Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ramię | /ˈra.mjɛ/ /ˈra.mjɛw̃/ |
neuter |
| ręka | /ˈrɛŋ.ka/ /ˈrɛ̃.ka/ (Middle, Polish) |
feminine |
The term refers to the upper appendage of the body. While ramię is used for the anatomical upper arm, ręka is a very common way to refer to the entire limb, including the arm and hand.
Which one should you use?
ramię is the more precise, anatomical term specifically referring to the part of the limb from the shoulder to the elbow. In contrast, ręka is the more common word used in everyday speech to refer to the entire limb (arm and hand).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun ramię has the irregular genitive plural form ramion. The feminine noun ręka has the genitive plural form rąk.
How do you pronounce it?
The word ramię is pronounced /ˈra.mjɛ/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
In Polish, ręka is frequently used as a general term for the whole arm in non-medical contexts.
Did you know?
- While ręka refers to the limb, the Polish word for a clock hand is wskazówka, which means 'pointer' or 'hint' instead of 'hand'.
- The word ramię shares an ancient Proto-Indo-European ancestor with the English word 'arm', reflecting a deep historical connection between the two languages.
- In Polish, the expression podać rękę means to shake hands, but it literally translates to 'give the hand'.
Examples in context
- Tom złamał prawe ramię.Tom broke his right arm.This sentence shows the use of ramię in the context of a broken limb.Tatoeba #8948446 by antek55, translation #3923048 by CK
- Ręka mnie wczoraj bolała.My arm hurt yesterday.This sentence demonstrates how ręka is used to describe pain in the arm.Tatoeba #12196572 by polski_ren, translation #8365198 by CK
- Joan złamała sobie lewe ramię w wypadku.Joan broke her left arm in the accident.This sentence illustrates the use of ramię regarding an injury.Tatoeba #13045967 by katix824, translation #52875 by CN
- Mam skaleczone ramię.I have a wounded arm.
- Złamałam sobie ramię.I broke my arm.
- Czułem ból w ramieniu.I felt pain in my arm.
- Zraniłem sobie rękę.I hurt my arm.
- Boli mnie ta ręka.This arm is hurting me.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Katarzyna and Piotr are at a gym.
- KatarzynaCzy boli cię prawe ramię?Does your right arm hurt?
- PiotrTak, ramię bardzo mnie boli po treningu.Yes, my arm hurts a lot after training.
- KatarzynaPowinieneś odpocząć dzisiaj.You should rest today.
- PiotrMasz rację, Katarzyno.You are right, Katarzyna.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “arm” translations and entries ramię, ręka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ramię, ręka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
