mówić
/ˈmu.vit͡ɕ/imperfective
The Polish verb for 'to speak' is mówić.
mówić is used to describe the ability to communicate in a language or the ongoing process of speaking. When you want to say you speak a specific language, you must use the construction mówić po [język] (to speak in [language]).
Meaning: to be able to communicate in a language (verb)
Which one should you use?
mówić is an imperfective verb, meaning it describes the ongoing process of speaking or a general ability. It differs from the perfective verb powiedzieć, which is used when referring to a single, completed utterance.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the present tense, the verb changes based on the subject: mówię means 'I speak', mówisz means 'you speak' and mówi means 'he/she speaks'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmu.vitɕ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying mówić [język] directly, such as mówię angielski. Instead, use the preposition po to sound natural, for example: mówię po angielsku.
Did you know?
- The phrase mówić pod nosem means 'to speak under one's nose', which is the Polish equivalent of the English idiom 'to mutter'.
- The verb mówić is used in the phrase mówić prawdę, but if you want to say someone is 'telling a lie', you often use kłamać instead of mówić kłamstwo.
- There is a playful, albeit slightly rude, way to describe someone who talks too much by calling them a gadulica, which stems from a different root than the formal mówić.
Examples in context
- Tom nie mógł mówić.Tom couldn't speak.This sentence shows the use of mówić in a negative past tense context.Tatoeba #10568281 by tokzyk, translation #3183321 by CK
- Umiem mówić po chińsku.I can speak Chinese.This sentence demonstrates the correct use of the construction to express language ability with mówić.Tatoeba #6769187 by arie, translation #1476163 by CN
- Umiesz mówić po japońsku?Can you speak Japanese?This sentence shows how to ask someone about their ability to speak a language using mówić.Tatoeba #3423629 by konrad509, translation #1989778 by jackchak
- Rozmawiam po polsku.I speak Polish.
- Mówię po polsku płynnie.I speak Polish fluently.
- Opowiadam historię wciągającym głosem.I speak/say the story with an engaging voice.
- Gadam z kolegami o wszystkim.I chat with my friends about everything.
- Rozmawiam z moim szefem o planach na przyszłość.I speak to my boss about future plans.
- Mówię o istotnych sprawach na spotkaniu biznesowym.I speak about important matters during the business meeting.
- Gadam ze znajomymi na imprezie.I chat with friends at the party.
- 118 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “speak” translations and entries mówić, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
