Free survival kit

Polish survival kit

The 46 essential phrases and 67 key words to get by in Polish when travelling.

46 phrases
67 key words in the PDF

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Greetings

Polish	Romanization	English
Dzien dobry	DJYEN DOB-ri	Good morning / Hello
Dobry wieczor	DOB-ri VYE-chour	Good evening
Czesc	CHESHCH	Hi
Jak sie masz?	yak SHYE mash?	How are you?
Dobrze, dziekuje	DOB-je DJYEN-koo-ye	Fine, thank you
Nazywam sie...	na-ZI-vam SHYE...	My name is...
Milo mi	MI-wo mi	Nice to meet you
Do widzenia	do vi-DZE-nya	Goodbye
Do zobaczenia	do zo-ba-CHE-nya	See you soon
Bardzo dziekuje	BAR-dzo DJYEN-koo-ye	Thank you very much

Asking for directions

Polish	Romanization	English
Gdzie jest...?	GDJYE yest...?	Where is... ?
W lewo	v LE-vo	To the left
W prawo	v PRA-vo	To the right
Prosto	PROS-to	Straight ahead
Zgubilem sie	zgoo-BI-wem SHYE	I am lost
Czy moze mi pan/pani pomoc?	chi MO-je mi pan/PA-ni PO-mots?	Can you help me?
Czy to daleko?	chi to da-LE-ko?	Is it far?
Prosze zatrzymac sie tutaj	PRO-she za-TSHI-mats SHYE TOO-tai	Stop here

Emergencies

Polish	Romanization	English
Pomocy!	po-MO-tsi!	Help!
Prosze wezwac policje!	PRO-she VEZ-vats po-LI-tsye!	Call the police!
Potrzebuje lekarza	pot-she-BOO-ye le-KA-zha	I need a doctor
Prosze wezwac ambulans!	PRO-she VEZ-vats AM-boo-lans!	Call an ambulance!
Jestem uczulony/a na...	YES-tem oo-choo-LO-ni/na na...	I am allergic to...
Zostałem okradziony	zos-TA-wem ok-ra-DZO-ni	I have been robbed
Gdzie jest szpital?	GDJYE yest SHPI-tal?	Where is the hospital?
Nie czuje sie dobrze	nye CHOO-ye SHYE DOB-je	I don't feel well

At the restaurant

Polish	Romanization	English
Stolik dla dwoch, prosze	STO-lik dla DVOOKH PRO-she	A table for two, please
Menu, prosze	ME-noo PRO-she	The menu, please
Co pan/pani poleca?	tso pan/PA-ni po-LE-tsa?	What do you recommend?
Jestem wegetarianinem/wegetarianka	YES-tem ve-ge-ta-RIA-ni-nem	I am vegetarian
To jest pyszne!	to yest PISH-ne!	This is delicious!
Rachunek, prosze	ra-KHOO-nek PRO-she	The bill, please
Wode, prosze	VO-de PRO-she	Water, please
Czy to jest pikantne?	chi to yest pi-KANT-ne?	Is it spicy?

At the hotel

Polish	Romanization	English
Mam rezerwacje	mam re-zer-VA-tsye	I have a reservation
Chciałbym pokoj	KHCHAW-bim PO-kooy	I would like a room
Do ktorej wymeldowanie?	do KTOO-rej vi-mel-DO-va-nye?	Until what time is check-out?
Czy WiFi jest bezplatne?	chi WI-fi yest bez-PWAT-ne?	Is Wi-Fi free?
Klimatyzacja nie działa	kli-ma-ti-ZA-tsya nye DZIA-wa	The air conditioning is not working
Prosze przeniesc reczniki	PRO-she pshe-NYESHCH rench-NI-ki	Can you bring towels?

Getting around

Polish	Romanization	English
Bilet do...	BI-let do...	A ticket to...
O ktorej odjedza pociag?	o KTOO-rej od-YED-ja PO-chyonk?	What time does the train leave?
Gdzie jest dworzec?	GDJYE yest DVO-jets?	Where is the train station?
Ile kosztuje taxi?	I-le kosh-TOO-ye TAK-si?	How much is the taxi?
Prosze mnie tutaj wysadzic	PRO-she MNYE TOO-tai vi-SA-djits	Drop me here
To jest za drogie	to yest za DRO-gye	It's too expensive

30 key words to remember

Polish	Romanization	English
Tak	tak	Yes
Nie	nye	No
Dziekuje	DJYEN-koo-ye	Thank you
Prosze	PRO-she	Please / You're welcome
Przepraszam	pshe-PRA-sham	Sorry / Excuse me
Woda	VO-da	Water
Jedzenie	ye-DZE-nye	Food
Hotel	HO-tel	Hotel
Lotnisko	lot-NIS-ko	Airport
Szpital	SHPI-tal	Hospital
Policja	po-LI-tsya	Police
Apteka	ap-TE-ka	Pharmacy
Prawo	PRA-vo	Right
Lewo	LE-vo	Left
Blisko	BLIS-ko	Near
Daleko	da-LE-ko	Far
Ile to kosztuje?	I-le to kosh-TOO-ye?	How much?
Gdzie?	GDJYE?	Where?
Kiedy?	KYE-di?	When?
Dzisiaj	DJIS-yai	Today
Jutro	YOO-tro	Tomorrow
Rynek	RI-nek	Market
Taxi	TAK-si	Taxi
Pociag	PO-chyonk	Train
Zloty	ZWO-ti	Zloty (currency)
Restauracja	res-taw-RA-tsya	Restaurant
Toaleta	to-a-LE-ta	Toilet
Karta	KAR-ta	Card
Telefon	TE-le-fon	Phone
Otwarte	ot-VAR-te	Open

In context: 5 scenes to get by

Arrival at Chopin Airport

You land in Warsaw after a long flight. The welcome sign reads dzien dobry and an immigration officer hands back your passport with a smile. You greet them politely, introduce yourself and state your accommodation address so the check goes smoothly.

Dzien dobry (DJYEN DOB-ri) : Good morning / Hello
Nazywam sie... (na-ZI-vam SHYE...) : My name is...
Milo mi (MI-wo mi) : Nice to meet you
Bardzo dziekuje (BAR-dzo DJYEN-koo-ye) : Thank you very much

Taxi to the city centre

Outside the terminal, you spot the official taxi rank. You ask about the fare to the Stare Miasto district, give your hotel address and tell the driver where to drop you off. They appreciate the language effort and start a friendly chat.

Bilet do... (BI-let do...) : A ticket to...
Prosze mnie tutaj wysadzic (PRO-she MNYE TOO-tai vi-SA-djits) : Drop me here
To jest za drogie (to yest za DRO-gye) : It's too expensive
Prosze wezwac ambulans! (PRO-she VEZ-vats AM-boo-lans!) : Call an ambulance!

Coffee break in Krakow

On Rynek Glowny square, you step into a small traditional cafe. The waitress hands you the menu and asks what you would like. You ask for her recommendation, order a glass of water and finish by politely requesting the bill.

Zostałem okradziony (zos-TA-wem ok-ra-DZO-ni) : I have been robbed
Gdzie jest szpital? (GDJYE yest SHPI-tal?) : Where is the hospital?
Menu, prosze (ME-noo PRO-she) : The menu, please
Co pan/pani poleca? (tso pan/PA-ni po-LE-tsa?) : What do you recommend?

Minor health issue at the hotel

You wake up with persistent stomach pain. At the hotel reception, you explain that you do not feel well, ask where the nearest hospital is and mention a food allergy so the doctor can adjust the diagnosis.

Czy moze mi pan/pani pomoc? (chi MO-je mi pan/PA-ni PO-mots?) : Can you help me?
Prosze zatrzymac sie tutaj (PRO-she za-TSHI-mats SHYE TOO-tai) : Stop here
Prosze wezwac policje! (PRO-she VEZ-vats po-LI-tsye!) : Call the police!
Prosze wezwac ambulans! (PRO-she VEZ-vats AM-boo-lans!) : Call an ambulance!

Departure from the central station

Your stay is coming to an end. You buy a ticket to Gdansk, ask for the train timetable and find the platform. Before boarding, you warmly thank the staff and say goodbye to the Polish people you met during these few days.

O ktorej odjedza pociag? (o KTOO-rej od-YED-ja PO-chyonk?) : What time does the train leave?
Gdzie jest dworzec? (GDJYE yest DVO-jets?) : Where is the train station?
Ile kosztuje taxi? (I-le kosh-TOO-ye TAK-si?) : How much is the taxi?
Do widzenia (do vi-DZE-nya) : Goodbye

Cultural notes

Polish people make a strict distinction between "pan" (sir) and "pani" (madam) when addressing adults. Using these polite forms is mandatory in formal contexts. Addressing someone without these titles can seem rude or overly familiar.
Wigilia (the Christmas Eve dinner on December 24) is the most sacred meal of the year in Poland. If invited, it is a great honor. It consists of 12 traditional meatless dishes. Arrive on time, bring a gift, and wait for the host to begin eating.
Polish toast culture is serious. When someone says "Na zdrowie!" (cheers!), make eye contact with every person while clinking glasses. Don't break eye contact as it is considered a sign of dishonesty or bad luck according to tradition.
Polish people love giving and receiving flowers. If invited, bring an odd number of flowers (3, 5, 7...) as even numbers are reserved for funerals. Chrysanthemums are associated with mourning, prefer roses, tulips or peonies.
Polish cuisine is generally heartier than Westerners expect. Bigos (meat and sauerkraut stew), pierogi (dumplings) and zurek (sour soup) are essential. It is polite to finish your plate to show appreciation.
Sunday is a family day in Poland. Many shops still close, especially in smaller towns. Plan your shopping for Saturday and expect a slower pace of life on weekends. It's a good time to visit churches and parks.
Polish people are proud of their history and resilience. Avoid negative generalizations about Poland or Polish jokes. On the other hand, showing curiosity about Polish cuisine, Chopin's music, architecture or the history of Krakow is always well received.
The zloty (PLN) remains the Polish currency even though Poland is in the European Union. Euros are not accepted everywhere. Prepare some zlotys in cash, especially for markets, local transport and tips. ATMs are everywhere in major cities.

Keep the whole kit on your phone

The 46 phrases, 67 key words and the cultural notes in a PDF to keep offline or print. We also send it to you by e-mail.

A family language

Reconnect with Polish

The language of your parents, your grandparents or your partner. The one you want to pass on to your children.

A couple hugging on a terrace — Speaking the language of the country means reconnecting with its people.

A mother and her daughter sitting on a rug — Now, at home, we speak Polish.

A young woman smiles on the phone — “Hi Mum, I speak Polish!”

A father holds his daughter close — Children who speak Polish are the greatest cultural wealth you can bring to your family.

A grandmother and her granddaughter in the kitchen — Your grandparents’ Polish should not end with them.

Finally understand what is said at the table, and answer back.
Your in-laws speak Polish to you. Answer them in Polish.

A language is passed down from generation to generation. Now it is your turn.

Start Polish for free

About this kit

Polish is a West Slavic language spoken by 45 million people. Its alphabet uses special characters (l accent, sz, cz, szcz) and its grammar is complex, but Polish people are very receptive to foreigners who make the effort. This kit opens the doors of Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk.

Polish (polski) is a West Slavic language spoken by roughly 45 million people, mostly in Poland but also across a vibrant diaspora in the UK, Germany, the United States and Canada. Part of the Lechitic branch alongside Kashubian, it uses a Latin alphabet enriched with distinctive letters (a, e, l, n, o, s, z, z) that make written Polish instantly recognisable. The phonetics are remarkably regular: once you learn the rules, you can pronounce almost any word correctly, which is a real asset for travellers. Grammar, however, requires patience. Polish keeps seven grammatical cases (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, locative, vocative), which change the endings of nouns, adjectives and pronouns based on their role in the sentence. This technical structure explains why Polish ranks among the hardest languages for English speakers, yet the effort pays off generously thanks to Polish hospitality. The welcome is warm, sincere, almost familial: you will be offered tea, cake or vodka depending on the time of day. Social codes rely on the respectful titles pan (sir) and pani (madam), absolutely mandatory when addressing an adult you do not know. Skipping them feels rude or overly familiar. A few well-placed Polish words, paired with a smile and steady eye contact, instantly open doors in Warsaw, Krakow or Gdansk and earn you immediate goodwill.

Sources and references

Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.

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