Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dziewczyna | /d͡ʑɛfˈt͡ʂɘ.na/ /d͡ʑɛfˈt͡ʂɨ.na/ (Middle, Polish) |
feminine |
| dziołcha | ||
| dziewoja | /d͡ʑɛˈvɔ.ja/ | |
| dziewka | /ˈd͡ʑɛf.ka/ | |
| dziewczę | /ˈd͡ʑɛf.t͡ʂɛ/ /ˈd͡ʑɛf.t͡ʂɛw̃/ |
feminine, formal |
| dziewa | /ˈd͡ʑɛ.va/ | archaic, feminine |
| dziewczynka | /d͡ʑɛfˈt͡ʂɘn.ka/ | feminine |
The word dziewczyna refers to a young female person. In many contexts, it is also used colloquially to mean 'girlfriend'.
Which one should you use?
Use dziewczynka when referring specifically to a little girl or a young child, as it is the diminutive form of dziewczyna. While dziewczyna is the standard term, dziewczę is a dated or formal term often translated as 'maiden'. Other forms include the archaic and poetic dziewa, as well as the terms dziołcha and dziewoja. The word dziewka is also a form of the word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dziewczę is formal or dated and is rarely used in modern speech. dziewa is reserved for literary or poetic contexts. In casual slang among young people, the term laska is popular, but be aware it can be perceived as impolite in unfamiliar settings.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of dziewczyna is /dʑɛfˈtʂɘ.na/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
When do people say it?
Among young people, the slang term laska is often used in a friendly and casual manner, but it may be seen as impolite if used in settings where you are not familiar with the people.
Did you know?
- The slang term laska literally means 'cane' or 'walking stick'.
- While dziewczyna is the common word for 'girl', the form dziewka can be highly offensive or imply a prostitute in modern contexts.
- The ancient roots of these words, such as the Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(y)-der, suggest a very long history of words describing young females across many different language families.
Examples in context
- Kim jest ta dziewczyna?Who is this girl?This sentence is useful for asking for the identity of a girl using dziewczyna.Tatoeba #357216 by zipangu, translation #58453 by CK
- Dziewczyna boi się psów.The girl is afraid of dogs.This sentence is useful for describing a girl's fear using dziewczyna.Tatoeba #4921607 by Martka, translation #46451 by CK
- Dziewczyna nie lubi soku.The girl doesn't like juice.This sentence is useful for stating a girl's preference using dziewczyna.Tatoeba #867152 by Igliwie, translation #462724 by lukaszpp
- Spotkałem młodą dziewczynę w muzeum.I met a young girl at the museum.
- Witajcie, drogie kobiety i dziewczęta!Hello dear women and girls!
- Masz zaprosić wszystkie dziewczynki z klasy na swoje urodziny.You should invite all the girls from your class to your birthday party.
- 77 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Katarzyna are talking about a person they saw in the park.
- PawełTa dziewczyna gra w tenisa.That girl plays tennis.
- KatarzynaTak, to bardzo zdolna dziewczyna.Yes, she is a very talented girl.
- PawełCzy ona jest nowa w klubie?Is she new at the club?
- KatarzynaMyślę, że tak.I think so.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “girl” translations and entries dziewczyna, dziewoja, dziewka, dziewczę, dziewa, dziewczynka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dziewa, dziewczyna, dziewczynka, dziewczę, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
