Essential Polish Phrases for Travel: 24 Phrases You'll Actually Use
Poland — Kraków, Warsaw, Gdańsk — is one of Europe's rising destinations. Young Poles often speak English, but Polish phrases help in shops, train stations and with older people, and the spelling looks harder than it is.
Updated October 2026
Basics and greetings
| English | Polish |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dzień dobry |
| Goodbye | Do widzenia |
| Please | Proszę |
| Thank you | Dziękuję |
| Yes | Tak |
| No | Nie |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Przepraszam |
| I don't understand | Nie rozumiem |
| Do you speak English? | Czy mówi pan / pani po angielsku? |
At the restaurant
| English | Polish |
|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Stolik dla dwóch osób, proszę |
| The menu, please | Poproszę menu |
| Water, please | Poproszę wodę |
| The bill, please | Poproszę rachunek |
| It's delicious | To jest pyszne |
Getting around and shopping
| English | Polish |
|---|---|
| Where is the toilet? | Gdzie jest toaleta? |
| Where is the station? | Gdzie jest dworzec? |
| How much is it? | Ile to kosztuje? |
| Can you write it down? | Czy może pan / pani to napisać? |
Emergencies and health
| English | Polish |
|---|---|
| Help! | Pomocy! |
| I need a doctor | Potrzebuję lekarza |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Gdzie jest apteka? |
| Call the police! | Proszę wezwać policję! |
| I'm lost | Zgubiłem się / Zgubiłam się |
Practical tips
- "Proszę" means please, you're welcome and "here you go" — a very useful word.
- Polish spelling: "sz" = sh, "cz" = ch, "w" = v, and "ł" sounds like an English "w".
- Use "pan" (to a man) or "pani" (to a woman) to be polite instead of "you".
- "Dzień dobry" is used all day as a polite hello.
Too many phrases to remember?
With OIEM Translator you can simply talk. Choose English and Polish, tap the microphone once and speak normally: the translation appears in about half a second and is spoken out loud in Polish. When the other person answers, OIEM detects their language automatically and translates back — no need to tap again.
- Hands-free two-way conversation
- Text translation also works offline
- Photo translation for menus and signs
Free to download with free voice translations to try. The weekly plan includes a 3-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is Polish hard to pronounce?
The consonant clusters look scary, but the rules are regular. Once you know a few letter combinations, you can read most words.
Can my phone speak Polish for me?
Yes. With a voice translator like OIEM Translator you speak in English and your iPhone says it out loud in Polish, then translates the answer back. It is useful when a phrase list is not enough.
Do these phrases work offline?
This page works offline if you save it or take screenshots before your trip. In OIEM Translator, text translation works offline; voice translation needs an internet connection.