Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dziewczyna | /d͡ʑɛfˈt͡ʂɘ.na/ /d͡ʑɛfˈt͡ʂɨ.na/ (Middle, Polish) |
feminine |
| dziołcha | ||
| dziewoja | /d͡ʑɛˈvɔ.ja/ | |
| dziewka | /ˈd͡ʑɛf.ka/ | |
| dziewczę | /ˈd͡ʑɛf.t͡ʂɛ/ /ˈd͡ʑɛf.t͡ʂɛw̃/ |
feminine, formal |
| dziewa | /ˈd͡ʑɛ.va/ | archaic, feminine |
| dziewczynka | /d͡ʑɛfˈt͡ʂɘn.ka/ | feminine |
The primary way to refer to a young female person is dziewczyna. Depending on the context, this word can mean both 'girl' and 'girlfriend'.
Which one should you use?
While dziewczyna is the general term for a girl or a young woman, use dziewczynka specifically when referring to a little girl. Other forms include dziewoja and dziewka, which is a highly offensive and derogatory term for a woman. The word dziewczę can be used to mean 'maiden' or 'young girl'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Dziewczę is a more formal or literary term for a young female, often used in older literature or formal contexts. Dziewa is an archaic, poetic or literary form. Use extreme caution with dziewka, as it is a highly offensive and derogatory term for a woman.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Dziołcha is a dialectal or regional form used in certain parts of Poland (often associated with Silesia or Highlander dialects), meaning 'girl' or 'lass'.
How do you pronounce it?
/dʑɛfˈtʂɘ.na/. The word has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word dziewczyna is a linguistic evolution of dziewka, which is now a highly offensive term. While they share a root, the former was created by adding the suffix -yna to change the nuance.
- The regional term dziołcha is frequently heard in the mountains of southern Poland and the Silesia region, where it serves as a local equivalent to 'lass'.
Examples in context
- Kim jest ta dziewczyna?Who is this girl?This sentence is useful for asking for the identity of a girl using dziewczyna.Tatoeba #357216 by zipangu, translation #58453 by CK
- Dziewczyna boi się psów.The girl is afraid of dogs.This sentence shows how to describe a girl's fear using dziewczyna.Tatoeba #4921607 by Martka, translation #46451 by CK
- Dziewczyna nie lubi soku.The girl doesn't like juice.This sentence demonstrates expressing a girl's dislike for something using dziewczyna.Tatoeba #867152 by Igliwie, translation #462724 by lukaszpp
- 77 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tomasz and Anna are looking at a photo of a friend.
- TomaszCzy ta dziewczyna to twoja koleżanka?Is that girl your friend?
- AnnaTak, to jest bardzo miła dziewczyna.Yes, she is a very nice girl.
- TomaszCzy ona też tu jest?Is she here too?
- AnnaNie, ta dziewczyna jest teraz w domu.No, that girl is at home now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “girl” translations and entries dziewczyna, dziewoja, dziewka, dziewczę, dziewa, dziewczynka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dziewa, dziewczyna, dziewczynka, dziewczę, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
