Ways to say it
| Polish | Note |
|---|---|
| witaj z powrotem | informal |
| witajcie z powrotem | informal |
| witam z powrotem | |
| witamy z powrotem |
These phrases are used to greet someone who has returned. Depending on the context, you might express your sentiment more personally by saying Cieszę się, że jesteś z powrotem (I'm glad you're back) or by adding a term of endearment like Witaj z powrotem, przyjacielu/przyjaciółko (Welcome back, friend).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase witaj z powrotem is composed of the imperative witaj (welcome/greet) and the phrase z powrotem (with return/back).
Which one should you use?
The different forms change based on who is speaking and who is being addressed. witam z powrotem uses the first-person singular, implying "I welcome you back," which is common for a single host. witamy z powrotem uses the first-person plural, meaning "we welcome you back." witaj z powrotem is directed at one person, whereas witajcie z powrotem is directed at multiple people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
witaj z powrotem and witajcie z powrotem are informal. witamy z powrotem is the most common form used in professional settings, such as a shop, hotel or for an official announcement. For a more formal way to say welcome back, you can use Witamy ponownie.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing more than one person, use witajcie z powrotem instead of the singular witaj z powrotem. The form witamy z powrotem uses the first-person plural verb to represent a collective welcome.
Did you know?
- While witaj is used for 'welcome back', the root verb witać is also used to describe the act of shaking hands, which is a crucial social ritual in Polish culture.
- The word powrotem in witaj z powrotem comes from the root for 'turn', meaning a 'return' is literally a 'turning back' toward the origin.
- While witamy ponownie is the formal version of 'welcome back', the word ponownie literally means 'again', shifting the focus from the act of returning to the repetition of the event.
Examples in context
- Witaj z powrotem, Tom. Tęskniliśmy za tobą!Welcome back, Tom. We've missed you.This sentence shows how to use witaj z powrotem when welcoming a single person named Tom.Tatoeba #2139095 by liori, translation #1228176 by CK
- Witamy z powrotem.Welcome back.This sentence demonstrates the use of witamy z powrotem.Tatoeba #8617212 by arie, translation #1627336 by Spamster
- Witajcie z powrotem!Welcome back!This sentence shows how to use witajcie z powrotem for a group.Tatoeba #12240087 by polski_ren, translation #5367229 by KatKoba
- Witamy ponownie, AnnaWelcome back, Anna
- Witamy ponownie! Jak minęła podróż?Welcome back! How was your trip?
- Cieszę się, że jesteś z powrotem. Jak spędziłeś czas poza miastem?I'm glad you're back. How did you spend your time away from the city?
Example conversation
Krzysztof meets Katarzyna at the airport after her long trip.
- KrzysztofWitaj z powrotem, Katarzyno!Welcome back, Katarzyna!
- KatarzynaDziękuję, to bardzo miłe.Thank you, that is very kind.
- KrzysztofJak minęła podróż?How was the trip?
- KatarzynaByła bardzo męcząca.It was very tiring.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “welcome back” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
