szczur
/ˈʂt͡ʂur/masculine
The Polish word for rat is szczur.
szczur is the standard noun used to refer to the rodent. In a figurative sense, related verbs such as kapować, sypać or donosić can be used to mean 'to tell on someone'.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form is szczury. If the rat is the direct object of a sentence, such as in 'I see a rat', use the accusative form szczura. Use the dative plural form szczurom when you are giving something to rats or being kind to them.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʂtʂur/
Did you know?
- The Polish verb kapować, used to describe a 'rat' or informant, comes from the sound of something dripping or leaking, much like a leaking faucet.
- In Polish slang, the word szczur is often used to describe a person who is stingy or a 'cheapskate'.
- While szczur refers to the animal, the phrase biurowe szczury describes 'office rats' or people trapped in corporate drudgery.
Examples in context
- Muszę kupić trutkę na szczury.I need to buy some rat poison.This sentence shows how to use the word szczur when discussing rat poison.Tatoeba #3070609 by jeedrek, translation #3068959 by CK
- Tom zobaczył szczura w metrze.Tom saw a rat in the subway.This sentence shows the use of szczur to describe seeing a rat in the subway.Tatoeba #10604149 by polski_ren, translation #4647240 by Hybrid
- Szczur zrobił dziurę w ścianie.The rat made a hole in the wall.This sentence shows the use of szczur when describing a rat making a hole in a wall.Tatoeba #5491774 by rubber_duck, translation #35796 by CM
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Katarzyna and Krzysztof are cleaning the basement.
- KatarzynaKrzysztofie, czy ty też to widzisz?Krzysztof, do you see that too?
- KrzysztofTak, to jest wielki szczur!Yes, that is a big rat!
- KatarzynaSzybko, zamknij te drzwi!Quick, close that door!
- KrzysztofJuż to robię, uciekaj stąd.I'm doing it now, get out of here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rat” translations and entries szczur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
