bekać
/ˈbɛ.kat͡ɕ/imperfective
To burp in Polish is bekać. If unsure, use bekać. Wiktionary also lists beknąć.
Meaning: to emit a burp (verb)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bekać | /ˈbɛ.kat͡ɕ/ | imperfective |
| beknąć | /ˈbɛk.nɔɲt͡ɕ/ | perfective |
The verb is used to describe the act of emitting a burp. While the primary forms are colloquial, there is a more polite way to express this action in social settings.
Which one should you use?
The imperfective form bekać is used to describe the ongoing process of burping or a habitual action. The perfective form beknąć is used to describe a single, completed instance of burping.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both bekać and beknąć are colloquial. If you wish to be more polite and socially acceptable, use the phrase odbić sobie.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb exists in imperfective and perfective aspects. The noun beknięcie refers to a softer belch.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈbɛ.katɕ/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word bekać shares the same Proto-Slavic root as the sounds made by a sheep or a goat. It is essentially an onomatopoeic word that mimics a repetitive, braying sound.
- The polite phrase odbić sobie literally translates to 'to reflect something to oneself'. This creates a mental image of the air returning rather than being expelled.
- In Polish, the suffix in beknąć changes the verb from a continuous action to a single, sudden event. This allows you to distinguish between a person who is burping constantly and someone who let out one accidental burp.
Examples in context
- Przepraszam, czy mogę beknąć?Excuse me, may I burp?
- Proszę, nie odbijaj się tak głośno!Please, don't burp so loudly!
- Dziecko zaczyna bekać po jedzeniu.The baby starts to burp after eating.
- Przestań bekać przy stole!Stop burping at the table!
Example conversation
A couple is having dinner at a restaurant.
- AnnaTomaszu, czy ty właśnie zacząłeś bekać?Tomasz, did you just start burping?
- TomaszPrzepraszam, to gazowany napój.Sorry, it is the sparkling drink.
- AnnaTo mało kulturalne.That is impolite.
- TomaszMasz rację, postaram się uważać.You are right, I will try to be careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “burp” translations and entries bekać, beknąć, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bekać, beknąć, CC BY-SA 4.0.
