Ojcze nasz
/ˈɔj.t͡ʂɛ ˈnaʂ/masculine
Ojcze nasz is the Polish way to say 'Our Father', referring to the Lord's Prayer.
Ojcze nasz is used specifically as the name of the Lord's Prayer or when addressing God directly in prayer.
Meaning: Lord's Prayer (name)
What does it mean word for word?
It is composed of Ojcze, which is the vocative form of ojciec (father) and nasz (our).
Which one should you use?
While Ojciec nasz is the nominative form used for statements of fact, Ojcze nasz is the specific form used for prayer or direct address. For other grammatical contexts, such as 'I love our father', the form Ojca naszego would be used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Ojcze nasz uses the vocative case to address God directly. In contrast, the nominative form Ojciec nasz is used for a statement of fact and the genitive or accusative form Ojca naszego is used in other grammatical cases.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɔj.tʂɛ ˈnaʂ/. The word has 3 syllables, and the first syllable is stressed.
Did you know?
- While Ojcze nasz addresses God, the word ojciec is also the official term for a monk or a friar in the Catholic Church, meaning a priest is often addressed as Ojcze.
- The word Ojcze is not the standard way to call your own father in a modern Polish household. Using the vocative Ojcze instead of the common diminutive Tato creates a profound, formal distance used only in religious contexts.
- In Polish, the word order of Ojcze nasz is fixed because it follows the Latin 'Pater noster' structure. While most Polish sentences are flexible, this specific phrasing is treated as a sacred, unchangeable formula.
Examples in context
- Ojcze nasz, który jesteś w niebie.Our Father, who art in heaven.
- Dziecko recytuje Ojcze nasz.The child is reciting the Our Father.
Example conversation
Piotr and Agnieszka are preparing for a church service.
- PiotrCzy pamiętasz słowa Ojcze nasz?Do you remember the words of the Our Father?
- AgnieszkaTak, Piotr, pamiętam je bardzo dobrze.Yes, Piotr, I remember them very well.
- PiotrTo świetnie, pomódlmy się razem.That's great, let's pray together.
- AgnieszkaZacznijmy od Ojcze nasz.Let's start with the Our Father.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “our father” translations and entries Ojcze nasz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
