cześć
/ˈt͡ʂɛɕt͡ɕ/
The English word "hi" is translated into Polish as cześć. Wiktionary also lists hej.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA |
|---|---|
| cześć | /ˈt͡ʂɛɕt͡ɕ/ /ˈt͡ʂɛɕ/ |
| hej | /ˈxɛj/ |
Both cześć and hej are used as friendly, informal greetings to say hello or hi.
Which one should you use?
While cześć is a standard informal way to say "hi", hej is a more casual, English-influenced version often used by younger generations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cześć is an informal greeting suitable for people you know or people your own age. For strangers or elders, you should use the formal greeting Dzień dobry (Good day / Good morning) or Dobry wieczór (Good evening) when used at night. hej is categorized as colloquial.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtʂɛɕtɕ/
When do people say it?
Use cześć for friends and peers, but switch to formal greetings like Dzień dobry or Dobry wieczór when addressing someone you do not know or someone older.
Did you know?
- The word cześć is a linguistic 'double agent' because it can also mean 'honor' or 'respect' in a different context. While you use it to say 'hi' to a friend, it is the same word used to express deep respect or tribute.
- The word cześć can also function as a way to say 'goodbye'. Depending on the context and the speaker's tone, it can serve as both a greeting and a farewell among close friends.
- In many Slavic languages, such as Slovak, the word hej exists but often functions as a way to say 'yes' rather than a greeting. Using it as a greeting in Poland is a specific modern stylistic choice.
Examples in context
- Cześć! Jak się masz?Hi! How are you?This sentence shows how to use cześć to say hello and ask how someone is doing.Tatoeba #5379472 by Mateon1, translation #30316 by Zifre
- Cześć Susan. Jak leci?Hi, Susan. How are you?This sentence uses cześć to greet a specific person.Tatoeba #572699 by Bilberry, translation #54605 by CN
- Cześć, mam na imię Tom.Hi, my name's Tom!This sentence uses cześć to introduce yourself.Tatoeba #4043761 by motomysza, translation #2630208 by Hybrid
- Hej, co u Ciebie słychać?Hey, what's up with you?
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Anna meet on a street during the day.
- PawełCześć, Anna!Hi, Anna!
- AnnaCześć, Paweł. Co u ciebie?Hi, Paweł. How are you?
- PawełWszystko w porządku, dzięki.Everything is fine, thanks.
- AnnaSuper, miłego dnia!Great, have a nice day!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries cześć, hej, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
