tęsknić
/ˈtɛw̃sk.ɲit͡ɕ/imperfective
The Polish verb for 'miss' (to feel the absence of someone or something) is tęsknić. Wiktionary also lists cnić się and cknić się.
Meaning: to feel the absence of someone or something, to feel the want or need of (verb)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tęsknić | /ˈtɛw̃sk.ɲit͡ɕ/ /ˈtɛnsk.ɲit͡ɕ/ |
imperfective |
| cnić się | archaic, imperfective | |
| cknić się | archaic, dialectal, imperfective |
The verb tęsknić is used to express that you miss someone or something, such as a person or a place. Note that if you are looking for the English title 'Miss' (for an unmarried woman), you should use the noun panna instead of the verb.
Which one should you use?
tęsknić is the imperfective verb. cnić się and cknić się are archaic and dialectal forms.
Is it said differently in some regions?
cknić się is a dialectal form of the verb.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using tęsknić to miss a person, you must use the preposition za and the appropriate case for the person being missed, such as in the phrase tęsknić za Tobą (to miss you).
How do you pronounce it?
tęsknić is pronounced /ˈtɛw̃sk.ɲitɕ/. It has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While tęsknić refers to emotional longing, the Polish word for missing a target or a bus is tęsknić's distant cousin przegapić or chybić.
- The preposition za used with tęsknić literally means 'behind' or 'after', suggesting that the person longing is mentally chasing after someone who has gone.
- The word tęsknota, the noun form of 'missing someone', is often used in Polish literature to describe an existential, soulful longing that goes beyond simple sadness.
Examples in context
- Bedę za wami tęsknić.I will miss you.This sentence shows how to express that you will miss a group of people using tęsknić.Tatoeba #5704248 by CarloLardini, translation #1550027 by miflhanc
- Będę tęsknić za Bostonem.I'm going to miss Boston.This sentence demonstrates how to express missing a place using tęsknić.Tatoeba #4940392 by aleksandraeska, translation #4918959 by CK
- Będziemy za Tobą tęsknić.We'll all miss you.This sentence shows how to express that a group of people will miss someone using tęsknić.Tatoeba #5437873 by pixelka, translation #5430738 by CK
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A phone call between a couple before one travels.
- PawełBędę za Tobą bardzo tęsknić, Katarzyno.I will miss you very much, Katarzyna.
- KatarzynaJa też będę za Tobą tęsknić, Pawle.I will miss you too, Paweł.
- PawełZadzwoń do mnie jutro, proszę.Please call me tomorrow.
- KatarzynaOczywiście, będziemy w kontakcie.Of course, we will be in touch.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “miss” translations and entries tęsknić, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
