tak
/ˈtak/
The English phrase 'yeah' can be translated into Polish as tak. Wiktionary also lists no.
Meaning: yes (particle)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA |
|---|---|
| tak | /ˈtak/ |
| no | /ˈnɔ/ |
The primary way to say 'yes' is using the particle tak. Additionally, the phrase no tak is used in casual conversations to mean 'yeah' or 'of course'.
Which one should you use?
While tak is the standard word for 'yes', the form no is a very common informal way to say 'yeah' or 'yep' in spoken Polish. For a more relaxed and colloquial tone, you can also use jasne, which translates to 'clear' or 'obviously'. If you want to express agreement casually, pewnie can be used to mean 'sure' or 'definitely'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtak/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the Polish word no (which means 'yeah') with the English word 'no' (which expresses negation). They are spelled the same but have opposite meanings.
Did you know?
- The casual Polish 'yeah', written as no, is actually a clipped form of the older word jeno, meaning 'only'.
- The informal no is used as a filler word similar to 'well' or 'so' in English, regardless of whether the speaker is agreeing or disagreeing.
- The standard word for 'yes', tak, shares a common ancestor with the word 'so' in many Slavic languages.
Examples in context
- Tak, to jest to, co miałem na myśli.Yeah, that's what I meant.Tatoeba #3887852 by gin, translation #3822491 by CK
- „Dzisiaj wtorek, prawda?” „Prawda.” „Ciekawe, skąd tu taki tłok.”"Today's Tuesday, right?" "Yeah." "Why's it so crowded?"Tatoeba #4103808 by Hikaru, translation #4101282 by AnneWy
- Tak, jasne.Yeah, sure.Tatoeba #12360222 by arie, translation #10914863 by CK
- Jasne, bez problemu!Yeah, no problem!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Piotr and Katarzyna are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- PiotrChcesz zamówić pizzę na kolację?Do you want to order pizza for dinner?
- KatarzynaTak, to brzmi świetnie.Yeah, that sounds great.
- PiotrWolisz małą czy dużą?Do you prefer a small or a large one?
- KatarzynaDużą, proszę.A large one, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yeah” translations and entries tak, no, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries no, tak, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
