głupek
/ˈɡwu.pɛk/
In Polish, the English phrase jackass is translated as głupek.
The word is used to describe someone who acts foolishly or behaves like a jackass.
Meaning: foolish or stupid person (noun)
Which one should you use?
dureń can also be used to describe someone's foolish or silly behavior.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form głupka is used when the word is the direct object of a sentence, such as 'I saw a jackass'. The plural form of 'głupka' is głupki.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈɡwu.pɛk/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The root word głupi is used in the common idiom głupi jak szczotka, which translates to 'stupid as a brush'.
- In Polish, if you call someone a głupek with a smile, it can be a flirtatious way of calling them 'silly'.
- The root of głupek comes from the Proto-Slavic word *glũpъ, which is shared across many Slavic languages to denote foolishness.
Examples in context
- Mój szef jest kompletnym durniem.My boss is a complete idiot.
- Mój brat to straszny głupek.My brother is a total jackass.
Example conversation
Agnieszka and Paweł are talking about a clumsy colleague.
- AgnieszkaWidziałaś, co zrobił ten głupek?Did you see what that jackass did?
- PawełTak, wylał kawę na laptopa.Yes, he spilled coffee on the laptop.
- AgnieszkaJak on może być taki nieostrożny?How can he be so careless?
- PawełPo prostu nie myśli o niczym.He just doesn't think about anything.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry głupek, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries głupek, CC BY-SA 4.0.
