znaczyć
/ˈzna.t͡ʂɘt͡ɕ/
The English verb "mean" (in the sense of a word signifying something) is translated into Polish as znaczyć.
znaczyć is used when discussing the meaning of words or concepts.
Meaning: of a word: to signify (verb)
Which one should you use?
While znaczyć is used for the meaning of words or concepts, the related verb oznaczać is often used for the more formal sense of "denoting" or "signifying" a specific object or symbol.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The infinitive form is znaczyć. For the third-person singular, use znaczy (it means) and for the third-person plural, use znaczą (they mean).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈzna.tʂɘtɕ/. The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While znaczyć describes meaning, the phrase mieć na myśli is used when a person 'means' something in their mind. Polish strictly separates the meaning of a word from the intention of a speaker.
- The verb znaczyć shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'know'. Both derive from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵneh₃-, linking the act of signifying a meaning with the act of knowing.
- In Polish, znaczyć can also mean 'to mark' or 'to label', such as marking a trail or a piece of luggage. This literal sense of leaving a sign is the foundation for its use in explaining what a word 'means'.
Examples in context
- Uważam, że był nieuprzejmy podczas spotkania z klientem.I believe he was mean during the meeting with the client.
- Dlaczego byłeś taki złośliwy wobec niej?Why were you so mean to her?
- Ten chłopak zrobił coś naprawdę podłego swojej siostrze.That boy did something really mean to his sister.
- Co to znaczy?What does that mean?
- Co to słowo może znaczyć?What can this word mean?
- Ten znak nie musi nic znaczyć.This sign does not have to mean anything.
Example conversation
Anna and Tomasz are looking at a strange symbol in a book.
- AnnaTomaszu, czy ten znak coś znaczy?Tomasz, does this sign mean something?
- TomaszNie wiem, co to może znaczyć.I don't know what it can mean.
- AnnaMoże to znaczyć zwycięstwo.It might mean victory.
- TomaszTo bardzo ciekawe znaczenie.That is a very interesting meaning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mean” translations and entries znaczyć, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries znaczyć, CC BY-SA 4.0.
