Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| język polski | /ˈjɛw̃.zɘk ˈpɔl.ski/ (word by word) | inanimate, masculine |
| polszczyzna | /pɔlˈʂt͡ʂɘz.na/ | feminine |
The term refers to the language of Poland. Related words include the adjective polski, which means 'of Poland or its language' and the verbs polerować and wygładzać, which mean 'to make a surface smooth or shiny'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word język in the phrase język polski literally means both 'tongue' and 'language'.
Which one should you use?
There are two main ways to refer to the language. język polski is the standard way to name the language, while polszczyzna is a more abstract noun used to refer to Polish as a system or the specific quality of Polish speech and its lexicon.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase język polski, the adjective polski is not capitalized in Polish, even though it is capitalized in English. When using the adjective polski more broadly, it must agree in gender, number and case with the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈjɛw̃.zɘk ˈpɔl.ski/. The phrase has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word język is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'tongue'.
- The word język is used in many Polish idioms to describe speech, such as trzymać język za zębami which means 'to keep a secret'.
- In Poland, the term polszczyzna can be used to critique the quality or purity of someone's Polish, rather than just naming the language.
Examples in context
- Uwielbiam język polski!I love Polish!This sentence is useful for expressing a feeling of affection for język polski.Tatoeba #6157914 by arie, translation #6157766 by Alexini
- Pszczółka Maja to nie jest polska bajka, wiesz to? Napisana została w Niemczech, animowana w Japonii, i przetłumaczona na język polski.Maya the Bee isn't a Polish cartoon, you know that? It was written in Germany, animated in Japan, and was translated into the Polish language.This sentence demonstrates how a work can be translated into język polski.Tatoeba #2720748 by MarekMazurkiewicz, translation #2720749 by shekitten
- W języku polskimIn the Polish language
- Polscy ludziePolish people
- Polska kulturaPolish culture
- Mam narodowość polskąI have Polish nationality
- Polscy obywatelePolish citizens
- Ty mówisz po polsku?Do you speak Polish?
- Moja babcia jest PolkąMy grandmother is Polish.
- Czy rozumiesz polszczyznę?Do you understand Polish?
- Czy język polski jest trudny?Is the Polish language difficult?
Example conversation
Małgorzata and Piotr are talking about their hobbies.
- MałgorzataCzy znasz jakiś język polski?Do you know any Polish language?
- PiotrTak, język polski jest moim ojczystym językiem.Yes, the Polish language is my native language.
- MałgorzataTo świetnie, Piotr!That is great, Piotr!
- PiotrDzięki, Małgorzato.Thanks, Małgorzata.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “polish” translations and entries polszczyzna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (język, polski) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries język, polski, polszczyzna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
