osiem
/ˈɔ.ɕɛm/
The English number eight is osiem in Polish. Wiktionary also lists ośmioro.
Meaning: cardinal number 8 (num)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| osiem | /ˈɔ.ɕɛm/ /ˈɔ.ɕem/ (Middle, Polish) |
|
| ośmioro | /ɔɕˈmjɔ.rɔ/ | collective |
The primary way to say the number 8 is osiem. If you are referring to the digit or the symbol 8, or a playing card with the value 8, you use the noun ósemka.
Which one should you use?
osiem is the standard cardinal number used for counting. In contrast, ośmioro is a collective numeral used for specific groups of items, such as sets of objects, certain types of young animals or body parts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the cardinal number osiem with a noun in the nominative case, it triggers the genitive case for that noun. For example, to say eight years, you say osiem lat.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈɔ.ɕɛm/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While osiem is the number, the word ósemka is often used in Polish sports to refer to the 800 meter race, treating the number as a noun for the event.
- In traditional Polish folklore, the number osiem is sometimes associated with the 'eight-pointed star', a common motif in folk embroidery and regional art.
- The word ósemka can refer to a figure-eight turn in skiing or skating, as well as the digit itself.
Examples in context
- Ona ma osiem lat.She is eight.This sentence shows how to use osiem to express age.Tatoeba #10606621 by polski_ren, translation #310214 by CK
- Pająki mają ośmioro oczu.Spiders have eight eyes.This sentence demonstrates the use of the collective numeral ośmioro when counting eyes.Tatoeba #10168291 by Shounen, translation #10168293 by Shounen
- Osiem plus dwa, to dziesięć.Eight plus two is ten.This sentence shows osiem being used in a basic mathematical context.Tatoeba #5514746 by rubber_duck, translation #1304579 by candistyx
- Ilu uczniów jest w klasie? – Osiem.How many students are in the class? – Eight.
- Zamówiliśmy osiem dań głównych na przyjęcie.We ordered eight main dishes for the party.
- Czy widziałeś osiem nowych odcinków tej serii?Have you seen eight new episodes of that series?
- Wysłaliśmy sobie osiem wiadomości wczoraj wieczorem.We sent each other eight messages last night.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Agnieszka and Piotr are counting apples in a basket.
- AgnieszkaIle mamy jabłek w tym koszyku?How many apples do we have in this basket?
- PiotrMyślę, że jest ich osiem.I think there are eight of them.
- AgnieszkaTo za mało dla wszystkich gości.That is too few for all the guests.
- PiotrKupię jeszcze osiem sztuk.I will buy eight more pieces.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eight” translations and entries osiem, ośmioro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
