syn
/ˈsɘn/masculine, person
The Polish word for "son" is syn.
The word syn is used to describe a male person in relation to his parents. In affectionate or close-knit contexts, you may hear the endearing term synek, which translates to "little son".
Meaning: a male person in relation to his parents (noun)
Which one should you use?
The lowercase syn refers to a male offspring, whereas the capitalized Syn is used specifically in a religious context to refer to the Son in the Holy Trinity.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes form depending on its role in a sentence. Use syna when the son is the direct object of a verb or follows certain prepositions like na or bez. Use synowi when you are giving something to a son or speaking to him. For the genitive plural, such as when saying you have many sons, use synów.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsɘn/
Did you know?
- While syn is the literal word for 'son', Polish speakers often use the term synowa to refer to a daughter-in-law.
- In Polish culture, calling someone synu (the vocative case of syn) can be used by an elder to address a younger man as a sign of paternal affection or authority, even if they are not related.
- The phrase syn ziemi literally means 'son of the soil' and is used to describe someone who is deeply rooted in their hometown or region.
Examples in context
- Był zły na syna.He was angry with his son.This sentence demonstrates the use of the word syn.Tatoeba #551577 by zipangu, translation #300972 by CH
- Co robi twój syn?What does your son do?Tatoeba #5247243 by krzysiek, translation #274383 by CK
- To twój syn, Betty?Is this your son, Betty?Tatoeba #3680415 by Spodnie, translation #17006 by papabear
- Mój syn jest bardzo mądry.My son is very intelligent.
- Syn mojego szefa jest naukowcem.The son of my boss is a scientist.
- Mój synek ma pięć lat.My little son is five years old.
- Co u ciebie, synek?How are you, son?
- 143 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Agnieszka and Tomasz are talking about their children at a park.
- AgnieszkaCzy twój syn też bawi się tutaj?Is your son playing here too?
- TomaszTak, on bardzo lubi ten plac zabaw.Yes, he really likes this playground.
- AgnieszkaMój syn też uwielbia biegać.My son loves running too.
- TomaszDzieci mają w tym wieku mnóstwo energii.Children have so much energy at this age.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “son” translations and entries syn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
