50+ useful phrases in Polish that will help during your trip to Poland

Poland is one of the most attractive countries for tourism in Europe. Travelers come here to explore the culture of Eastern Europe: visit medieval castles and fortresses, take a walk in cozy "old towns" in the cities, admire the quiet and measured life in the villages. Explore untouched nature: visit the Tatras and Beskids, contemplate the majesty of the Vistula or the cold sea in Gdańsk. And, of course, to penetrate the life of Poles - to try their national cuisine, to taste zubrovka and to understand the local lifestyle.

Polish transport infrastructure is developing very quickly, which means that it makes it easier for tourists to move between locations. Even in the smallest town you can find a hotel with sincere service, restaurants and cafes will serve you hospitably, and Polish autobahns are no worse than German ones - traveling by bus in Poland is a pleasure.  

But there is one common fear of tourists in new countries, and that is the language barrier. Many tourists are afraid that in an unforeseen situation they may not understand or be ignored. It is good that the Polish language is the second most similar to the Ukrainian language - they have 70% of the common vocabulary. 

When learning English, such an advantage no longer exists, so we advise you to also read Important phrases in English when traveling abroad

Nevertheless, below you will find more than 50 basic phrases in Polish that a tourist will need on a trip to Poland. Knowing them, you will be more confident in communicating with native speakers, asking them for directions, going shopping, or in case of something - don't hesitate to ask for help even in Przemyśl, even in Warsaw, even in Katowice.

Basic phrases of greeting and politeness

• Good day / Dzień dobry (Good day)

• Greetings / Witam (Welcome)

• Hello (for friends) / Cześć

• Please (request) / Prosze (Please)

• Thank you / Dzhenkuye

• Please (reply to thank you) / Prosze (Please)

• Tak / Tak (Yes)

• No / Nie (No)

• Excuse me (beg for forgiveness) / Prozę mi wybaczyć (Please forgive me)

• Goodbye / Do widzenia

• Goodbye / Na razie

• Now / Teraz (Now)

• Earlier / Before (Yesterday)

• Later / Later (Puzhnaya)

How to order food and drinks in Polish establishments?

• Menu, please - Prozę, Menu - Proše menu.

• Breakfast - Breakfast - Breakfast.

• Lunch - Lunch - Lunch.

• Dinner - Kolacja - Kolacja.

• I want ____ – Ja chcę ____ – I khceu ____.

  1. fear - kurczaka - kurczaka.

  2. beef - wołowinę - beef.

  3. fish - rybę - ribeu.

  4. pork - wieprzowinę - pork.

  5. sausage - kiełbasę - kewbase.

  6. eggs - jajka - an egg.

  7. apple - jabłko - apple.

  8. orange - pomarańczę - orange

  9. tea - herbaty - tea.

  10. juice - juice - juice.

  11. beer – piwa – beer.

  12. red/white wine – wina czerwonego/białego – red/białego wine.

  13. vodka - wódki, gorzałki - fishing rods, gozhalki.

• One more, please - Proszé jeszcze raz - Please one more time.

• When do you close? – Kiedy zamknąć? - When is the lock-up?

• Do you have local cuisine? – Czy masz lokalną kuchnię? - Do you eat local cuisine?

• I am a vegetarian - Jestem wegetarianinem - I am a vegetarian.

• It was great - To bylo cznyte - That beef is great.

• You can remove from the table - You can remove from the table - You can remove from the table.

• Give me the bill, please - Prozę rachunek - I'm asking for a bill.

How to correctly ask about the way and the road?

• How to get to_____? – Jak dobő się do_____ – How do you get to _____?

  1. bus station? – dworca autobusowego – Bus Palace.

  2. the airport? - airports - Lyotniska.

  3. station? – dworca – Palace.

  4. center? – centrum – Center?

• Please show _____ on the map – Prozę próżyce mnie na mapie____ – Show me on the map, please___?

  1. street - ulicę - uliceu.

• Turn to the right - Prozę skręt w prawo - Please turn to the right.

• Turn left - Proszę skręt w lewo - Please turn to the left.

• Straight - Simple - Simple.

• Take me to _____, please – Fahren sie mich nach _____, bitte. – Faren Zee mih nah _____, bitte.

• Where are there many _____? – Gdzie jest wiele/dużo______? - Where is there a lot/a lot of ____?

  1. bars? – bars? - baru?

  2. hotels? – hotels? - wanted?

  3. attractions? – zabytków? - scored?

• Taxi! Taxi! – Taksówka! - Taxi! Taxi!

• Take me there, please - Prozę mnie tam odwieźć - Please take me there

Common shopping phrases

• How much does it cost? – Ile to będzie kosztować? - Is that Benje the jeweler?

• Drogo - Drogo.

• Cheap - Tanio - Tanio.

• I need/-at/-no/-no … – Potrzebjuje / -at / -nie / -lub … – Needs/ -yat/ -ne/ -lub.

  1. toothpaste – Pasta do zębów – Tooth paste.

  2. toothbrush - ... Szczoteczki do zębów - Toothbrushes for zenbubs.

  3. tampons – ...tampons – tampons.

  4. milo – ...mydło – midwo.

  5. shampoo – ...szampon – shampoo.

  6. aspirin (pain reliever) – ...Aspiryna ( lek przeciwbólowy) – Aspirin (lek przeciwbólowy).

  7. cold medicine - ...Lekarstwo naprzeziębienie - Naprzeziębienie medicine.

  8. stomach medicine - ...Lekarstwo na żołdoek - Medicine for żowondek.

• Give me a bag, please - Poproszę torbę - Ask for a bag.

• Do you have _____ my size? – Czy macie_____ w moim rozimarze? - Is the mother_____ in my limit?

Phrases for emergency situations

• I am a citizen of Ukraine - Jestem obywatelem Ukrainy - I am a citizen of Ukraine.

• Where can I change money? - Where is the office? - Is there a cantor?

• Where is the nearest ATM? - Where is the nearest ATM? - Where is the nearest ATM?

• I got lost - Zgubiłem się - I lost my neck.

• I am sick - Jestem chory - I am chory.

• We did not understand each other - Pan nie rozumie mnie - Pan nie rozumie mnie.

• I need a doctor - Potrzebuje lekarza - Potzebuje lekaja

• Can I call you? – Mogę od Pana/Pani/Państwa zadzwonić – May I call Mr/Mrs/Państwa?

Knowing these basic phrases will make you feel more comfortable and confident when traveling in Poland. Don't hesitate to speak to the locals - even if you don't know a word, just in case you can say it slowly and clearly in Ukrainian - there is a chance that the word sounds similar or the same in Polish.

In this way, you will be able to establish contact with native speakers and not be nervous because of the fear that you will not be understood. Cheers!