How to Say “You” in Polish

Ways to say it

In Polish, the word used for 'you' depends on whether you are addressing one person or a group and whether the relationship is formal or informal. When addressing one person, you use ty for an informal setting or Pan/Pani for a polite, formal setting. When addressing a group, you use wy for an informal setting or Państwo for a polite, formal setting.

Which one should you use?

The forms are distinguished by number and gender. ty is used for a single person informally. For a single person formally, use Pan for a man and Pani for a woman. To address a group of people formally, use Państwo regardless of the gender composition of the group. For a group of people you know well, use the informal plural form wy.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

The level of formality is crucial. ty is the informal singular form used for friends, family members or children. In contrast, Pan (masculine) and Pani (feminine) are the polite singular forms used when addressing a man or a woman formally. For formal group settings, use Państwo.

Related words

The individual or group spoken/written to (det): ty, wy.

To address using the more formal second-person pronoun (verb): zwracać się do kogoś per pan, zwracać się do kogoś per pani.

How does it change in a sentence?

When using Pan or Pani as the subject, the verb must be conjugated in the third person singular, not the second person.

How do you pronounce it?

/ˈtɘ/

What mistakes should you avoid?

Avoid using ty when addressing strangers or superiors, as this is often perceived as rude in Polish culture. Instead, use the polite forms Pan or Pani.