starzec
/ˈsta.ʐɛt͡s/masculine
The English phrase "old man" can be translated into Polish. The default form is starzec. Wiktionary also lists staruszek and dziadek.
Meaning: elderly man (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| starzec | /ˈsta.ʐɛt͡s/ | masculine |
| staruszek | /staˈru.ʂɛk/ | masculine |
| dziadek | /ˈd͡ʑa.dɛk/ | masculine |
| stary | /ˈsta.rɘ/ /ˈsta.rɨ/ (Middle, Polish) |
masculine |
These terms are used to describe an elderly male. Depending on which word you choose, you may sound affectionate, formal or potentially rude.
Which one should you use?
The diminutive staruszek is used to express affection or to describe a man who is frail, cute or endearing. The adjective stary means "old," but when used as a noun, it becomes a very informal or even rude way to refer to an old man, a husband or a boyfriend. For a polite approach, you should use the phrase starszy pan, which means "older gentleman."
How does it change in a sentence?
All the provided forms are masculine nouns or adjectives.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈsta.ʐɛts/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The noun dziad is the root of dziadek, but while dziadek is 'grandfather', dziad can also mean a 'beggar' or a 'wretch'.
- While stary is an adjective meaning 'old', calling a man stary can be a slang way to refer to one's own father.
- The word dziadek comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeh₁dʰosder, making it a distant relative of the English word 'grandfather'.
Examples in context
- Kim jest ten staruszek?Who is that old man?This sentence uses staruszek to ask about an old man.Tatoeba #2282505 by liori, translation #1147593 by mookeee
- „Kot?” – zapytał starzec."A cat?" asked the old man.This sentence uses starzec to identify an old man.Tatoeba #352751 by zipangu, translation #793644 by Zifre
- Tom jest starym człowiekiem.Tom is an old man.This sentence uses the adjective stary to describe an old man.Tatoeba #3749953 by gin, translation #3734758 by CK
- Przyjrzyj się temu starymu mężczyźnie w parku.Look at that old man in the park.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Krzysztof and Agnieszka are walking in a park.
- KrzysztofPopatrz, ten starzec karmi ptaki.Look, that old man is feeding the birds.
- AgnieszkaWygląda na bardzo spokojnego człowieka.He looks like a very peaceful man.
- KrzysztofTen starzec zawsze tu przychodzi.That old man always comes here.
- AgnieszkaTo miłe, że ma takie hobby.It's nice that he has such a hobby.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “old man” translations and entries starzec, staruszek, dziadek, stary, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dziadek, staruszek, stary, starzec, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
