Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| burza | /ˈbu.ʐa/ | feminine |
| sztorm | /ˈʂtɔrm/ | inanimate, masculine |
Burza is the most commonly used word for a storm in Polish and refers to a weather event involving thunder, lightning or heavy rain. You can use the phrase burza z grzmotami for a storm with thunder, or burza z błyskawicami for a storm with lightning. The idiom for a small matter being blown out of proportion is burza w szklance wody, which literally means a storm in a glass of water.
Which one should you use?
Use burza for atmospheric weather events. Use sztorm specifically to refer to a storm at sea or a heavy maritime storm. Note that the related verb szturmować means to violently assault a fortified position, building or stronghold to gain control of it.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word burza changes to burzy in the genitive case, which is required after many prepositions and when expressing 'of a storm'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /ˈbu.ʐa/. It consists of 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word burza is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'fury'.
- In Polish, the word burza is often used metaphorically to describe a 'brainstorming' session, known as burza mózgów.
- The word burza is used in the phrase burza w rodzinie to describe a domestic conflict or a 'stormy' relationship.
Examples in context
- Tamtej nocy była burza.There was a storm that night.This sentence uses burza to describe a past weather event.Tatoeba #5440895 by heekek, translation #5440611 by CK
- To burza w szklance wody.It's a storm in a teacup.This sentence uses burza within the idiom for a storm in a teacup.Tatoeba #13677413 by Rudzielec, translation #10320689 by sundown
- Wydaje się, że nadciąga burza.Looks as if a storm is coming.This sentence uses burza to indicate an approaching storm.Tatoeba #3465184 by nusia2302, translation #10512761 by sundown
- To była silna burzaIt was a strong storm
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Anna are looking out the window at the darkening sky.
- PawełWidzę, że nadchodzi wielka burza.I see that a big storm is coming.
- AnnaTak, ta burza może być groźna.Yes, this storm might be dangerous.
- PawełZamykajmy okna przed burzą.Let's close the windows before the storm.
- AnnaDobry pomysł, Paweł.Good idea, Paweł.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “storm” translations and entries burza, sztorm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries burza, sztorm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
