chłopak
/ˈxwɔ.pak/masculine
The Polish word for boyfriend is chłopak. Wiktionary also lists przyjaciel.
Meaning: male partner in a romantic relationship (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| chłopak | /ˈxwɔ.pak/ /ˈxɫɔ.pɒk/ (Middle, Polish) |
masculine |
| przyjaciel | /pʂɘˈja.t͡ɕɛl/ /pr̝ɨˈjɒ.t͡ɕel/ (Middle, Polish) |
masculine |
The term chłopak is used to refer to a male partner in a romantic relationship. Depending on the context, it can also mean 'boy' or 'guy'.
Which one should you use?
While chłopak can mean both 'boy' and 'boyfriend', the word przyjaciel literally means 'friend'. Using przyjaciel can serve as a euphemism if you wish to avoid explicitly stating that the relationship is romantic.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on its role in a sentence. If the word is the direct object of a verb like 'mieć' (to have), use the form chłopaka. If you want to say 'with my boyfriend' using the preposition 'z', use the instrumental form chłopakiem.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/ˈxwɔ.pak/', 'syllables': 2, 'stressed_syllable': '1 of 2'}
Did you know?
- If you use the word chłop instead of chłopak, you are no longer talking about a 'boyfriend' or a 'boy', but rather a 'peasant' or a 'fellow'.
- The word chłopak actually contains a diminutive-style suffix, -ak, which was originally a dialectal way to create nouns for young people.
- While chłopak is the standard word for 'boyfriend', using it to mean 'boy' can sound slightly more informal or even patronizing depending on the age of the person being discussed.
Examples in context
- Tom to mój chłopak.Tom is my boyfriend.This sentence is useful for introducing your boyfriend.Tatoeba #3996256 by jeedrek, translation #2273294 by CK
- Wiem, że masz chłopaka.I know you have a boyfriend.This sentence is useful for expressing knowledge that someone has a boyfriend.Tatoeba #4226516 by jeedrek, translation #3223349 by Hybrid
- Mój chłopak jest zaborczy.My boyfriend is possessive.This sentence is useful for describing a characteristic of a boyfriend.Tatoeba #3425961 by konrad509, translation #2478891 by Hybrid
- Gdzie jest mój chłopak?Where is my boyfriend?
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anna is introducing Paweł to her friend.
- PawełPoznaj mojego chłopaka, Pawła.Meet my boyfriend, Paweł.
- AnnaMiło cię poznać, Pawle.Nice to meet you, Paweł.
- PawełMój chłopak jest świetnym kucharzem.My boyfriend is a great cook.
- AnnaTo brzmi bardzo ciekawie!That sounds very interesting!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boyfriend” translations and entries chłopak, przyjaciel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chłopak, przyjaciel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
