How to Say “Go” in Polish

Ways to say it

The general verb used for 'go' in Polish is iść, but it specifically implies movement on foot. If you are traveling by car, bus, bike or another vehicle, you must use forms derived from the root for riding or driving instead.

Which one should you use?

Polish distinguishes between movement on foot and movement by vehicle, as well as between continuous actions and habits. For movement on foot:
• iść is used for a single, continuous movement in one direction toward a specific destination. • chodzić is used for habitual movement (such as 'I go to school every day') or movement that is not directed toward a single destination. • pójść is a perfective form used when referring to going somewhere once or for a specific purpose, emphasizing the completion of the act. For movement by vehicle:
• jechać is used for moving by vehicle (car, bus, bike, etc.). • jeździć is used for habitual movement by vehicle or the general ability to drive or ride. • pojechać is the perfective form used to describe a completed trip or a single instance of traveling by vehicle.

Related words

Approval (noun): pozwolenie.

Board game (noun): go.

How does it change in a sentence?

The forms provided include both imperfective and perfective aspects. Use the perfective form pójść to emphasize the completion of the act of going or a single future instance of going. Similarly, pojechać is the perfective form used for a single instance of traveling by vehicle. For movement on foot, iść is imperfective, while pójść is perfective. For vehicle travel, jechać is imperfective and pojechać is perfective.

How do you pronounce it?

/ˈiɕtɕ/

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers often mistakenly use iść to mean 'to go' in any context. However, you should remember that it specifically implies walking on foot.