słonecznik
/swɔˈnɛt͡ʂ.ɲik/masculine
The Polish word for sunflower is słonecznik.
Meaning: flower (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
While słonecznik is the default form, you will see the form słonecznika when expressing possession or partitive quantity, such as when talking about sunflower seeds (nasiona słonecznika).
How do you pronounce it?
/swɔˈnɛtʂ.ɲik/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- While the root refers to the sun, the word 'słońce' contains a phonetic link to the word for 'elephant', słoń, though they are etymologically unrelated.
- In Poland, sunflower seeds known as pestki słonecznika are a culturally iconic snack often eaten by hand and spat out in public spaces, similar to how seeds are consumed in the Mediterranean.
- The word słonecznik traces its earliest roots back to the Proto-Indo-European word *sóh₂wl̥der, linking the Polish word for sunflower to the ancient ancestors of the English word 'sun'.
Examples in context
- To jest słonecznik.It's a sunflower.This sentence shows how to identify a sunflower using słonecznik.Tatoeba #8448602 by nusia2302, translation #42651 by CK
- Moja papuga nie lubi nasion słonecznika.My parrot doesn't like sunflower seeds.This sentence demonstrates the use of the genitive form słonecznika to describe seeds.Tatoeba #12066675 by carlosalberto, translation #7737715 by CK
- Jedzą nasiona słonecznika, grając w karty.They eat sunflower seeds while playing cards.This sentence shows the use of the genitive form słonecznika in a sentence about eating seeds.Tatoeba #11864319 by hecko, translation #5978207 by Adelpa
- Proszę przygotować bukiet ze słoneczników na dzisiejszą uroczystość.Please prepare a bouquet with sunflowers for today's occasion.
Example conversation
Krzysztof and Małgorzata are looking at a field of flowers.
- KrzysztofPatrz, ten słonecznik jest bardzo duży!Look, this sunflower is very big!
- MałgorzataTak, jest piękny.Yes, it is beautiful.
- KrzysztofCzy lubisz ten słonecznik?Do you like this sunflower?
- MałgorzataBardzo go lubię.I like it very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sunflower” translations and entries słonecznik, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries słonecznik, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
