee pahn poh ahn-GYEL-skoo). Built from czy mówi pan = do you speak; po angielsku = in English.

Common mistakes and things to watch out for

dzień dobry (jen DOH-brih): formal.
Czy ma pan...? (chih mah pahn): to a man.
Czy ma pani...? (chih mah PAH-nee): to a woman.

Culture and etiquette

Pierogi are sacred

A Polish icon: dumplings stuffed with potato and cheese (ruskie), meat, cabbage or berries. Order them at any bar mleczny — a cheap, cosy Communist-era milk bar.

Milk bars (bar mleczny)

These budget canteens from the Soviet era still serve pierogi, żurek soup and kompot at tiny prices. Brilliant for an authentic, affordable meal with locals.

"Na zdrowie!"

When toasting, raise your glass and say Na zdrowie! (to your health!). Polish hospitality means your glass rarely stays empty for long.

The złoty

The currency is the złoty (zł). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keep a little cash for small shops, markets and trams.

Wigilia

Most Poles are Catholic. Christmas Eve (Wigilia) is the big family night: a 12-dish dinner, shared Christmas wafer, and the first star in the sky.

A little Polish goes far

A dzień dobry and dziękuję open every door. Poles light up when visitors try their language — effort matters more than perfection.

Example dialogues

At a café

You: Dzień dobry! Poproszę kawę. (jen DOH-brih, poh-PROH-sheh KAH-veh) — Good morning! A coffee, please.

Barista: Oczywiście. Na miejscu czy na wynos? (oh-chih-VEESH-cheh, nah MYEH-stchoo chih nah VIH-nos) — Of course. For here or to go?

You: Na wynos, dziękuję. (nah VIH-nos, jen-KOO-yeh) — To go, thanks.

Barista: Proszę. To pięć złotych. (PROH-sheh, toh pyench ZWO-tih) — Here. That's five zlotys.

You: Dziękuję bardzo! (jen-KOO-yeh BAR-dzoh) — Thanks a lot!

At the train station

You: Przepraszam, gdzie jest dworzec? (psheh-PRAH-shahm, g-dzyeh yest DVOH-zhets) — Excuse me, where's the station?

Local: Tam, w prawo. (tahm, f PRAH-voh) — It's there, to the right.

You: Dziękuję. Poproszę bilet do Warszawy. (jen-KOO-yeh, poh-PROH-sheh BEE-leht doh vahr-SHAH-vih) — Thanks. A ticket to Warsaw, please.

Ticket: Piętnaście złotych. Pociąg jest o dziewiątej. (PYEN-nash-cheh ZWO-tih, POH-chonk yest oh dzeh-VYON-tey) — Fifteen zlotys. The train is at nine.

At a restaurant

Waiter: Dobry wieczór! Czy ma pan rezerwację? (DOH-brih VYEH-choor, chih mah pahn reh-zehr-VAH-tsyah) — Good evening! Do you have a reservation?

You: Tak, dla dwóch osób. (tahk, dla dvohkh OH-sohp) — Yes, for two people.

You: Poproszę menu. (poh-PROH-sheh MEH-noo) — The menu, please.

You: Poproszę pierogi i wodę. (poh-PROH-sheh pyeh-ROH-ghee ee VOH-deh) — I'd like pierogi and water.

Waiter: Świetny wybór! Smacznego. (SHVYET-nih VIH-boor, smach-NEH-goh) — Excellent choice! Enjoy your meal.

Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.