Which one should you use?
While śnieg refers to the substance itself, the word śnieżyca is used specifically to describe a heavy snowstorm or blizzard. If you are describing light, fluffy snow, you might use the informal term puch. For a formal context, the term pokrywa śnieżna is used to refer to the snow cover or snow layer.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun śnieg changes its form depending on the grammatical case. In the genitive case, it becomes śniegu, which is required after most negative verbs such as nie lubić (to not like). In the instrumental case, it becomes śniegiem, which is used to describe the means or instrument of an action, such as playing with snow. To express the action of snow falling, you can use the verbs prószyć or poprószyć or the phrase śnieg pada.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɕɲɛk/
Did you know?
- The Polish word śnieg is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'snow', both tracing back to the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- In Polish, the phrase śnieg pada uses the verb padać, which is the same verb used for rain, meaning snow literally 'rains' down.
- The verb poprószyć can be used metaphorically to mean 'to sprinkle' something with a fine powder, much like how snow lightly covers a surface.
Examples in context
- Czy to jest śnieg?Is that snow?This sentence is useful for asking if the substance is snow.Tatoeba #5961810 by stagos, translation #5961665 by mailohilohi
- Wow, to jest śnieg!Wow, it's snow!This sentence is useful for expressing excitement about the presence of snow.Tatoeba #5336480 by machmet, translation #5099600 by chris3spice
- On nie lubi śniegu.He doesn't like the snow.This sentence shows the use of the genitive form śniegu after a negative verb.Tatoeba #12953768 by Stanislawspruss, translation #12953269 by Conjuice
- Wyjdźmy na dwór, pada puch!Let's go outside, it's snowing powder!
- Śnieżyca dopiero się zaczęła, lepiej zostańmy w domu.The snowstorm has just begun, let's stay home.
- 80 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anna and Tomasz are looking out the window in winter.
- AnnaSpójrz, pada biały śnieg!Look, white snow is falling!
- TomaszTo będzie bardzo dużo śniegu.There will be a lot of snow.
- AnnaCzy chcesz iść w śnieg?Do you want to go into the snow?
- TomaszTak, chodźmy szybko na zewnątrz.Yes, let's go outside quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snow” translations and entries śnieg, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries śnieg, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
