Polish, a West Slavic language, is primarily spoken in Poland and serves as the native language for the Polish people. It’s known for its complex pronunciation and grammatical structure. Learning Polish can significantly enhance your experience in Poland, allowing for deeper cultural interactions and exploration. This lesson covers essential conversational phrases and questions in Polish, designed to facilitate various social interactions.

Greetings

• Hello/Hi – “Cześć” (informal) / “Dzień dobry” (formal, used during the day)
• Good morning – “Dzień dobry” (used until early afternoon)
• Good afternoon – “Dzień dobry” (also used in the afternoon)
• Good evening – “Dobry wieczór” (used in the evening)
• Goodbye – “Do widzenia” (formal) / “Cześć” (informal, also means hello)

Introducing Yourself or Others

• My name is [name]. – “Nazywam się [name].”
• This is [name]. – “To jest [name].”
• I am from [country]. – “Jestem z [country].”
• I live in [city/place]. – “Mieszkam w [city/place].”

Asking for Directions or People

• Where is the [place]? – “Gdzie jest [place]?”
• How do I get to [place]? – “Jak dojść do [place]?” / “Jak dojechać do [place]?” (if using transport)
• Is this the way to [place]? – “Czy to jest droga do [place]?”
• Can you show me on the map? – “Czy możesz mi pokazać na mapie?”

Solving a Misunderstanding

• Sorry, I don’t understand. – “Przepraszam, nie rozumiem.”
• Can you please repeat that? – “Czy możesz powtórzyć?”
• I mean… – “Mam na myśli…”
• What does [word] mean? – “Co oznacza [word]?”

Farewell Expressions

• See you later – “Do zobaczenia później”
• Take care – “Trzymaj się” / “Dbaj o siebie”
• Have a good day – “Miłego dnia”

Travel and Dining

• I would like to book a room. – “Chciałbym/Chciałabym zarezerwować pokój.”
• Can I see the menu, please? – “Czy mogę zobaczyć menu?”
• I am vegetarian. – “Jestem wegetarianinem/wegetarianką.”
• The bill, please. – “Poproszę rachunek.”

Shopping

• How much does this cost? – “Ile to kosztuje?”
• Do you have this in another size? – “Czy mają Państwo to w innym rozmiarze?”
• I’m just looking, thanks. – “Tylko oglądam, dziękuję.”
• Can I pay by card? – “Czy mogę zapłacić kartą?”

Dating and Love

• You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “Wyglądasz pięknie.” / “Wyglądasz przystojnie.”
• I miss you. – “Tęsknię za tobą.”
• I love you. – “Kocham cię.”
• Would you like to go out with me? – “Czy chciałbyś/chciałabyś wyjść ze mną?”

Emergencies

• Help! – “Pomocy!”
• Call the police! – “Wezwij policję!”
• I need a doctor. – “Potrzebuję lekarza.”
• Where is the nearest hospital? – “Gdzie jest najbliższy szpital?”

These phrases offer a solid foundation for basic communication in Polish. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Polish media, and don’t hesitate to converse with native speakers. Remember, language learning is a journey—embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and continue to explore the rich linguistic and cultural nuances of the Polish language.