How to Say “The Sign of the Cross” in Polish

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znak krzyża
/ˈznak ˈkʂɘ.ʐa/
The sign of the cross in Polish is znak krzyża.
The phrase znak krzyża is used to refer to both the physical gesture and the religious concept within Polish Catholic contexts. If you want to say "to make the sign of the cross", use the verb phrase czynić znak krzyża.

What does it mean word for word?

znak krzyża means "the sign of the cross". It is composed of znak (sign) and krzyża, which is the genitive form of krzyż (cross).

How do you pronounce it?

The pronunciation is /ˈznak ˈkʂɘ.ʐa/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.

When do people say it?

In Poland, it is customary to make the sign of the cross before and after entering a church. When performing the gesture, it is done with the right hand. Using the left hand is considered impolite. The formal way to say the prayer associated with the sign of the cross is W imię Ojca i Syna, i Ducha Świętego. Amen.

Did you know?

  • In Polish, the common reflexive verb żegnać się literally means 'to bid farewell' but is used as a standard synonym for making the znak krzyża.
  • In traditional Polish rural folklore, people would make the znak krzyża over salt and bread to prevent the food from being cursed.
  • The Polish word znak shares a common ancient ancestor with the English word 'know'. Both originate from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵneh₃-, which relates to recognizing or perceiving something.

Examples in context

  • Zrób znak krzyża przed modlitwą.
    Make the sign of the cross before prayer.
  • Dziecko nauczyło się robić znak krzyża.
    The child learned how to make the sign of the cross.
  • Kiedy poczuł strach, zrobił znak krzyża.
    When he felt fear, he made the sign of the cross.

Example conversation

Katarzyna and Krzysztof are preparing for a religious ceremony at home.

  1. Katarzyna

    Krzysztofie, pamiętaj, aby zrobić znak krzyża.
    Krzysztof, remember to make the sign of the cross.
  2. Krzysztof

    Tak, oczywiście, już to robię.
    Yes, of course, I am doing it now.
  3. Katarzyna

    To bardzo ważny gest w naszej wierze.
    It is a very important gesture in our faith.
  4. Krzysztof

    Wiem, zawsze o tym pamiętam.
    I know, I always remember it.

Sources

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Deanna Pamela
Deanna PamelaHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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