księżyc
/ˈkɕɛw̃.ʐɘt͡s/inanimate, masculine
The English word 'moon' is translated into Polish as księżyc. Wiktionary also lists miesiąc and luna.
Meaning: the natural satellite of planet Earth (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| księżyc | /ˈkɕɛw̃.ʐɘt͡s/ /ˈkɕɛn.ʐɘt͡s/ |
inanimate, masculine |
| miesiąc | /ˈmjɛ.ɕɔnt͡s/ /ˈmjɛ.ɕɔ̃t͡s/ (Middle, Polish) |
masculine, poetic |
| luna | /ˈlu.na/ | feminine, poetic |
The word refers to the natural satellite of planet Earth.
Which one should you use?
While księżyc is the standard term, luna is a poetic or literary alternative. The word miesiąc is the standard word for 'month', but in some dialects or poetic contexts, it can also mean 'moon'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
miesiąc may be used to mean 'moon' in certain dialects.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the Moon as a specific celestial body (the name of the satellite), the word is capitalized as Księżyc. The form księżyc is an inanimate masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The IPA is /ˈkɕɛw̃.ʐɘts/.
When do people say it?
The phrase 'Wszechświat jak księżyc w wodzie' translates to 'The universe like the moon in water'.
Did you know?
- The word księżyc contains a hidden relationship to the concept of 'kin' or 'kindred' through its deep Proto-Indo-European roots, which is a far cry from its modern meaning.
- The term luna can be confused with the word łuna, which refers to a glow or a light in the sky, due to their similar sounds.
- The word luna is not a native Slavic word but a borrowing from Latin, making it sound more poetic or scientific than the common księżyc.
Examples in context
- Widzę księżyc i gwiazdy.I see the moon and the stars.This sentence shows how to use księżyc to describe seeing the moon and stars.Tatoeba #4919333 by MarekMazurkiewicz, translation #4931153 by warrenbisch
- Księżyc jest za chmurami.The moon is behind the clouds.This sentence uses księżyc to describe the moon's position behind clouds.Tatoeba #529661 by orzechowski, translation #238821 by CK
- Jutro wyląduje na Księżycu.Tomorrow, he will land on the moon.This sentence demonstrates the capitalization of Księżyc when referring to the Moon as a specific celestial body.Tatoeba #12524364 by katix824, translation #1481 by brauliobezerra
- Księżyc jest znany ze swojej tajemniczej atmosfery.The moon is known for its mysterious atmosphere.
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Agnieszka and Paweł are walking in a park at night.
- AgnieszkaPopatrz, jaki dzisiaj piękny księżyc!Look, what a beautiful moon today!
- PawełTak, jest bardzo jasny.Yes, it is very bright.
- AgnieszkaCzy to jest pełny księżyc?Is it a full moon?
- PawełMyślę, że tak, Agnieszko.I think so, Agnieszka.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moon” translations and entries księżyc, miesiąc, luna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries księżyc, luna, miesiąc, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
