sowa
/ˈsɔ.va/feminine
The Polish word for owl is sowa.
The word refers to the bird (noun) known as an owl.
Meaning: bird (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
sowa is a feminine noun. Use the plural form sowy to refer to owls. When the owl is the direct object of a sentence, use the accusative form sową. To indicate possession or to use the word after certain prepositions, use the genitive singular form sowie.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈsɔ.va/.
Did you know?
- The phrase nocna sowa translates to 'night owl' and is used in Poland exactly as the English idiom is to describe someone who stays up late.
- While English uses 'owl' as a symbol of wisdom, traditional Polish rural superstitions often linked the sowa to death or bad luck.
- The Polish word sowa comes from the Proto-Slavic root *sova, meaning it is shared across many Slavic languages like Czech and Russian.
Examples in context
- Widziałam piękną sowę w parku dzisiaj wieczorem.I saw a beautiful owl in the park this evening.
- Ta sowa jest bardzo duża.This owl is very large.
- Widziałem białego ptaka, to była sowa.I saw a white bird, it was an owl.
Example conversation
Krzysztof and Małgorzata are walking in a forest at night.
- KrzysztofSłyszysz ten dźwięk?Do you hear that sound?
- MałgorzataTak, to musi być sowa.Yes, it must be an owl.
- KrzysztofGdzie ona jest?Where is it?
- MałgorzataWidzę ją na tej gałęzi.I see it on that branch.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “owl” translations and entries sowa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sowa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
