Kraków
/ˈkra.kuf/inanimate, masculine
Kraków is the Polish name for the city of Krakow.
Kraków is used to refer to the specific city in Poland. It is an inanimate masculine noun.
Meaning: city (name)
How does it change in a sentence?
The name changes when used with the preposition w (in) to mean 'in Krakow'. In this case, you use the locative form Krakowie, resulting in the phrase w Krakowie.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. It is pronounced /ˈkra.kuf/.
Did you know?
- The city's name is linked to the legend of Krak, a mythical founder who supposedly defeated a dragon living in a cave beneath the Wawel Hill.
- The name Kraków shares a root with the krakowiak, a traditional Polish folk dance and the costume associated with the region.
- In Polish, Kraków is often called the 'city of kings' because it served as the official royal residence and coronation site for centuries.
Examples in context
- Kraków jest bardzo stary.Kraków is very old.
- Czy Kraków jest daleko stąd?Is Kraków far from here?
- Bardzo lubię Kraków.I like Kraków very much.
Example conversation
Katarzyna and Krzysztof are discussing travel plans.
- KatarzynaChcesz pojechać do Krakowa?Do you want to go to Kraków?
- KrzysztofTak, Kraków jest piękny.Yes, Kraków is beautiful.
- KatarzynaWięc kupię bilety.Then I will buy the tickets.
- KrzysztofDziękuję ci, Katarzyno.Thank you, Katarzyna.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “krakow” translations and entries Kraków, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Kraków, CC BY-SA 4.0.
