rak
/ˈrak/colloquial, masculine
In Polish, the word for cancer is rak. Wiktionary also lists nowotwór złośliwy.
Meaning: disease of uncontrolled cellular proliferation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rak | /ˈrak/ | colloquial, masculine |
| nowotwór złośliwy | masculine |
The term is used to refer to the disease of uncontrolled cellular proliferation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word rak literally means 'crab'.
Which one should you use?
rak is a more colloquial way to refer to the disease, while nowotwór złośliwy is the specific term for a malignant tumor.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nowotwór złośliwy is the formal medical term. rak is considered colloquial.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word rak changes to raka (accusative or genitive case) in certain contexts, such as when saying someone died of cancer or has cancer.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈrak/
When do people say it?
The term Rak is also used to refer to the astrological sign and the constellation, sharing the same root as the word for the disease.
Did you know?
- The word złośliwy describes the cancer as being 'spiteful', a word usually reserved for describing a person's unpleasant personality.
- The formal medical term nowotwór złośliwy is built from the words for 'new' and 'creation', literally translating to a 'malignant new-formation'.
- The term rak is so closely tied to the animal that it is frequently used in Polish idioms and folk tales unrelated to medicine.
Examples in context
- To może być rak.It could be cancer.This sentence is useful for expressing uncertainty about a potential diagnosis of rak.Tatoeba #3649917 by liori, translation #3422129 by CK
- Tom zmarł na raka.Tom died of cancer.This sentence shows how to use the form raka when describing someone who died of the disease.Tatoeba #3051279 by jeedrek, translation #1094585 by CK
- Zmarł na raka płuc.He died of lung cancer.This sentence demonstrates the use of raka when specifying the type of cancer, such as lung cancer.Tatoeba #361298 by zipangu, translation #302426 by CK
- Mój dziadek cierpi na nowotwór płuc.My grandfather suffers from lung cancer.
- Nowotwory złośliwe wymagają profesjonalnego leczenia.Malignant tumors require professional treatment.
- Słyszałem, że Julia walczy z rakiem piersi.I heard Julia is fighting breast cancer.
- Mój wujek przeszedł operację usunięcia raka jelita grubego.My uncle had surgery to remove colorectal cancer.
- Ten film jest o dziewczynce, która pokonała raka.This movie is about a girl who defeated cancer.
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Małgorzata are discussing a medical report at home.
- PawełCzy to jest rak?Is it cancer?
- MałgorzataLekarz jeszcze nie potwierdził.The doctor hasn't confirmed it yet.
- PawełTo bardzo trudna diagnoza.That is a very difficult diagnosis.
- MałgorzataMusimy teraz zacząć leczenie.We must start treatment now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cancer” translations and entries rak, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nowotwór, rak, złośliwy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
