lato
/ˈla.tɔ/neuter
The Polish word for "summer" is lato.
lato refers to the hottest season of the year.
Meaning: hottest season (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word lato is a neuter noun. To talk about multiple summers, use the plural form lata. If you want to say "in summer" or "during summer", use the instrumental form latem.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈla.tɔ/. The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The Polish word lato is a direct descendant of the Proto-Slavic word lěto, which originally meant 'a year'.
- In Polish folk traditions, the summer solstice is celebrated as Noc Kupały, a magical night often associated with the peak of lato.
- Because lato can mean both 'summer' and 'year', a Polish person might say lato temu to mean 'a year ago'.
Examples in context
- Jak ci minęło lato?How was your summer?This sentence is useful for asking how someone's lato was.Tatoeba #961503 by zipangu, translation #953358 by CK
- W to lato jadę do Paryża.This summer, I'm going to Paris.This sentence is useful for stating plans for lato.Tatoeba #12905164 by Stanislawspruss, translation #12899433 by rul
- Po wiośnie przychodzi lato.After spring comes summer.This sentence is useful for describing the seasonal order involving lato.Tatoeba #350005 by zipangu, translation #10736210 by sundown
- Kocham lato!I love summer!
- W tym roku zima trwała dłużej niż latoThis year, winter lasted longer than summer.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Katarzyna and Tomasz are talking about their vacation plans.
- KatarzynaCo robisz w to lato?What are you doing this summer?
- TomaszMoje lato spędzę w górach.I will spend my summer in the mountains.
- KatarzynaLubię lato, bo jest ciepło.I like summer because it is warm.
- TomaszJa też bardzo lubię lato.I like summer very much too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “summer” translations and entries lato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lato, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
