Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| waluta | /vaˈlu.ta/ | feminine |
| pieniądz | /ˈpjɛ.ɲɔnt͡s/ /ˈpjɛ.ɲɔ̃t͡s/ (Middle, Polish) |
inanimate, masculine |
| siano | /ˈɕa.nɔ/ | neuter, slang |
| kapucha | /kaˈpu.xa/ | feminine, slang |
| forsa | /ˈfɔr.sa/ | colloquial, feminine |
| szmal | /ˈʂmal/ | colloquial, masculine |
| sałata | /saˈwa.ta/ | feminine, slang |
| hajs | /ˈxajs/ | masculine, slang |
| kabona | /kaˈbɔ.na/ | feminine, slang |
| flota | /ˈflɔ.ta/ | feminine, slang |
| gotówka | /ɡɔˈtuf.ka/ | feminine |
While waluta is used for official exchange units, pieniądz refers to money in a general sense. You will also encounter many slang terms used in casual conversation.
Which one should you use?
Waluta is a formal term specifically used to refer to a country's official currency or a unit of exchange. In contrast, pieniądz is used for money in a more general sense. Many other forms are highly informal or slang, such as hajs, siano, kapucha, sałata, kabona and flota.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal or official contexts regarding exchange, use waluta. For general everyday use, pieniądz is standard. If you are in a casual setting, you might use the colloquial forsa or szmal. The terms hajs, siano, kapucha, sałata, kabona and flota are all slang and should be used only in very informal environments.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word for money in common usage, pieniądz is almost always used in its plural form, pieniądze.
How do you pronounce it?
/vaˈlu.ta/. The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
When do people say it?
Among younger generations and in casual settings, the slang term hajs is very common to mean money or dough. In informal situations, you may also hear the term kasa to mean cash.
Did you know?
- The slang term szmal for money is borrowed from the German word 'Schmalz', which literally means 'lard'.
- The term flota is used as slang for money, though its literal meaning in Polish refers to a 'fleet' of ships.
- The word pieniądz shares an ancestral root with the English word 'penny', tracing back to a Proto-Germanic form.
Examples in context
- Dam ci te pieniądze.I'll give you this money.This sentence is useful for practicing the plural form of pieniądz.Tatoeba #621327 by Bilberry, translation #17562 by CK
- Nie proś o pieniądze.Don't ask for money.This sentence shows how to use pieniądz.Tatoeba #6551243 by mojeanin, translation #18567 by CK
- To są moje pieniądze.That's my money.This sentence demonstrates the use of pieniądz.Tatoeba #6671276 by juu_ichi, translation #6670223 by thegui
- Czy możesz mi pożyczyć trochę kasy?Can you lend me some cash?
- Zarobiłem sporo hajsu na ostatniej pracy.I earned a lot of money on my last job.
- 209 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Piotr and Anna are discussing international travel requirements.
- PiotrJaka to jest waluta?What currency is it?
- AnnaTo jest lokalna waluta.It is the local currency.
- PiotrCzy ta waluta jest silna?Is this currency strong?
- AnnaTak, ta waluta jest bardzo stabilna.Yes, this currency is very stable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “money” translations and entries waluta, pieniądz, siano, kapucha, forsa, szmal, sałata, hajs, kabona, flota, gotówka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kapucha, pieniądz, siano, waluta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
