Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| imię | /ˈi.mjɛ/ /ˈi.mjɛw̃/ |
neuter |
| nazwa | /ˈna.zva/ | feminine |
Use imię when discussing a person's given name. Use nazwa when referring to the name of a thing, such as a brand, a city, an object or an abstract concept.
Which one should you use?
imię is a neuter noun used specifically for a person's given name, whereas nazwisko refers to a surname. In contrast, nazwa is a feminine noun used for the names of things, brands or locations. Do not use nazwa to refer to a person.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun imię changes its form based on grammatical requirements: the genitive singular is imienia, which is used to show possession or after certain prepositions and the plural form is imiona.
How do you pronounce it?
imię is pronounced /ˈi.mjɛ/. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using nazwa when referring to a person's name. This is a common error for English speakers. Instead, use imię for people.
Did you know?
- The word imię shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'name', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁n̥h₃mén.
- The Polish word for a person's given name, imię, is a neuter noun, which is quite rare for words describing people in many other languages.
- The distinction between imię and nazwisko is so sharp that Polish does not have a single word that covers both, unlike the English word 'name'.
Examples in context
- Ma na imię Tom.Its name is Tom.This sentence shows how to use imię to state someone's name.Tatoeba #7184846 by arie, translation #7099159 by deniko
- Zapytaj go o imię.Ask him his name.This sentence uses imię to ask for a name.Tatoeba #3759950 by gin, translation #1845520 by CK
- Czy to twoje imię?Is this your name?This sentence uses imię to ask if a name belongs to someone.Tatoeba #12189851 by polski_ren, translation #8977027 by Analu_Kalaka
- Proszę Pana, czy można zapytać, jak się pan nazywa?Could I ask what your name is, sir?
- Nazywam się Adam Kowalski.My name is Adam Kowalski.
- Jak masz na imię?What is your name?
- Cześć! Jak masz na imię?Hi! What's your name?
- Nazywam się Marta.My name is Marta.
- Witaj, przyjacielu! Co u ciebie słychać?Hello, friend! How are you doing?
- Wszystko w porządku, dzięki!Everything is good, thanks!
- Jak się nazywasz?What's your name?
- 144 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Anna are introducing themselves for the first time.
- PawełCześć, ja jestem Paweł. A twoje imię?Hi, I am Paweł. And your name?
- AnnaMoje imię to Anna. Miło cię poznać.My name is Anna. Nice to meet you.
- PawełCzy Anna to twoje drugie imię?Is Anna your middle name?
- AnnaNie, to moje jedyne imię.No, it is my only name.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “name” translations and entries imię, nazwa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries imię, nazwa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
