nienawiść
/ɲɛˈna.viɕt͡ɕ/
The English word "hate" is translated into Polish as nienawiść.
Meaning: to dislike intensely (verb)
Which one should you use?
While nienawiść is the standard word for intense dislike, hejt is a loanword used specifically to describe online harassment or hateful comments.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun nienawiść (hate) is derived from the verb nienawidzić (to hate). The first-person singular present tense of the verb 'to hate' is nienawidzę.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /ɲɛˈna.viɕtɕ/.
Did you know?
- If you want to say you 'hate' a specific food, using nienawidzę can make you sound like a character in a tragic novel rather than a hungry person.
- The Polish word hejt is not just a translation of 'hate' but is used as a verb hejtować specifically to describe the act of trolling or cyberbullying.
- The prefix nie- in nienawidzić functions as a negation, making the word literally 'un-love' or 'not-love' in its deep structure.
Examples in context
- Nienawidzę siebie za nienawiść do Toma.I hate myself for hating Tom.This sentence shows how to use nienawiść when expressing self-directed hatred.Tatoeba #3713594 by jeedrek, translation #3447003 by CK
- Skąd taka nienawiść?Why so much hate?This sentence uses nienawiść to ask the source or reason for hatred.Tatoeba #838927 by zipangu, translation #838760 by Scott
- Nienawiść rodzi nienawiść.Hate breeds hate.This sentence uses nienawiść in a proverb about how hate breeds more hate.Tatoeba #6217015 by polishamerican, translation #7100106 by maaster
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Małgorzata are discussing a conflict between two friends.
- PawełDlaczego oni tak bardzo się kłócą?Why are they fighting so much?
- MałgorzataTo już nie jest kłótnia, to czysta nienawiść.It's not a fight anymore, it's pure hate.
- PawełNaprawdę nie mogę tego zrozumieć.I really cannot understand it.
- MałgorzataNienawiść potrafi zniszczyć każdą przyjaźń.Hate can destroy any friendship.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nienawiść, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
