kaszel
/ˈka.ʂɛl/masculine
The English word cough is translated into Polish as kaszel.
kaszel is a masculine noun referring to the sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis and out through the mouth.
Meaning: sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis, and out through the mouth (noun)
Which one should you use?
While kaszel is the noun, you may need related verbs. The verb kaszleć describes the ongoing process or a repetitive action of coughing, whereas kaszlnąć describes a single, completed instance of coughing.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun kaszel changes to kaszlu in the genitive case, which is required after many prepositions or to indicate possession. For the verb kaszleć, the first-person singular present tense form is kaszlę (meaning "I am coughing").
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable: /ˈka.ʂɛl/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Polish folk medicine, a common home remedy for kaszel involves syrop z cebuli, which is a homemade syrup made from onions and sugar.
- When someone is coughing in a public space, it is a common Polish social custom to say na zdrowie, which is the same phrase used when someone sneezes.
- The word kaszel shares the same Proto-Slavic ancestor, *kaš(ь)ľь, as many other Slavic terms that imitate the actual sound of a cough.
Examples in context
- Twój kaszel mnie martwi.Your cough worries me.This sentence shows how to express that someone's cough is a cause for concern.Tatoeba #4837717 by gin, translation #3260346 by CM
- Twój kaszel jest przyczyną palenia.Your cough is the consequence of smoking.This sentence links a cough to the consequence of smoking.Tatoeba #2838222 by Ceresnya, translation #63261 by Dejo
- Mam kaszel.I have a cough.This sentence is a simple way to say that you have a cough.Tatoeba #564986 by Bilberry, translation #51340 by CK
- Przepraszam, czy mogę prosić o syrop na kaszel?Excuse me, can I please have some cough syrup?
- Wszyscy kaszlą w domu, musimy kupić syrop.Everyone is coughing at home, we need to buy some syrup.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Katarzyna are talking at home about his health.
- PawełOd trzech dni mam ten męczący kaszel.I've had this tiring cough for three days.
- KatarzynaPowinieneś pójść dzisiaj do lekarza, Paweł.You should go to the doctor today, Paweł.
- PawełMyślę, że to tylko zwykły kaszel.I think it's just a common cough.
- KatarzynaKatarzyna nie chce ryzykować, idź do lekarza.Katarzyna doesn't want to take risks, go to the doctor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cough” translations and entries kaszel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaszel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
