How to Say “Drunk” in Polish

Ways to say it

The various forms of these words describe being intoxicated after consuming too much alcohol. You can use pijany to describe the general state of being drunk, or more specific terms like przepity to mean 'outdrunk'. If you want to describe someone who is heavily drunk, you might use the word zalany, which literally means 'flooded'. To refer to the condition of being intoxicated in a formal context, you can use the phrase Stan nietrzeźwości.

Which one should you use?

The forms in this list vary in intensity and tone. While pijany is the standard term for 'drunk', nietrzeźwy is a formal or clinical way to say 'intoxicated' (literally meaning 'not sober'). Some forms, like wstawiony, are colloquial and act as euphemisms for being heavily intoxicated. Other forms like spity, napity and upity are perfective in nature.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For formal or medical situations, use nietrzeźwy. For standard everyday-use, use pijany. In casual settings among friends, you might use the colloquial term nawalony or the euphemistic, colloquial wstawiony to describe someone who is heavily intoxicated.

Related words

Habitual drinker (noun): pijak, pijaczka, menel.

One who is drunk (noun): nietrzeźwy, nietrzeźwa.

How does it change in a sentence?

As an adjective, the word must agree with the gender of the person you are describing: use pijana for a woman and pijani for a group of men or a mixed-gender group. Note that while pijany is an adjective describing a temporary state, the noun pijak (or the feminine pijaczka) is used to describe a person who is a habitual drinker.

How do you pronounce it?

The word pijany is pronounced /piˈja.nɘ/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.