foka
/ˈfɔ.ka/feminine
The English word "seal" (referring to the animal) is translated into Polish as foka.
foka is used to refer to the pinniped mammal. Related verb phrases include polować na foki, which means to hunt seals.
Meaning: pinniped (noun)
Which one should you use?
While foka is the standard term for the animal, morsik is an informal way to say "little seal".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
foka is a feminine noun. To express the action of hunting seals, the phrase polować na foki is used.
How do you pronounce it?
foka is pronounced /ˈfɔ.ka/. The stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- Polish distinguishes between the animal foka and a wax seal used for letters, which is called pieczęć, avoiding the ambiguity found in English.
- The Polish word foka is actually a linguistic traveler that arrived via French from Ancient Greek.
- In Poland, the grey seal is a symbol of the Baltic coast, and the word foka is frequently associated with the specific conservation efforts of the Hel Peninsula.
Examples in context
- Foka to ssak morski.A seal is a marine mammal.This sentence is useful for identifying a seal as a marine mammal using foka.Tatoeba #3778087 by sevenseagulls, translation #13052513 by araneo
- Morsy są ssakami morskimi, które charakteryzują się poruszaniem za pomocą płetw.Seals are marine mammals that move using flippers.
- Widziałeś tę fokę w zoo?Did you see that seal at the zoo?
- Ta foka jest bardzo zabawna.This seal is very funny.
Example conversation
A couple is looking at animals through a glass at an aquarium.
- KrzysztofSpójrz, tam pływa foka!Look, a seal is swimming there!
- AgnieszkaOch, jaka ona jest urocza.Oh, she is so cute.
- KrzysztofChcesz ją zobaczyć z bliska?Do you want to see it up close?
- AgnieszkaTak, chodźmy tam.Yes, let's go there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seal” translations and entries foka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries foka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
