Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| podawać | /pɔˈda.vat͡ɕ/ /pɔˈdɒ.vat͡ɕ/ (Middle, Polish) /pɔˈda.vat͡ɕ/ (Middle, Polish) |
imperfective |
| podać | /ˈpɔ.dat͡ɕ/ /ˈpɔ.dat͡ɕ/ (Middle, Polish) |
perfective |
It is also used idiomatically in the phrase podać rękę, which literally means 'to pass a hand' but is the standard way to say 'to shake hands'. Related nouns include przepustka, a document granting permission to pass or to go and come and przebieg, which refers to the movement of a tool over something or something over a tool.
Which one should you use?
Polish uses different verb aspects to distinguish between the nature of the action. Use the imperfective form podawać for an ongoing process or for repeated actions of passing. Use the perfective form podać for a single, completed action of passing something.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are in an informal setting and want to give a command or a request to someone you know well, you can use the imperative form podaj. To say 'pass me [something]', use the form podaj followed by the dative pronoun mi (e.g., podaj mi).
How do you pronounce it?
podać is pronounced /ˈpɔ.datɕ/ and has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- If you are 'passing' an exam in Polish, you do not use podać, but rather the verb zdać.
- The root 'da-' found in podać connects it to the ancient Indo-European word for 'giving', linking modern Polish requests to prehistoric linguistic roots.
- While English uses 'pass' for many different motions, Polish distinguishes between 'podać' for handing an object to a person and 'przesunąć' for sliding something across a surface.
Examples in context
- Mógłbyś podać mi pieprz?Could you pass me the pepper, please?This sentence is useful for practicing a polite request to pass the pepper using podać.Tatoeba #2302805 by liori, translation #1056331 by CK
- Czy możesz mi podać gazetę?Can you please pass me the newspaper?This sentence is useful for practicing a request to pass the newspaper using podać.Tatoeba #597797 by buari, translation #597789 by fliegster
- Mógłbyś podać sól i pieprz?Would you pass the salt and pepper?This sentence is useful for practicing a request to pass both salt and pepper using podać.Tatoeba #8254319 by qmak, translation #2539924 by CK
- Czy mogę dostać przepustkę do tego obszaru?May I have a pass for this area?
- Zakupiłem bilet okresowy na komunikację miejską.I bought a season ticket for public transportation.
- Przejście między budynkami jest tutaj.The passage between the buildings is here.
- W tych warunkach, musisz przeskoczyć pewne kroki.In these conditions, you have to skip some steps.
- 1 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Anna are eating dinner together.
- PawełAniu, możesz podać mi ten sos?Anna, can you pass me that sauce?
- AnnaJasne, proszę bardzo.Sure, here you go.
- PawełDzięki. A teraz podaj mi proszę chleb.Thanks. And now please pass me the bread.
- AnnaOto on, Paweł.Here it is, Paweł.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pass” translations and entries podawać, podać, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries podawać, podać, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
