Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dziadostwo | /d͡ʑaˈdɔ.stfɔ/ | neuter |
| szajs | /ˈʂajs/ | inanimate, masculine |
| badziewie | /baˈd͡ʑɛ.vjɛ/ | neuter |
| chłam | /ˈxwam/ | masculine |
These words are used to describe something of poor quality.
Which one should you use?
While dziadostwo often implies a general state of poor quality or wretchedness, szajs is more specifically used for cheap, low-quality physical goods or junk.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Szajs is considered more vulgar and informal than the other terms in this list. Note that Gówno can also be used informally to mean crap, but it can come across as stronger and more offensive in informal settings.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Chłam is a masculine noun and is typically used in the singular form to describe a single piece of low-quality work or object. Badziewie is a neuter noun and is often used to describe a collection of useless or low-quality items.
How do you pronounce it?
dziadostwo is pronounced /dʑaˈdɔ.stfɔ/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The term dziadostwo is built from the word dziad, which historically means 'old man' or 'grandfather'.
- In Polish, the word dziad (the root of dziadostwo) has evolved from a neutral term for an ancestor to a derogatory term for a beggar or a wretched person.
- In Polish, the word for 'crap' can change its grammatical gender entirely depending on the choice of word, moving between masculine chłam and neuter badziewie.
Examples in context
- Ten sprzęt to jedno wielkie dziadostwo.This equipment is one big piece of crap.
Example conversation
Anna and Paweł are looking at a broken kitchen appliance in their apartment.
- AnnaSpójrz na ten nowy mikser, to samo dziadostwo.Look at this new mixer, it's just crap.
- PawełNaprawdę? Przecież wyglądał na solidny.Really? It looked sturdy.
- AnnaNie, Paweł, to jest zwykłe dziadostwo.No, Paweł, it is just pure crap.
- PawełMusimy go natychmiast zwrócić.We must return it immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crap” translations and entries dziadostwo, szajs, badziewie, chłam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries badziewie, chłam, dziadostwo, szajs, CC BY-SA 4.0.
