kolęda
/kɔˈlɛn.da/feminine
The English phrase 'carol' is kolęda in Polish.
kolęda is a feminine noun referring to a religious or secular song sung during the Christmas season. The related verb kolędować means to sing carols, and it specifically refers to the tradition of visiting people's homes during the Christmas season.
Meaning: religious or secular song sung at Christmastime (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of kolęda is kolędy.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable: /kɔˈlɛn.da/.
Did you know?
- Historically, the tradition of kolędowanie was linked to pagan winter solstice rituals designed to bring luck and fertility to the upcoming harvest.
- In Poland, kolędowanie often involves groups of people dressing up as characters like a goat, a star or a devil while visiting neighbors.
- The word kolęda shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'calendar', as both stem from the same root meaning 'to count' or 'to mark a date'.
Examples in context
- Wesołych Świąt! Czy znasz jakieś piękne kolędy?Merry Christmas! Do you know any beautiful carols?
- Dzisiaj będziemy śpiewać najpiękniejsze kolędy!Today we will sing the most beautiful carols!
- Wszyscy wokół śpiewają kolędy, czując magię Świąt Bożego Narodzenia.Everyone around sings carols, feeling the magic of Christmas.
- Ta kolęda jest bardzo piękna.This carol is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “carol” translations and entries kolęda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kolęda, CC BY-SA 4.0.
