cebula
/t͡sɛˈbu.la/feminine
The English word "onion" is translated into Polish as cebula.
cebula refers to the vegetable bulb. In Polish slang, it serves as the root for the colloquial term cebulak, which can describe someone with a bulbous nose or, in modern internet slang, someone who is stingy or narrow-minded.
Meaning: bulb (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine. The form cebuli is the genitive singular, used after words indicating a lack (such as brak) or to show possession. The form cebulę is the accusative singular, used when the onion is the direct object of an action like eating or cutting. The form cebule is the nominative plural used for multiple onions.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /tsɛˈbu.la/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In modern Polish internet culture, the image of an onion is often used as a symbol for a 'typical' Pole who is overly frugal or tries to get things for free.
- Polish speakers use the term cebulowy as an adjective to describe things that are low-quality or look cheap.
- While cebula is the standard word for an onion, the word cebulka is often used to refer specifically to the small bulb used for planting or a small onion.
Examples in context
- Podasz mi tę cebulkę do sałatki?Could you pass me that little onion for the salad?
- Ta cebula jest bardzo duża.This onion is very large.
- Czy ta cebula jest świeża?Is this onion fresh?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “onion” translations and entries cebula, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
