Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| obiad | /ˈɔ.bjat/ | masculine |
| kolacja | /kɔˈla.t͡sja/ | feminine |
obiad refers to the main, heavy meal of the day, which is often eaten in the afternoon. kolacja refers to a lighter meal eaten in the evening, which corresponds more closely to the English concept of 'supper' or a light 'dinner'.
Which one should you use?
While English speakers often use 'dinner' to mean the evening meal, in Polish, obiad typically refers to the main, heavy meal of the day, which is often eaten in the afternoon.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a masculine inanimate noun, obiad remains obiad in the accusative case when it is the direct object of a verb like 'jeść' (to eat).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɔ.bjat/
When do people say it?
In many Polish households, obiad is the largest meal of the day and is traditionally served after returning from school or work in the early afternoon.
Did you know?
- The word kolacja is actually a sophisticated borrowing from the Latin word collātiō, which originally referred to the act of bringing things together.
- Even though kolacja sounds very similar to the English 'collation', it has evolved to mean a standard evening meal rather than just a light snack or collection of items.
- If a Polish person invites you for obiad, do not be surprised if the invitation is for 2 pm instead of 7 pm.
Examples in context
- On czeka na obiad.He's waiting for dinner.This sentence shows the use of obiad to indicate someone is waiting for a meal.Tatoeba #12905148 by Stanislawspruss, translation #12899270 by rul
- Zjedz z nami obiad.Have dinner with us.This sentence shows how to use obiad when inviting someone to eat.Tatoeba #3858995 by jeedrek, translation #2250418 by CK
- Jadłem z nimi obiad.I was having dinner with them.This sentence demonstrates using obiad to describe a past action of having a meal.Tatoeba #5528916 by arie, translation #3903978 by CH
- Czy możemy zjeść obiad?Can we have dinner?
- Czy jest kolacja w hotelu?Is there dinner at the hotel?
- Czy mam zrobić ci obiadek?Should I prepare dinner for you?
- Gdzie dzisiaj zjemy kolację?Where are we having dinner tonight?
- Chciałbym zarezerwować stolik na obiad.I would like to book a table for dinner.
- Zapraszam cię na obiadek do restauracji.I invite you for dinner at the restaurant.
- Dzisiaj będziemy gotować kolację razem.Today we will cook dinner together.
- Czy macie pomysł na obiad?Do you have any ideas for dinner?
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Krzysztof and Agnieszka are talking about their plans for the afternoon.
- KrzysztofO której godzinie jemy obiad?What time are we eating dinner?
- AgnieszkaZrobimy obiad o szesnastej.We will make dinner at four o'clock.
- KrzysztofTo idealna godzina na obiad.That is a perfect time for dinner.
- AgnieszkaCieszę się, że pasuje ci obiad.I am glad that dinner works for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dinner” translations and entries obiad, kolacja, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kolacja, obiad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
