dupa
/ˈdu.pa/
The English phrase arse is dupa in Polish.
dupa refers to the part of the body that a person sits on. In a colloquial context, it can also be used as an exclamation to express frustration or to indicate that a situation is bad, much like saying 'shit' or 'damn' in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dupa is an informal word. Depending on the context, it can be considered vulgar, similar to the English word 'arse'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of dupa is dupy. When dupa is the direct object of a verb, such as in the sentence 'I see the arse', it changes to the accusative form dupę.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdu.pa/. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word dupa shares a common ancestor with the English word 'deep', originating from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰowp-.
- While often vulgar, dupa is used in the phrase z dupy, meaning something that is random, illogical or came out of nowhere.
- If a Pole says dupa blada, they are not talking about skin color, but are actually saying that something is a disappointment or a failure.
Examples in context
- Co za dupa!An expression used to describe someone who is annoying or stupid.
- Boli mnie dupa.My arse hurts.
Example conversation
Agnieszka and Tomasz are relaxing on a sofa.
- AgnieszkaMoja dupa mnie boli od tego krzesła.My arse hurts from this chair.
- TomaszMoże powinieneś wstać na chwilę?Maybe you should stand up for a moment?
- AgnieszkaNie chcę ruszać dupy z kanapy.I don't want to move my arse from the sofa.
- TomaszTo jesteś leniwy, Tomaszu.You are lazy, Tomasz.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dupa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dupa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
