łapa
/ˈwa.pa/feminine
The Polish word for paw is łapa.
łapa refers to the soft foot of an animal. In a colloquial or slang context, it can also be used to refer to a person's hand, often in a slightly derogatory or humorous way. The verb łapać (to catch or to grab) is etymologically related to this noun.
Meaning: soft foot of an animal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
łapa is a feminine noun. The plural form is łapy. When the paw is the direct object of a verb, such as 'to see a paw', the form changes to łapę.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈwa.pa/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word łapa appears in the Polish slang term łapówka, which means a bribe.
- In Polish, the phrase dać łapę (give a paw) is used not just for dogs, but as a colloquial way to ask someone for a handshake.
- The word łapa is used in the common idiom złapać za łapę, which describes catching someone in the act of doing something wrong.
Examples in context
- Ten pies nie chce się ruszać, bo boli go łapa.This dog doesn't want to move because his paw hurts.This sentence is useful for using łapa to describe a dog's injury.Tatoeba #11008390 by hecko, translation #11008307 by tjwhale
- Twój pies ma piękne łapy!Your dog has beautiful paws!
- Muszę umyć łapki mojej kotki po spacerzeI need to wash my kitty's paws after a walk.
Example conversation
Tomasz and Małgorzata are looking at their pet dog in the living room.
- TomaszSpójrz, Małgorzato, jego łapa jest czerwona.Look, Małgorzata, his paw is red.
- MałgorzataOjej, czy ta łapa boli psa?Oh dear, does that paw hurt the dog?
- TomaszChyba tak, muszę sprawdzić jego łapę.I think so, I must check his paw.
- MałgorzataPomogę ci go zbadać.I will help you examine him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paw” translations and entries łapa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
