pani
/ˈpa.ɲi/
In Polish, the word for lady is pani.
pani is used as a polite way to refer to a woman, acting as the equivalent to the English terms "Madam" or "Mrs."
Meaning: polite: woman (noun)
Which one should you use?
While pani is the standard polite way to refer to a woman, it is much more common and less formal than the English "lady" in everyday social interactions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form pani is used in the vocative case when you are addressing a woman directly in a polite manner.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈpa.ɲi/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using damy to address women in a polite social setting. Instead, use pani.
Did you know?
- The word pani is so central to Polish etiquette that it is used as a third-person pronoun to replace 'you' in polite conversation. Instead of saying 'Do you want coffee?', one says 'Does the lady want coffee?'
- The etymology of pani traces back to ancient roots related to 'master' or 'lord', showing that the word historically denoted a position of authority and domestic control.
- In the past, the word pani was part of a complex hierarchy of titles, but today it has become the universal standard for any polite address to a woman, regardless of her social standing.
Examples in context
- Pani ma ponad osiemdziesiąt lat.The lady is over eighty.This sentence illustrates the use of pani when referring to an elderly woman.Tatoeba #3865325 by jeedrek, translation #44266 by CK
- Proszę przesunąć się, by ta pani mogła przejść.Please move out of the way so this lady can go through.This sentence shows how to use pani when referring to a woman passing through.Tatoeba #2809378 by Ceresnya, translation #61059 by CM
- "Mój mąż odszedł dwa lata temu", powiedziała starsza pani."My husband passed on two years ago," an elderly lady said.This sentence uses pani to refer to an elderly lady speaking.Tatoeba #4225504 by jeedrek, translation #73534 by Lepotdeterre
- Dzień dobry, Pani Smith.Good morning, Mrs. Smith.
- Dzień dobry, Pani.Good morning, ma'am.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Małgorzata is asking Krzysztof about a customer at their shop.
- MałgorzataKto obsłużył tę panią?Who served this lady?
- KrzysztofTo była moja praca.That was my job.
- MałgorzataCzy ta pani zapłaciła już za zakupy?Did this lady already pay for the shopping?
- KrzysztofTak, wszystko jest opłacone.Yes, everything is paid for.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pani, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pani, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
