Michał
/ˈmi.xaw/masculine
Michał is the Polish equivalent of the English male given name Michael.
Michał is used as a standard masculine given name.
Meaning: male given name (name)
Which one should you use?
The name has several forms depending on the situation. Michał is the standard form, while Michaś is a diminutive and Michałek is a diminutive often used for children or as an affectionate nickname. Michałek can be translated as 'little Michael'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The name changes based on its role in a sentence. For example, when expressing possession (such as 'Michael's book') or using the name after certain prepositions, the form changes to Michała.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈmi.xaw/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Poland, people celebrate 'Name Days' for Michał on September 29. For many, this date is a more significant social event for gift-giving and parties than their actual birthday.
- The Polish name Michał is a learned borrowing from the Latin Michaēl, which itself came from Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew.
- While Michałek literally means 'little Michael', Polish adults frequently use this diminutive to address close friends or romantic partners as a way of teasing.
Examples in context
- Cześć, czy to jest Michaś?
Tak, to jest Michaś.Hi, is this Michaś?
Yes, this is Michaś. - Cześć, czy to jest Mikołaj?
Nie, to jest Michał.Hi, is this Mikołaj?
No, this is Michał. - Cześć, czy to jest Mieczysław?
Nie, to jest Michał.Hi, is this Mieczysław?
No, this is Michał. - Michał to mój brat.Michał is my brother.
- Czy Michał jest tutaj?Is Michał here?
- Mój kolega ma na imię Michał.My friend's name is Michał.
Example conversation
Paweł and Małgorzata are talking about a mutual friend.
- PawełGdzie jest Michał?Where is Michał?
- MałgorzataMichał jest w kuchni.Michał is in the kitchen.
- PawełCzy on nas słyszy?Can he hear us?
- MałgorzataNie, nie słyszy.No, he can't.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “michael” translations and entries Michał, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Michał, CC BY-SA 4.0.
