pan
/ˈpan/masculine
The English phrase "mr." is translated into Polish as pan. Wiktionary also lists p.
Meaning: abbreviation of mister (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pan | /ˈpan/ /pɒn/ (Middle, Polish) |
masculine |
| p. |
In Polish, pan is used as a title before a surname, similar to how "Mr." is used in English (for example, Pan Kowalski).
Which one should you use?
The abbreviation p. can be used for "mr.", while pan is the full masculine noun.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word pan changes based on its grammatical role in a sentence. For example, it becomes pana when used in the genitive case (e.g., "of Mr.") and panu when used in the dative case (e.g., "to Mr."). The feminine counterpart to pan is pani.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpan/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use pan as a direct translation for "mister" in casual settings. However, in Polish, it is the standard polite way to address any adult male.
Did you know?
- In Polish, pan is used as a second-person pronoun to address someone politely, meaning you can say 'Do you want' by using pan instead of the word for 'you'.
- In a historical context, pan did not just mean 'mister', but referred specifically to a nobleman or a lord of a manor.
- While English speakers use 'Mr.' with surnames, using pan with only a first name, such as Pan Adam, is a common way to show polite familiarity in many Polish social circles.
Example sentences for Polish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Katarzyna is asking Piotr about a visitor at the office.
- KatarzynaKto przyszedł do biura?Who came to the office?
- PiotrPrzyszedł pan Wiśniewski.Mr. Wiśniewski came.
- KatarzynaGdzie teraz jest pan Wiśniewski?Where is Mr. Wiśniewski now?
- PiotrOn czeka w poczekalni.He is waiting in the waiting room.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mr.” translations and entries pan, p., CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
