kościół
/ˈkɔɕ.t͡ɕuw/inanimate, masculine
The English phrase "church" is translated into Polish as kościół. Wiktionary also lists cerkiew and zbór.
Meaning: house of worship (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kościół | /ˈkɔɕ.t͡ɕuw/ /ˈkɔɕ.t͡ɕoɫ/ (Middle, Polish) |
inanimate, masculine |
| cerkiew | /ˈt͡sɛr.kjɛf/ | feminine |
| zbór | /ˈzbur/ | inanimate, masculine |
Which one should you use?
cerkiew is used specifically for Eastern Orthodox or Greek Catholic places of worship. zbór is used to refer to a Protestant congregation or their specific meeting place.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word kościół is a masculine inanimate noun. Its plural is kościoły. The word cerkiew is a feminine noun. Its plural is cerkwie. The word zbór is a masculine inanimate noun. Its plural is zbory.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkɔɕ.tɕuw/. The word has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word kościół is a linguistic relative of the English word 'castle'. Both derived from the Latin 'castrum', which referred to a fortified military camp.
- In traditional Polish village architecture, the cerkiew is often distinguished by its characteristic onion domes, which are rarely found on a kościół.
Examples in context
- Ile lat ma ten kościół?How old is this church?This sentence is useful for asking about the age of a kościół.Tatoeba #12562313 by JimiYoru, translation #59672 by CK
- Wcześniej był tu kościół.There used to be a church here.This sentence is useful for stating that a kościół used to exist in a location.Tatoeba #3107604 by nusia2302, translation #28341 by CK
- Zbierają datki na kościół.They are collecting contributions for the church.This sentence is useful for mentioning collecting contributions for a kościół.Tatoeba #924476 by zipangu, translation #306378 by CK
- Proszę pójść do kościoła przed ceremonią ślubną.Please go to the church before the wedding ceremony.
- Spotkajmy się koło kościoła.Let's meet near the church.
- Na weselu byliśmy w małej kaplicy.We were at a small chapel for the wedding.
- Zobacz tę piękną świątynię w centrum miasta.See that beautiful church in the city center.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tomasz and Katarzyna are walking through a city center.
- TomaszSpójrz, jaki piękny kościół!Look, what a beautiful church!
- KatarzynaRzeczywiście, wygląda na bardzo stary.Indeed, it looks very old.
- TomaszCzy chcesz wejść do środka?Do you want to go inside?
- KatarzynaTak, chętnie odwiedzę ten kościół.Yes, I would love to visit this church.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “church” translations and entries kościół, cerkiew, zbór, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerkiew, kościół, zbór, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
