ślimak
/ˈɕli.mak/masculine
The English word 'snail' translates to Polish as ślimak.
ślimak is a masculine noun used to refer to any animal of the class Gastropoda that possesses a shell.
Meaning: any animal of the class Gastropoda having a shell (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ślimak is ślimaki. When a snail is the direct object of a verb, such as in 'I see a snail' (Widzę ślimaka), the form ślimaka is used.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈɕli.mak/.
Did you know?
- Poland is one of the few European countries where garden snails, specifically winniczki, are occasionally gathered as a delicacy for traditional dishes.
- A Polish speaker might use the term ślimak to describe a specific type of spiral staircase when referring to its structural shape.
- While 'snail' refers to the animal, the Polish word ślimak is also used to describe certain types of spiral-shaped screw threads in mechanical engineering.
Examples in context
- Jakie zwierzęta są wolniejsze od ślimaka?What animals are slower than a snail?This sentence is useful for asking which animals are slower than a ślimak.Tatoeba #6304027 by arie, translation #10777895 by hecko
- Jestem ślimakiem, a ślimaki nigdy się nie spieszą.I am a snail and snails are never in a hurry.This sentence uses ślimak to express that snails are never in a hurry.Tatoeba #5397874 by Annika, translation #2732933 by Hybrid
- To jest ślimak.It's a snail.This sentence is useful for identifying that something is a ślimak.Tatoeba #10371817 by Seael, translation #10371179 by Silja
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Piotr and Małgorzata are looking at the garden plants.
- PiotrMałgorzato, spójrz na tego ślimaka!Małgorzata, look at this snail!
- MałgorzataOch, on jest bardzo uroczy.Oh, he is very cute.
- PiotrCzy on zje moje kwiaty?Will he eat my flowers?
- MałgorzataPiotrze, myślę, że nie.Piotr, I don't think so.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snail” translations and entries ślimak, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
