lew
/ˈlɛf/masculine
The Polish word for lion is lew.
The word refers to the big cat Panthera leo.
Meaning: big cat Panthera leo (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun lew is masculine and changes its form depending on its role in a sentence. For the plural, use lwy. Use the form lwa in the genitive case, such as when saying 'of the lion'. Use the form lwem in the instrumental case, used after prepositions like 'z' (with) or to indicate means.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlɛf/
Did you know?
- The word lew is also used in the Polish phrase lew salonowy, which describes a 'social lion' or a man who dominates social gatherings.
- The word lew is not just a name for an animal but is also the name of the Bulgarian currency.
- The word for lion in Polish shares an ancient lineage with the Greek word λέων (léōn).
Examples in context
- Lew jest królem dżungli.The lion is the king of the jungle.This sentence demonstrates using lew as the subject.Tatoeba #2788398 by aleksandraeska, translation #29846 by CM
- Lew jest królem zwierząt.The lion is the king of beasts.This sentence shows how to use lew when describing the lion as a king of beasts.Tatoeba #735867 by zipangu, translation #29839 by CK
- Lew leżał na środku klatki.The lion lay in the middle of the cage.This sentence illustrates the use of lew in a simple descriptive sentence.Tatoeba #355238 by zipangu, translation #354737 by Hautis
- Widziałeś tego lwa w zoo?Have you seen that lion in the zoo?
- Lew to król sawanny.A lion is the king of the savannah.
- Czy wiesz, że lwy żyją w grupach?Did you know that lions live in groups?
- Silny lewStrong lion
- Opieka nad lwemCare of a lion
- Walczyć jak lewFight like a lion (to fight with great determination)
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Katarzyna and Krzysztof are visiting the zoo.
- KatarzynaKrzysztofie, spójrz! Tam jest wielki lew.Krzysztof, look! There is a big lion.
- KrzysztofOn wygląda na bardzo groźnego.He looks very dangerous.
- KatarzynaCzy lew zawsze tak dużo śpi?Do lions always sleep this much?
- KrzysztofTak, to jest typowe dla tych kotów.Yes, that is typical for these cats.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lion” translations and entries lew, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lew, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
