Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| królik | /ˈkru.lik/ | masculine |
| król | /ˈkrul/ | masculine |
| trusia | /ˈtru.ɕa/ | feminine |
| truś | /ˈtruɕ/ | masculine |
The term refers to the mammal. You may also encounter informal terms of endearment such as kroliczek for a small or baby rabbit, or zajączek, which is a cute and informal way to refer to a rabbit, particularly emphasizing its small size.
Which one should you use?
The standard masculine noun is królik. There are endearing, colloquial forms such as the masculine truś (which is rare) and the feminine trusia.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
królik is the standard form. kroliczek and zajączek are informal, while truś and trusia are colloquial and endearing.
How does it change in a sentence?
When the rabbit is the direct object of a verb, such as in the sentence 'I see a rabbit', the masculine noun królik changes to its accusative form, królika.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈkru.lik/. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse królik (rabbit) with król (king), as they share a similar root but have completely different meanings.
Did you know?
- The term królik was created as a translation of a Middle High German word that was itself based on a misunderstanding of an Old French word.
- Calling someone a truś might sound like a cute nickname for a rabbit, but it can also imply someone is a coward.
Examples in context
- Spróbuję złapać tego królika.I'm going to try to trap that rabbit.This sentence demonstrates the use of królik.Tatoeba #7164852 by arie, translation #1890994 by CK
- Uszy królika są dłuższe niż lisa.The ears of a rabbit are longer than those of a fox.Tatoeba #12470600 by katix824, translation #65635 by CK
- W dziurze w ziemi mieszkał królik.In a hole in the ground there lived a rabbit.Tatoeba #10609792 by tokzyk, translation #10609785 by Selena777
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tomasz and Katarzyna are looking at a pet shop window.
- TomaszWidzisz tego białego królika?Do you see that white rabbit?
- KatarzynaTak, jest bardzo uroczy.Yes, he is very cute.
- TomaszChciałbym mieć takiego królika w domu.I would like to have a rabbit like that at home.
- KatarzynaTo świetny pomysł dla ciebie, Tomaszu.That is a great idea for you, Tomasz.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rabbit” translations and entries królik, król, trusia, truś, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries król, królik, trusia, truś, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
