smacznego
/smat͡ʂˈnɛ.ɡɔ/
The Polish equivalent of "bon appetit" is smacznego.
smacznego is the standard and most common way to wish someone an enjoyable meal in Poland.
What does it mean word for word?
The word smacznego is the genitive form of the adjective smaczny, which literally means "of something tasty".
How does it change in a sentence?
Because it is in the genitive case, smacznego functions as an elliptical expression for "I wish you [something] tasty".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /smatʂˈnɛ.ɡɔ/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to use the French "bon appetit" in Poland, but you should use smacznego instead as it is the much more natural and expected phrase.
When do people say it?
When someone says smacznego to you, the standard response is dziękuję (thank you). For a more playful expression, one might say "Smacznej kawusi", which means "enjoy your tasty coffee".
Did you know?
- If you are a guest at a Polish table, you should wait for the host to say smacznego before you begin eating, rather than saying it yourself.
- The adjective in smacznego is related to the English word 'smack', in its older sense of tasting or sensing something.
- In Poland, it is common to say smacznego to strangers in a cafeteria or a shared office kitchen, even if you are not eating with them.
Examples in context
- Dobrego apetytu, Jan.Bon appétit, Jan.
- Dziękuję, to samo panu/pani.Thank you, same to you.
- Smacznego!Enjoy your meal!
- Dziękuję, kochanie. Tobie też!Thank you, sweetheart. The same to you!
- Dziękuję, smacznego!Thank you, enjoy your meal!
- Wszyscy mówią smacznego przed jedzeniem.Everyone says enjoy your meal before eating.
Example conversation
Anna and Krzysztof are sitting down for lunch.
- AnnaObiad jest gotowy. Smacznego!Dinner is ready. Enjoy your meal!
- KrzysztofDziękuję, Anno. Wygląda pysznie.Thank you, Anna. It looks delicious.
- AnnaCieszę się, że ci smakuje.I am glad you like it.
- KrzysztofTobie również smacznego!Enjoy your meal too!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry smacznego, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries smacznego, CC BY-SA 4.0.
