kupić
/ˈku.pit͡ɕ/perfective
The English verb 'buy' is translated into Polish as kupić. Wiktionary also lists kupować and nabywać.
Meaning: to obtain something with money (verb)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kupić | /ˈku.pit͡ɕ/ | perfective |
| kupować | /kuˈpɔ.vat͡ɕ/ | imperfective |
| nabywać | /naˈbɘ.vat͡ɕ/ | imperfective |
| nabyć | /ˈna.bɘt͡ɕ/ | perfective |
The verb means to obtain something with money.
Which one should you use?
The imperfective form kupować is used for ongoing actions or repeated habits, such as 'to be buying' or 'to buy habitually'. In contrast, the perfective form kupić is used for a completed single act of buying. For more formal, legal, business or technical contexts, you may use the forms nabywać (imperfective) or nabyć (perfective), which mean 'to acquire' or 'to purchase'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The perfective form kupić is used to express a completed purchase. If you wish to say 'I bought' in the masculine 1st person singular past tense, use kupiłem.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈku.pitɕ/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The formal term nabyć is often used in Polish news and bureaucracy to describe the 'acquisition' of a habit or a disease, not just physical objects.
- The formal term nabyć is built from the prefix na and the verb być, which means 'to be'. Literally, it suggests the process of bringing something into one's existence or possession.
- In Polish, you can use kupić to mean 'buying into' an idea or a lie, similar to the English phrase 'I don't buy it'.
Examples in context
- Co chcesz jej kupić?What do you want to buy for her?This sentence shows how to use kupić when asking about a gift for someone.Tatoeba #5227092 by Tomash, translation #68991 by CK
- Chcę kupić nowe auto.I want to buy a new car.This sentence uses kupić to express a desire to purchase a car.Tatoeba #2378244 by Piteris, translation #990135 by CM
- Chcę kupić nowy rower.I want to buy a new bicycle.This sentence uses kupić to express a desire to purchase a bicycle.Tatoeba #361289 by zipangu, translation #269178 by CK
- Kupuję nowy samochód.I am buying a new car.
- Czy pan/pani kupuje tutaj często?Do you buy here often?
- Kupię nowe buty jutro.I will buy new shoes tomorrow.
- Chłopak kupił sobie nową komórkę.The boy bought himself a new cellphone.
- Proszę kupić mi ten prezent.Please buy me this gift.
- Dziękuję za zakupy!Thank you for the purchase!
- 182 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Agnieszka and Piotr are at a shopping mall.
- AgnieszkaPiotrze, chcesz kupić te buty?Piotr, do you want to buy these shoes?
- PiotrNie, muszę najpierw kupić prezent.No, I must buy a gift first.
- AgnieszkaDla kogo chcesz go kupić?Who do you want to buy it for?
- PiotrChcę kupić coś dla mamy.I want to buy something for mom.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “buy” translations and entries kupić, kupować, nabywać, nabyć, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kupić, kupować, nabywać, nabyć, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
