placek
/ˈpla.t͡sɛk/masculine
The English word pie can be translated into Polish as placek or ciasto.
Meaning: type of pastry (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| placek | /ˈpla.t͡sɛk/ | masculine |
| ciasto | /ˈt͡ɕas.tɔ/ | neuter |
Which one should you use?
The word ciasto is a general term that can refer to cake, dough or any type of pastry. In contrast, placek specifically refers to a flat, often round, baked good such as a tart or a simple pie.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun ciasto becomes ciasta when referring to multiple cakes or pies.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpla.tsɛk/. The word has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
When using ciasto, remember that it can refer to the raw dough used to make a pie, rather than just the finished, baked product.
When do people say it?
A very iconic example of a Polish pie is szarlotka, which is a traditional apple pie.
Did you know?
- While placek generally means a flat baked good, it is also used to describe traditional Polish potato pancakes, which are fried rather than baked.
- The word ciasto originates from the Proto-Slavic word *těsto, which is related to the act of kneading.
- In Poland, ciasto is used for almost any sweet baked dessert, meaning a birthday cake and a fruit pie are often called by the same word.
Examples in context
- Ciasto, które zrobił Tom, było pyszne.The pie that Tom made was delicious.This sentence is useful for describing the quality of a pie using ciasto.Tatoeba #12036561 by jimbojim, translation #5305603 by CK
- Kto przyniósł ciasto?Who brought the pie?This sentence is useful for asking about the origin of a pie using ciasto.Tatoeba #7184630 by arie, translation #7165209 by deniko
- Jadłeś ciasto bananowe?Have you eaten a banana pie?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's experience eating a specific type of banana pie using ciasto.Tatoeba #2809505 by Ceresnya, translation #478596 by Swift
- Sernik proszęCheesecake, please.
- Czy macie jabłecznik?Do you have apple pie?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Katarzyna are talking about dessert at a dinner party.
- PawełKatarzyno, chcesz spróbować tego placka?Katarzyna, do you want to try this pie?
- KatarzynaTak, ten placek wygląda bardzo smacznie.Yes, this pie looks very tasty.
- PawełTo jest mój ulubiony placek z jabłkami.This is my favorite apple pie.
- KatarzynaMasz rację, to świetny placek!You are right, it is a great pie!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pie” translations and entries placek, ciasto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciasto, placek, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
