Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| obiad | /ˈɔ.bjat/ | masculine |
| lunch | /ˈlant͡ʂ/ | masculine |
obiad refers to the traditional, often warm, main meal of the day, while lunch is a loanword used for lighter or more casual midday meals.
Which one should you use?
obiad is the traditional term for a midday meal, whereas lunch is a modern loanword used primarily in urban or corporate environments to describe a more casual or lighter meal. Additionally, the diminutive form obiadek can be used to describe a small or casual lunch.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing that you are having something 'for lunch' using the traditional term, you use the form na obiad.
How do you pronounce it?
The word obiad is pronounced /ˈɔ.bjat/ and has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
When do people say it?
In a traditional Polish household, obiad is a heavy, warm meal typically served in the afternoon, which might be considered 'dinner' in some English dialects. When someone offers or discusses a meal, you might use the related verb phrase jeść obiad to mean 'to eat lunch'.
Did you know?
- The word obiad shares a root with the word obiadokolacyjka, a hybrid meal that is part 'lunch' and part 'dinner' usually eaten on weekends.
- While obiad is the standard term, many Poles use drugie śniadanie (meaning 'second breakfast') to describe the light snack eaten at school or work around 11 am.
- The word obiad shares a common ancestor with the English verb 'to eat', both stemming from the ancient root *ěsti.
Examples in context
- Co jesz na lunch?What do you eat for lunch?This sentence shows how to use the loanword lunch in a question.Tatoeba #6157438 by arie, translation #2315180 by CK
- Co chcesz na obiad?What do you want for lunch?This sentence demonstrates the use of the traditional term obiad in a question.Tatoeba #356427 by zipangu, translation #277589 by CK
- Zjedz ze mną obiad.Have lunch with me.This sentence shows how to use obiad when inviting someone to eat.Tatoeba #13748843 by mx31, translation #3198911 by CK
- Czy mogę zarezerwować stolik na obiad?Can I reserve a table for lunch?
- Czy chodzisz na obiadki do restauracji obok?Do you go for casual lunches to the restaurant next door?
- 109 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Anna are talking about their plans for the day.
- PawełO której godzinie jemy obiad?What time are we eating lunch?
- AnnaZjem obiad o czternastej.I will eat lunch at 2 p.m.
- PawełCzy chcesz pójść razem na obiad?Do you want to go to lunch together?
- AnnaTak, to świetny pomysł.Yes, that is a great idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lunch” translations and entries obiad, lunch, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lunch, obiad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
