przytulić się
/pʂɘˈtu.lit͡ɕ ɕɛ/word by wordperfective
The English verb cuddle can be translated into Polish as przytulić się. Wiktionary also lists przytulać się and miziać się.
Meaning: intransitive: embrace, lie together snugly (verb)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| przytulić się | /pʂɘˈtu.lit͡ɕ ɕɛ/ (word by word) | perfective |
| przytulać się | /pʂɘˈtu.lat͡ɕ ɕɛ/ (word by word) | imperfective |
| miziać się | imperfective |
To cuddle in Polish means to embrace or to lie together snugly. You can also use the noun przytulenie to refer to an affectionate embrace.
Which one should you use?
The form przytulić się is the perfective version, used to describe a single, completed act of cuddling or a specific instance of hugging. In contrast, the imperfective form przytulać się is used to describe the ongoing process of cuddling or a habitual behavior. The term miziać się is a more informal and colloquial way to say cuddle or fondle, often implying more playful, tactile or even slightly more sensual physical affection.
Related words
Did you know?
- The word miziać can also be used to describe the sensation of something soft, like a feather or silk, lightly touching the skin.
- The Polish word przytulić shares an ancient root with the English word 'near' via the Proto-Indo-European root *per-.
- The colloquial form miziać się is often used to describe cats or dogs rubbing against their owners affectionately.
Examples in context
- Przepraszam, czy mogę pana/panią przytulić?Excuse me, may I hug you?
- Mogę się przytulić?Can I cuddle up to you?
- Tulę cię mocno.I'm hugging you tightly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cuddle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (przytulić, się, przytulać) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries miziać, przytulać, przytulić, się, CC BY-SA 4.0.
