koszykówka
/kɔ.ʂɘˈkuf.ka/feminine
The English word basketball is koszykówka in Polish. Wiktionary also lists piłka koszykowa and kosz.
Meaning: the sport (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| koszykówka | /kɔ.ʂɘˈkuf.ka/ | feminine |
| piłka koszykowa | feminine | |
| kosz | /ˈkɔʂ/ | colloquial, masculine |
The word is used to refer to the sport of basketball.
What does it mean word for word?
The word koszykówka is a derivative of koszyk, which means basket.
Which one should you use?
While koszykówka refers to the sport itself, piłka koszykowa literally means 'basketball' in the sense of the physical ball used in the sport.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Koszykówka is the standard formal word for the sport. In casual conversation, you may hear the colloquial term kosz, which is used to refer to the game of basketball, similar to how English speakers might say 'playing hoops'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the verb 'grać' (to play) to express playing the sport, you must use the preposition 'w' followed by the accusative form of the noun: 'grać w koszykówkę'.
Did you know?
- The word piłka for 'ball' may share an ancient root with the Latin word pila, which originally referred to a 'bundle of hair'.
- While kosz means 'basket' in a sporting context, it is also the word used for a wastepaper basket in a Polish home.
- In Polish, the suffix -ówka used in koszykówka is a common way to create names for sports and games, such as siatkówka for volleyball.
Examples in context
- Lubię grać w koszykówkę.I like to play basketball.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal preference for playing koszykówkę.Tatoeba #591618 by Bilberry, translation #321679 by CK
- Mike lubi grać w koszykówkę.Mike likes to play basketball.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for a third person named Mike to play koszykówkę.Tatoeba #621322 by Bilberry, translation #32934 by CN
- Graliśmy wczoraj w koszykówkę.We played basketball yesterday.This sentence is useful for stating that a group played koszykówkę in the past.Tatoeba #569876 by Bilberry, translation #248740 by CK
- Gram w koszykówkę.I play basketball.
- Czy możemy pograć w kosza?Can we play some basketball?
- Chodźmy na parkiet!Let's hit the court!
- Zagrajmy w kosza!Let's play some basketball!
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Katarzyna and Paweł are discussing sports at a park.
- KatarzynaCzy koszykówka to twoja ulubiona dyscyplina?Is basketball your favorite discipline?
- PawełNie, wolę piłkę nożną.No, I prefer football.
- KatarzynaA może sprawdzisz, czy koszykówka ci się spodoba?Or maybe you'll see if you like basketball?
- PawełMoże spróbuję z tobą zagrać.Maybe I will try to play with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “basketball” translations and entries koszykówka, kosz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kosz, koszykówka, piłka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
