Mikołaj
/miˈkɔ.waj/masculine
The English name Nicholas is translated into Polish as Mikołaj.
Mikołaj is the standard Polish equivalent of the name Nicholas.
Meaning: male given name (name)
Which one should you use?
Mikołaj is the standard form of the name, while Mikołajek serves as an affectionate diminutive.
How does it change in a sentence?
Mikołaj is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/miˈkɔ.waj/. The word has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
When do people say it?
Polish children celebrate Mikołajki (St. Nicholas Day) on December 6th.
Did you know?
- While the name 'Nicholas' comes from Greek roots meaning 'victory of the people', the Polish version 'Mikołaj' entered the language via Latin 'Nicolaus'.
- If you are looking for the name in a Polish telephone directory or a list of names, it will be sorted under the letter 'M' rather than 'N' as in English.
- Even though 'Mikołaj' is a very common name, a Polish person might use the diminutive 'Mikołajek' not just for children, but as a term of endearment for a close friend or partner.
Examples in context
- Mikołaj II sobie zasłużył.Nicholas II had it coming.This example shows the use of Mikołaj in a historical context.Tatoeba #14016641 by rul, translation #11944950 by shekitten
- Mikołaj jest moim przyjacielemMikołaj is my friend
- Mikołaj jest bardzo miłym człowiekiem.Mikołaj is a very kind man.
- Czy znasz kogoś o imieniu Mikołaj?Do you know someone named Mikołaj?
Example conversation
Tomasz and Katarzyna are talking about their new colleague.
- TomaszCzy nasz nowy kolega ma na imię Mikołaj?Is our new colleague's name Mikołaj?
- KatarzynaTak, to jest Mikołaj.Yes, it is Mikołaj.
- TomaszOn wydaje się bardzo sympatyczny.He seems very nice.
- KatarzynaZgadzam się, Tomasz.I agree, Tomasz.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nicholas” translations and entries Mikołaj, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Mikołaj, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
