Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rozmawiać | /rɔzˈma.vjat͡ɕ/ /rɔzˈmɒ.vjat͡ɕ/ (Middle, Polish) |
imperfective |
| mówić | /ˈmu.vit͡ɕ/ /ˈmo.vit͡ɕ/ (Middle, Polish) |
imperfective |
| porozmawiać | /pɔ.rɔzˈma.vjat͡ɕ/ | perfective |
The verb rozmawiać is used to describe a two-way exchange of information or a conversation between people. When you want to refer to the act of producing speech or saying words, you use mówić. If you are referring to a conversation as a noun, you can use rozmowa or the more technical konwersacja. Additionally, the word temat is used when referring to a major topic of social discussion.
Which one should you use?
The choice between verbs depends on whether you are focusing on the act of speaking or the interaction itself. Use mówić when the focus is on the act of speaking or the words being uttered (to speak/to say). Use rozmawiać when the focus is on the exchange of information between people (to converse/to have a talk). While rozmawiać is the imperfective form, porozmawiać is the perfective form, used to indicate a single, completed instance of talking or a specific conversation that will take place.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal setting, such as leading or conducting a formal discussion, you can use the phrase Prowadzić konwersację. In casual settings, gadać is the most common informal term for 'to talk' and its variation pogadać is often used to emphasize a desire to have a chat or a friendly conversation. Regarding the noun for 'conversation', rozmowa is the standard term, while konwersacja is more formal or technical.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say you are talking 'about' something, you must use the preposition o followed by the locative case of the noun (e.g., o czymś rozmawiać).
How do you pronounce it?
rozmawiać is pronounced /rɔzˈma.vjatɕ/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse mówić and rozmawiać. Remember that mówić is used for 'to say' or 'to speak' (for example, 'He said that…'), whereas rozmawiać is used for 'to have a discussion'.
Did you know?
- The informal word for talking gadać is often used to describe the sound of animals or babies, similar to the English word 'babble'.
- The term rozmowa is used not only for a conversation but also for a job interview, which is called rozmowa o pracę.
- The verb mówić can be used to describe the act of an inanimate object speaking, such as a road sign 'saying' something to a driver.
Examples in context
- Chcemy o tym mówić.We want to talk about it.This sentence uses mówić to express a desire to talk about a specific subject.Tatoeba #5924354 by BeataB, translation #5744238 by CM
- Nie ma o czym mówić.There's nothing to talk about.This sentence uses mówić to state that there is nothing to discuss.Tatoeba #5924345 by BeataB, translation #3181720 by CK
- O czym mamy rozmawiać?What should we talk about?This sentence uses rozmawiać to ask about the subject of a conversation.Tatoeba #3181312 by zipangu, translation #3181301 by CK
- Prezes zechce teraz przemawiaćThe CEO would like to talk now
- Musisz umieć prowadzić konwersację po angielskuYou need to be able to carry out a conversation in English
- Nie ma czasu na gadanie, muszę iśćNo time for talking, I have to go
- Chciałbym/chciałabym z tobą pogadaćI would like to have a talk with you
- Zróbmy sobie małą pogawędkę o tymLet's have a little talk about it
- 221 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Katarzyna are at a cafe.
- PawełChcę z tobą rozmawiać.I want to talk with you.
- KatarzynaNie możemy teraz rozmawiać.We cannot talk right now.
- PawełDlaczego nie możemy rozmawiać?Why can't we talk?
- KatarzynaJestem bardzo zajęta.I am very busy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “talk” translations and entries rozmawiać, mówić, porozmawiać, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
