rzeka
/ˈʐɛ.ka/feminine
The Polish word for 'river' is rzeka.
Rzeka is a noun used to describe a large stream of water that drains a landmass.
Meaning: large stream which drains a landmass (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
rzeka is a feminine noun. The plural form is rzeki (rivers). When the river is the direct object of a sentence, such as 'I see the river', the form changes to rzekę.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈʐɛ.ka/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The Polish word rzeka shares a common ancestor with the name of the Croatian city Rijeka, which literally means 'river'.
- Polish has a specific term rzeczka, a diminutive of rzeka, used not just for small rivers but often as a term of endearment for a favorite local stream.
- In Polish, the word rzeka is used metaphorically to describe a large, flowing crowd of people or a continuous stream of words.
Examples in context
- Ta rzeka jest szeroka.The river is wide.This sentence is useful for describing the width of a rzeka.Tatoeba #925735 by zipangu, translation #45748 by CK
- Jak się nazywa ta rzeka?What is the name of this river?This sentence is useful for asking for the name of a rzeka.Tatoeba #6859071 by Frugoxd, translation #58126 by CK
- Rzeka zalała cały region.The river flooded the entire region.This sentence is useful for describing how a rzeka flooded a region.Tatoeba #8722910 by nusia2302, translation #395568 by CM
- Chcę spędzić wakacje nad malowniczym strumieniem.I want to spend my vacation by a picturesque stream.
- Analizujemy przepływ w rzekach dla celów ekologicznych.We are analyzing the flow in rivers for ecological purposes.
- Znam idealne miejsce do wędkowania nad naszym potokiem.I know the perfect spot for fishing by our stream.
- Kiedy wybierzemy się na piknik nad naszą starą rzeczkę?When should we go for a picnic by our old river?
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Małgorzata and Paweł are walking along a path near the water.
- MałgorzataCzy ta rzeka jest bezpieczna?Is this river safe?
- PawełTak, ta rzeka jest spokojna.Yes, this river is calm.
- MałgorzataChciałabym tu często przychodzić.I would like to come here often.
- PawełWięc chodźmy nad rzekę jutro.So let's go to the river tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “river” translations and entries rzeka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rzeka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
