Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA |
|---|---|
| nie ma sprawy | /ˈɲɛ ma‿ˈspra.vɘ/ |
| nic nie szkodzi |
The phrase is used to indicate that no apology is necessary. While nie ma sprawy is a common response to an apology or a thank you, other phrases exist for different contexts. For example, use bez problemu to describe an action that was completed easily or without difficulty, rather than as a response to an apology. If you want to say "no problem" or "no worries" among friends and peers, you can also use the informal expression Spoko.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase nie ma sprawy literally translates to "there is no matter" or "there is no affair".
Which one should you use?
Nie ma sprawy is a direct equivalent to the English "no problem" used when no apology is needed. In contrast, nic nie szkodzi is more literal, meaning "it doesn't do any harm" or "it doesn't matter".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Nie ma sprawy is an informal way to respond to an apology or a thank you. Similarly, Spoko is an informal expression used among friends and peers.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɲɛ ma‿ˈspra.vɘ/. The first of three syllables is stressed.
Did you know?
- The word sprawy in nie ma sprawy can mean 'case' or 'legal matter'. This gives the phrase a subtle nuance of saying 'there is no case to be made' against you.
- The informal phrase Spoko is actually a clipped form of the word spokojnie, which means 'calmly' or 'peacefully'.
- While nie ma sprawy is used for thanks or apologies, the phrase nie ma problemu is less common as a social response and often sounds like a literal translation from English.
Examples in context
- Nie ma sprawy.No problem.This sentence shows a basic use of nie ma sprawy.Tatoeba #551622 by zipangu, translation #551443 by CM
- Nie ma sprawy!No problem!This sentence shows an enthusiastic use of nie ma sprawy.Tatoeba #8617149 by arie, translation #413611 by blay_paul
- Nie ma sprawy, to był drobiazg.No problem, it was a trifle.
Example conversation
Anna accidentally bumps into Tomasz in a hallway.
- TomaszPrzepraszam, że cię potrąciłam.I'm sorry for bumping into you.
- AnnaNie ma sprawy, Anno.No problem, Anna.
- TomaszNaprawdę nie chciałam.I really didn't mean to.
- AnnaWszystko jest dobrze.Everything is okay.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no problem” translations and entries nie ma sprawy, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
