Whenever I travel abroad, I try to learn or at least write down a few words and phrases in the language of the country I am visiting. Even though in most touristic places it is easy to find people who speak English, you never know when some knowledge of the local language may be helpful. Poland is quickly becoming a popular destination for international visitors and in cities like Krakow or Warsaw, you are most likely to be fine with just English. However, in smaller cities, some Polish vocabulary might come in handy.
While I enjoy learning foreign languages, I am also lazy sometimes, so I made a pdf with some useful Polish words and phrases. Scroll down to the end of the post to download a free pdf, print it and take on your trip to use whenever you need. Enjoy! 🙂
Must-know Polish words and phrases for travel
Greetings
1. Good morning/good afternoon – dzień dobry [dsyeni dobry]
2. Hi –cześć [cheshch]
3. Good evening – dobry wieczór [dobry vyechoor]
4. Good night – dobranoc [dobra notz]
5. Bye –cześć [cheshch]
6. See you – do widzenia [doh vidsenya]
Polite phrases
7. Thank you –dziękuję [dsyenkooyeh]
8. I’m sorry/Excuse me – przepraszam [pshehpraasham]
9. Please –proszę [prosheh]
10. You are welcome – proszę bardzo [prosheh bardzoh]
Useful phrases
11. Yes – tak [tahk]
12. No – nie [nye]
13. No, thanks – nie, dziÄ™kuję [nye dsyenkooyeh]
14. Great! – Super! [super]
15. Good – dobrze [dobjeh]
16. Very good – bardzo dobrze [bahrdzoh dobjeh]
17. Bad – źle [jleh]
18. So-so – tak sobie [tak sobyeh]
19. Do you speak English? Â – Czy pan/pani mowi po angielsku? – [chee pahn/pahnee moovee po angyelskoo]
(pan if addressing a man; pani if addressing a woman)
20. I don’t speak Polish – nie mowiÄ™ po polsku [nyeh moovyeh poh pohlskoo]
21. I don’t understand – nie rozumiem [nyeh rohzoomyem]
22. Where is the restroom? – Gdzie jest Å‚azienka? [gjeh yest wahzhenkah]
23. Help! – ratunku! [rahtoonkoo]
Numbers
1 – jeden [yeden]
2 – dwa [dva]
3 – trzy [tzhi]
4 – cztery [chteri]
5 – pięć [pyench]
6 – sześć [sheshch]
7 – siedem [syedem]
8 – osiem [ohsyem]
9 – dziewięć [jeviench]
10 – dziesięć [jeshench]
100 – sto [stoh]
Dining
35. Restaurant – restauracja [restaauratzya]
36. The menu please – proszę menu [prosheh menyi]
37. The check please – proszÄ™ rachunek [prosheh rahoonek]
38. Tip – napiwek [napeevek]
39. Cheers – na zdrowie [na zdrovyeh]
40. One beer please – jedno piwo proszę [yedno peevoh prosheh]
41. Wine list – karta win [karta vin]
42. Enjoy your meal – smacznego [smachnego]
Food
43. Polish dumplings – pierogi [pyerogee]
44. Beetroot soup (borscht) – barszcz [barshch]
45. Vegetarian dish – danie wegetarianskie [danye vegetaryanskyeh]
46. Meat – miÄ™so [myeso]
47. Dessert – deser [deser]
48. Potatoes – ziemniaki [zyemnyakee]
49. Fries – frytki [fritkee]
50. Ice cream – lody [lodi]
51. Pancakes – naleÅ›niki [naleshniki]
52. Soup – zupa [zoopa]
53. Sausage – kieÅ‚basa [keelbasa]
54. Bread – chleb [hleb]
55. Cheese – ser [syr]
56. Cabbage – kapusta [kapusta]
Drinks
57. Juice – sok [sok]
58. Mineral water – woda mineralna [voda meeneralna]
59. Wine – wino [veeno]
60. Vodka  – wodka [vootka]
61. Beer – piwo [peevo]
62. Tea – herbata [herbata]
63. Coffee – kawa [kava]
64. Water – woda [wodah]
65. Vodka – wódka [voodka]
Transportation
66. Airport – lotnisko  [lotnyiskoh]
67. Train – pociag  [pohtsionk]
68. Train station – dworzec kolejowy [dvozhetz koleyovy]
69. Bus – autobus [autoboos]
70. Bus station – dworzec autobusowy [dvozhetz autoboosovy]
71. Ticket office – kasa biletowa [kasa beeletova]
72. One ticket to … – bilet do … [beelet doh ]
73. Booking – rezerwacja [rezervatzya]
74. First/second class – pierwsza/druga klasa [pyervsha/druka klasa]
75. Timetable – rozklad jazdy [rozquad yazdy]
76. Taxi – taksowka [taksoofka]
77. Tram stop – przystanek tramwajowy [pshistanek tramvayovy’]
Directions/Sightseeing/Shopping
78. Street – ulica [ulitsa]
79. Square – plac [platz]
80. Town – miasto [myasto]
81. Old Town – stare miasto [stareh myasto]
82. Church – koÅ›ciół [koshchoow]
83. Town Hall – ratusz [ratoosh]
84. Hotel – hotel [hotel]
85. Where is… – gdzie jest… – [gjeh yest…]
86. How can I get to… – jak moge dojsc do… [yak mokeh doyshch doh…]
87. Right / left – prawo/lewo [pravo / levo]
88. Straight – prosto [prosto]
89. Shop – sklep [sklep]
90. Shopping center (mall) – centrum handlowe [tsentroom handlov]
91. Sale – wyprzedaż [vipshedash]
92. How much? – ile? [eeleh]
Download Polish travel phrases
Have you been to Poland?
2 comments
DziÄ™kujÄ™ Uliana. My family and I will be in the Tatra Mountains and Krakow for the first week in October. I know only minimal Polish, but your list will help me a lot. I am very excited to visit my grandparent’s homeland.
I’m glad this is helpful, have fun in Poland!