nienawidzę cię
The Polish phrase for "I hate you" is nienawidzę cię. Wiktionary also lists nienawidzę ciebie.
Meaning: expression of intense dislike (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Polish |
|---|
| nienawidzę cię |
| nienawidzę ciebie |
This phrase is used to express intense dislike toward another person.
Which one should you use?
Use the standard form nienawidzę cię for a normal expression of hatred. If you want to place strong emphasis on the specific person being hated, such as saying "It is YOU that I hate", use the emphatic form nienawidzę ciebie.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form nienawidzę cię is used when you are addressing only one person. In formal settings, use nienawidzę pana to address a man and nienawidzę pani to address a woman.
Did you know?
- The word nienawidzę comes from the root nawidzieć, which historically meant to look upon someone with a gaze of hostility. To hate in Polish is literally to look at someone with ill intent.
- Because Polish has a complex system of formality, saying nienawidzę pana to a stranger is considered far more shocking and aggressive than saying nienawidzę cię to a peer, as it weaponizes formal respect.
- The phrase nienawidzę cię is rarely used toward inanimate objects in Polish. While an English speaker might say 'I hate this rain', a Pole would more likely use the word nie znoszę, meaning 'I cannot bear'.
Examples in context
- Nienawidzę cię, ty czubie!I hate you, creep!This sentence shows how to use the form in an insult.Tatoeba #8178556 by arie, translation #6321443 by CarpeLanam
- Nigdy cię nie pokocham. Nienawidzę cię.I will never love you. I hate you.This sentence uses the form to contrast hatred with love.Tatoeba #4620738 by Solurix, translation #3767486 by Hybrid
- Nienawidzę cię.I hate you.This sentence provides a simple, direct use of the form.Tatoeba #827298 by zipangu, translation #827295 by RaspaKrusto
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a heated argument in a kitchen.
- PawełNienawidzę cię!I hate you!
- KatarzynaTo bardzo boli, Paweł.That hurts a lot, Paweł.
- PawełZawsze tak reagujesz.You always react like this.
- KatarzynaJesteś okrutny.You are cruel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I hate you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
