Poland’s official language is Polish, a Slavic language that belongs to the West Slavic group, closely related to Czech and Slovak. With over 40 million speakers, Polish is not only the primary language of Poland but also has a significant presence in communities around the world, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. The Polish alphabet consists of 32 letters, including unique characters like Ł, Ń, and Ś, which can pose challenges for English speakers.

Pronunciation is crucial when learning Polish due to its distinct sounds. For instance, the letter “Ł” is pronounced like “w,” while “Ś” has a soft “sh” sound. Understanding these nuances will enhance communication with locals and improve overall comprehension. Polish is known for its complex grammar, including seven cases for nouns, which can seem daunting but is essential for expressing relationships between words in sentences.

To facilitate your journey in learning Polish, here’s a comprehensive guide covering essential vocabulary and phrases useful for travelers.

Numbers 1-20

Number	Polish	Pronunciation
1	jeden	YEH-den
2	dwa	dvah
3	trzy	tshi
4	cztery	CHTEH-ri
5	pięć	pyench
6	sześć	shesh
7	siedem	SHYEH-dem
8	osiem	OH-shem
9	dziewięć	dzyen-vyech
10	dziesięć	dzyen-shench
11	jedenaście	yeh-deh-NAH-sh-cheh
12	dwanaście	dvah-NAH-sh-cheh
13	trzynaście	tshi-NAH-sh-cheh
14	czternaście	CHTER-na-sheh
15	piętnaście	pyet-NAH-sh-cheh
16	szesnaście	shesh-NAH-sh-cheh
17	siedemnaście	SHYEH-dem-NAH-sh-cheh
18	osiemnaście	OH-shem-NAH-sh-cheh
19	dziewiętnaście	dzyen-vyeht-NAH-sh-cheh
20	dwadzieścia	dvah-JEE-shchah

Days of the Week

Day	Polish	Pronunciation
Monday	poniedziałek	poh-NYED-zhee-ah-k
Tuesday	wtorek	VTO-rek
Wednesday	środa	SHROH-dah
Thursday	czwartek	CHVAR-tehk
Friday	piątek	PYON-tehk
Saturday	sobota	soh-BOH-tah
Sunday	niedziela	nyed-JEH-lah

Months

Month	Polish	Pronunciation
January	styczeń	STIH-chen
February	luty	LOO-tih
March	marzec	MAR-zets
April	kwiecień	KFYET-syen
May	maj	MYE
June	czerwiec	CHER-vyets
July	lipiec	LEE-pyets
August	sierpień	SHYER-pyen
September	wrzesień	VZHEH-syen
October	październik	PAHZ-dzher-nik
November	listopad	LEES-toh-pahd
December	grudzień	GROOD-zhen

Greetings

Polish greetings vary in formality:

• Dzień dobry! (Good day!) – Used formally during the day.
• Dobry wieczór! (Good evening!) – Used in formal settings at night.
• Cześć! (Hi!) – Informal greeting among friends.

Pronunciation Tips

• Dzień dobry: jeen DOH-bri
• Dobry wieczór: DOH-bri VYEH-choor
• Cześć: cheshch

Polite Expressions

Politeness is highly valued in Polish culture. Here are some essential phrases:

• Dziękuję! (Thank you!) – Pronounced: DZYEN-ku-yeh
• Proszę! (Please/You’re welcome) – Pronounced: PRO-sheh
• Przepraszam! (Excuse me/I’m sorry) – Pronounced: pshe-PRAH-sham

Basic Shopping Phrases

When shopping, these phrases will be useful:

• Ile to kosztuje? (How much does this cost?) – Pronounced: EE-leh toh KOSHT-yoo-yeh
• Poproszę to. (I would like this.) – Pronounced: PO-pro-sheh toh
• Czy mogę zapłacić kartą? (Can I pay with a card?) – Pronounced: chi MO-gheh zah-PWA-chich KAR-tow?

Essential Phrases for Ordering Food

In restaurants, use these phrases:

• Poproszę menu. (May I have the menu?) – Pronounced: PO-pro-sheh MEH-nu
• Chciałbym zamówić… (I would like to order…) – Pronounced: HCHOW-bim zah-MOO-vich…

When ordering food in Poland, knowing a few key phrases can greatly enhance your dining experience. Here’s a comprehensive list of useful phrases along with their pronunciations to help you navigate menus and communicate effectively with waitstaff.

Asking for the Menu

• Czy mogę prosić o menu?
  (Can I have the menu, please?)
  Pronunciation: chi MO-gheh PRO-sheech oh MEH-nu?
• Czy mogę prosić o kartę dań?
  (Can I have the menu card, please?)
  Pronunciation: chi MO-gheh PRO-sheech oh KAR-teh dahn?

Making a Reservation

• Chciałbym zarezerwować stolik dla dwóch osób na godzinę [time].
  (I would like to book a table for two people at [time].)
  Pronunciation: HCHOW-bim zah-reh-ZER-vo-vach STOH-leek dla dvuh OS-uhb nah go-DEE-neh [time].

Ordering Dishes

• Poproszę [number] [dish].
  (I would like [number] [dish].)
  Pronunciation: PO-pro-sheh [number] [dish].
  Example: “Poproszę dwa pierogi.” (I would like two dumplings.)
• Jakie danie Pan/Pani poleca?
  (Which dish do you recommend, Sir/Madam?)
  Pronunciation: YAH-kye DAN-yeh Pahn/PAN-ee poh-LEH-tsah?

Asking About Ingredients

• Co zawiera to danie?
  (What does this dish contain?)
  Pronunciation: Tso zah-VYEH-rah toh DAN-yeh?
• Mam alergię na [ingredient].
  (I’m allergic to [ingredient].)
  Pronunciation: MAHM ah-LER-gyeh nah [ingredient].
  Example: “Mam alergię na orzechy.” (I’m allergic to nuts.)

Requesting Additional Items

• Czy mogę prosić o więcej [item]?
  (Can I have more [item], please?)
  Pronunciation: chi MO-gheh PRO-sheech oh VYEN-tseh [item]?
  Example: “Czy mogę prosić o więcej serwetek?” (Can I get some more napkins?)

Complaining or Asking for Changes

• Przepraszam, moje danie jest zimne.
  (Excuse me, my meal is cold.)
  Pronunciation: pshe-PRAH-sham, MO-ye DAN-yeh yest ZEEM-neh.

Finalizing Your Order

• Poproszę rachunek.
  (Could I have the bill, please?)
  Pronunciation: PO-pro-sheh rah-HOO-nek.

Additional Useful Phrases

Phrase	English Translation	Pronunciation
Czy macie Państwo dania wegetariańskie?	Do you have vegetarian dishes?	chi MAH-chee PAHN-stvo DAN-yah veh-ge-ta-RYAN-skeh?
Jakie jest dzisiejsze danie dnia?	What is the special for today?	YAH-kye yest dzee-SHEE-ysh-e DAN-yeh DNYAH?
Czy mogę dostać jeszcze jedną porcję?	Can I get one more serving, please?	chi MO-gheh DOS-tach YEH-shche YED-no POR-tsyeh?
Smacznego!	Enjoy your meal!	SMA-chne-go!
Dziękuję, reszty nie trzeba.	Thank you, please keep the change.	DZYEN-ku-yeh, RESHT-ee nyeh TREH-bah.

These phrases will not only help you place your order but also navigate any potential issues during your dining experience in Poland. Practicing these expressions will make your interactions smoother and more enjoyable.

Transportation Terms

Essential terms for getting around include:

• Gdzie jest stacja metra? (Where is the subway station?) – Pronounced: GJED-yay yest STAH-tsya MEH-tra?

Directions

When asking for directions:

• Jak dojść do…? (How to get to…?) – Pronounced: YAK doyst doh…?

Hotel and Accommodation Vocabulary

Useful phrases when checking into hotels:

• Mam rezerwację. (I have a reservation.) – Pronounced: MAHM reh-ZER-vah-tsyeh
• Gdzie jest pokój…? (Where is room…?) – Pronounced: GJED-yay yest PO-kuy…?

Emergency Phrases

In case of emergencies:

• Pomocy! (Help!) – Pronounced: PO-mo-tsih
• Gdzie jest szpital? (Where is the hospital?) – Pronounced: GJED-yay yest SHPI-tal?

Common Questions

Every traveler should know these questions:

• Kiedy? (When?) – Pronounced: KYE-dih
• Dlaczego? (Why?) – Pronounced: DLA-che-go?

Weather Terms

For discussing weather:

• Jaka jest pogoda? (What is the weather like?) – Pronounced: YAH-kah yest po-GOH-dah?

Cultural Etiquette Phrases

Understanding cultural norms can enhance your experience:

• Miło mi cię poznać. (Nice to meet you.) – Pronounced: MEE-loh mee chye POZ-nach

Health and Medical Terms

In health-related situations:

• Potrzebuję lekarza. (I need a doctor.) – Pronounced: PO-trze-BUY-e leh-KAR-zha

Dining Etiquette

Polish dining etiquette includes saying:

• Smacznego! (Enjoy your meal!) – Pronounced: SMA-chne-go

Local Attractions Vocabulary

When exploring attractions:

• Gdzie jest muzeum? (Where is the museum?) – Pronounced: GJED-yay yest mu-ZAY-o-m?

Currency and Payment Terms

Understanding currency terms can help with transactions:

• Jakie są ceny? (What are the prices?) – Pronounced: YAH-kye sohn TSEH-ni?

Social Interactions

Engaging in small talk can foster connections:

• Co słychać? (What’s new?) – Pronounced: TSO SWIH-hatch?

Compliments and Small Talk

To compliment someone:

• Bardzo dobre! (Very good!) – Pronounced: BAR-dzo DOH-breh

This guide provides a solid foundation for engaging with Polish speakers during your travels. Regular practice of these phrases will enhance your experience and help you connect with locals more meaningfully.