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Poland · Polish Travel Phrases

The most useful local expressions, ordered by importance. Pronunciations are approximate.

Greetings

  1. 1
    Dzień dobry
    Hello / Good day (polite default greeting) “jane DOH-brih”
  2. 2
    Dziękuję
    Thank you “jen-KOO-yeh”
  3. 3
    Proszę
    Please / Here you go / You're welcome “PROH-sheh”
  4. 4
    Przepraszam
    Excuse me / Sorry (to get attention or apologize) “psheh-PRAH-shahm”
  5. 5
    Cześć
    Hi / Bye (casual, among friends) “cheshch”
  6. 6
    Do widzenia
    Goodbye “doh vee-DZEN-yah”
  7. 7
    Dobry wieczór
    Good evening “DOH-brih VYEH-choor”
Local etiquette
  • Use 'Dzień dobry' with strangers and in formal settings, not the casual 'Cześć'. Greeting staff with 'Dzień dobry' when entering a shop or restaurant is expected courtesy.
  • Polish uses formal titles: 'pan' for a man and 'pani' for a woman. Using casual speech with strangers sounds rude.
  • Respect for elders is strong; giving up your seat to the elderly on public transport is taken for granted.

Basics

  1. 1
    Tak / Nie
    Yes / No “tahk / nyeh”
  2. 2
    Nie rozumiem
    I don't understand “nyeh roh-ZOO-myem”
  3. 3
    Nie mówię po polsku
    I don't speak Polish “nyeh MOO-vyeh poh POL-skoo”
  4. 4
    Czy mówi pan/pani po angielsku?
    Do you speak English? (to a man/woman) “chih MOO-vee pahn/PAH-nee poh ahn-GYEL-skoo?”
  5. 5
    Proszę mówić wolniej
    Please speak slower “PROH-sheh MOO-veech VOL-nyey”
  6. 6
    Gdzie jest toaleta?
    Where is the toilet? “g-jeh yest toh-ah-LEH-tah?”
  7. 7
    Nie wiem
    I don't know “nyeh vyem”
  8. 8
    Czy mogę zrobić zdjęcie?
    May I take a photo? “chih MOH-geh ZROH-beech ZDYEN-cheh?”
Local etiquette
  • Poland is deeply Catholic. When visiting churches, cover shoulders and knees and stay quiet during Mass.
  • Photography is restricted in many churches and memorial sites (e.g., Auschwitz) — always check the signs.

Shopping

  1. 1
    Ile to kosztuje?
    How much is it? “EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh?”
  2. 2
    Czy mogę zapłacić kartą?
    Can I pay by card? (widely accepted) “chih MOH-geh zah-PWAH-cheech KAR-town?”
  3. 3
    Poproszę to
    I'll take this “poh-PROH-sheh toh”
  4. 4
    Czy mogę przymierzyć?
    Can I try this on? “chih MOH-geh pshih-MYEH-zhich?”
  5. 5
    Poproszę torbę
    A bag, please (bags cost extra at shops) “poh-PROH-sheh TOR-beh”
  6. 6
    Czy to jest tax free?
    Is this tax-free? (bring your passport) “chih toh yest taks free?”
Local etiquette
  • Card payments are ubiquitous and contactless is the norm — even tiny amounts can be paid by card.
  • Plastic bags at supermarkets cost extra, so ask for one or bring your own tote.
  • Prices are lower than Western Europe, but exchange booths (kantor) near tourist spots give poor rates — change money in the city center.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    Poproszę menu
    The menu, please “poh-PROH-sheh MEH-noo”
  2. 2
    Co pan/pani poleca?
    What do you recommend? (to a man/woman) “tsoh pahn/PAH-nee poh-LEH-tsah?”
  3. 3
    Poproszę pierogi
    Pierogi, please (Poland's signature dumplings) “poh-PROH-sheh pyeh-ROH-ghee”
  4. 4
    Poproszę wodę
    Water, please (they'll ask still or sparkling) “poh-PROH-sheh VOH-deh”
  5. 5
    Mam alergię
    I have an allergy “mahm ah-LER-ghyeh”
  6. 6
    Poproszę rachunek
    The check, please “poh-PROH-sheh rah-HOO-nek”
  7. 7
    Reszty nie trzeba
    Keep the change (leaving a tip) “RESH-tih nyeh TSHEH-bah”
  8. 8
    Smacznego
    Enjoy your meal “smahch-NEH-goh”
Local etiquette
  • Tipping is typically around 10%. When paying, if you hand over the money and say 'Dziękuję', it means 'keep the change' — so don't say it if you need change back.
  • Cheap, local 'milk bars' (bar mleczny) are self-service: order and pay at the counter, then collect your food yourself.
  • Ordering water prompts a still (niegazowana) or sparkling (gazowana) question; free tap water is rarely served.

Getting around

  1. 1
    Gdzie jest przystanek?
    Where is the bus/tram stop? “g-jeh yest pshih-STAH-nek?”
  2. 2
    Poproszę bilet
    One ticket, please “poh-PROH-sheh BEE-let”
  3. 3
    Czy ten tramwaj jedzie do...?
    Does this tram go to...? “chih ten TRAHM-vai YEH-jeh doh...?”
  4. 4
    Poproszę na ten adres
    To this address, please (taxi) “poh-PROH-sheh nah ten AH-dres”
  5. 5
    Gdzie jest dworzec?
    Where is the train station? “g-jeh yest DVOH-zhets?”
  6. 6
    Czy to jest daleko?
    Is it far from here? “chih toh yest dah-LEH-koh?”
  7. 7
    Zgubiłem się
    I'm lost “zgoo-BEE-wem sheh”
Local etiquette
  • On buses and trams you must validate your ticket in the machine (kasownik) after boarding, or buy via an app — riding unvalidated means a fine.
  • For longer trips, trains (PKP) and budget buses (FlixBus) are convenient; buy tickets in advance via app or at the station counter.
  • For taxis, use apps (Bolt, Uber, Free Now) to avoid being overcharged.

Hotel

  1. 1
    Mam rezerwację
    I have a reservation “mahm reh-zer-VAH-tsyeh”
  2. 2
    Chciałbym się zameldować
    I'd like to check in “HCHAW-bim sheh zah-mel-DOH-vahch”
  3. 3
    O której jest wymeldowanie?
    What time is check-out? “oh KTOO-rey yest vih-mel-doh-VAH-nyeh?”
  4. 4
    Jakie jest hasło do Wi-Fi?
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “YAH-kyeh yest HAH-swoh doh wai-fai?”
  5. 5
    Czy mogę zostawić bagaż?
    Can I leave my luggage? “chih MOH-geh zos-TAH-veech BAH-gahsh?”
Local etiquette
  • A passport is required at check-in, and a city tourist tax may apply separately in some cities.
  • Greeting hotel and guesthouse staff with 'Dzień dobry' when you enter makes a good impression.

Emergency

  1. 1
    Pomocy!
    Help! “poh-MOH-tsih!”
  2. 2
    Proszę wezwać policję
    Please call the police “PROH-sheh VEZ-vahch poh-LEE-tsyeh”
  3. 3
    Proszę wezwać karetkę
    Please call an ambulance “PROH-sheh VEZ-vahch kah-RET-keh”
  4. 4
    Gdzie jest szpital?
    Where is a hospital? “g-jeh yest SHPEE-tahl?”
  5. 5
    Zgubiłem paszport
    I lost my passport “zgoo-BEE-wem PAHSH-port”
  6. 6
    Potrzebuję pomocy
    I need help “poh-tsheh-BOO-yeh poh-MOH-tsih”
Local etiquette
  • The unified emergency number is 112. Police is 997 and ambulance is 999.
  • Pharmacies (apteka) are marked with a green cross; big cities have 24-hour pharmacies (apteka całodobowa).