mniam
/ˈmɲam/
The English phrase 'yum' is translated into Polish as mniam.
mniam is used to indicate delight at the flavor of food. It can function as an interjection to express an exclamation of delight, or as an informal adjective meaning 'delicious'.
Meaning: indicating delight at the flavor of food (intj)
Which one should you use?
The reduplicated form mniam-mniam (yum-yum) is a common way to express the same sentiment and is often used by children or in a very playful manner.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mniam is a colloquial term. For a more formal way to say 'This is exquisite!', you can use To jest wyśmienite! In other informal settings, you might also hear Pycha! for 'Yum!' or the more playful Mniam, mniam! for 'Yummy, yummy!'
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmɲam/
Did you know?
- The related word pycha can function as a noun meaning 'pride' or 'glory', but in a culinary context, it is used as a slang exclamation for 'delicious'.
- The sound of mniam is purely onomatopoeic, mimicking the physical sound of smacking one's lips while eating.
- Unlike many languages where 'yum' is purely about taste, a Polish speaker might exclaim mniam just from the scent of food before they have even taken a bite.
Examples in context
- To jedzenie dobrze pachnie. Mniam, mniam!That food smells good. Yum, yum.This sentence shows how to use mniam when reacting to the smell of food.Tatoeba #3579391 by cvbge, translation #2082630 by halfb1t
- Mniam!Yum!This sentence is a simple exclamation using mniam.Tatoeba #13783280 by Just_Balls, translation #13629634 by Babelball
- Grzyby są mniam.Mushrooms are yum.This sentence uses mniam as an adjective to describe mushrooms.Tatoeba #12721018 by JimiYoru, translation #11627896 by shekitten
- Mniam, mniam! Te pierogi są pyszne!Yummy, yummy! These pierogi are delicious!
- To jest wyśmienite! Pani kuchnia zawsze zachwyca.This is exquisite! Your cooking always amazes me.
Example conversation
Anna and Piotr are eating cake together.
- AnnaSpróbuj tego ciasta, jest pyszne!Try this cake, it is delicious!
- PiotrMniam, naprawdę świetnie smakuje.Yum, it really tastes great.
- AnnaCieszę się, że ci smakuje, Piotrze.I'm glad you like it, Piotr.
- PiotrChętnie zjem jeszcze jeden kawałek.I would gladly eat another piece.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yum” translations and entries mniam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mniam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
