życie
/ˈʐɘ.t͡ɕɛ/neuter
The Polish word for life is życie. Wiktionary also lists żywot.
Meaning: the state of being alive (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| życie | /ˈʐɘ.t͡ɕɛ/ /ˈʐɨ.t͡ɕe/ (Middle, Polish) |
neuter |
| żywot | /ˈʐɘ.vɔt/ | masculine |
The word refers to the state of being alive.
Which one should you use?
życie is the standard, most common word for life. In contrast, żywot is a more literary or archaic term used specifically to refer to a person's lifespan or biological existence.
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun życie changes to życia in the genitive case. This form is required after many Polish prepositions and when expressing possession, such as in the phrase brak życia (lack of life).
How do you pronounce it?
życie is pronounced /ˈʐɘ.tɕɛ/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word życie shares a common ancient root with the English word 'quick' in its archaic sense of 'living', as seen in the phrase 'the quick and the dead'.
- In Polish, you can describe someone as życiak, a slang term for a person who is very experienced in the ways of the world and knows how to survive.
- While życie is the standard term, the archaic żywot is still frequently encountered in old Polish hagiographies, which were called żywoty to describe the lives of saints.
Examples in context
- Życie nie jest łatwe.Life is not easy.This sentence is useful for expressing the general difficulty of life using życie.Tatoeba #1000977 by Mateusz, translation #5954966 by Hybrid
- Tom lubi swoje życie.Tom likes his life.This sentence is useful for expressing personal preference regarding one's own życie.Tatoeba #6157407 by arie, translation #2858522 by Amastan
- To zmieni życie Ziri.This will change Ziri's life.This sentence is useful for describing how an event will affect someone's życie.Tatoeba #12574225 by katix824, translation #11431920 by Amastan
- Życie jest piękne.Life is beautiful.
- Musimy nauczyć się cieszyć życiem.We need to learn to enjoy life.
- Praca nie powinna dominować naszego życia.Work should not dominate our lives.
- Mój żywot jest pełen przygód.My life is full of adventures.
- 194 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are sitting in a cafe discussing their daily routines.
- AgnieszkaJak wygląda twoje codzienne życie?What is your daily life like?
- TomaszMoje życie jest bardzo spokojne.My life is very peaceful.
- AgnieszkaCieszę się, że twoje życie jest takie miłe.I am glad that your life is so pleasant.
- TomaszDziękuję, Agnieszko.Thank you, Agnieszka.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “life” translations and entries życie, żywot, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries życie, żywot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
