A1 · 45 words

People and family in Polish

Men and women, parents and children, grandparents, friends and where people are from.

Practise this list

From these 45 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

For people Polish has a class English does not: male persons. As objects they take the genitive form (mam brata “I have a brother”), and in the plural they have endings of their own (student → studenci). The hint for each masculine word says whether it is a person. Watch the men in -a: mężczyzna, tata, kolega are masculine although they end like feminine words. Polish also separates “friend” more finely than English does, and names of nationalities take a capital letter (Polak, Niemka), while the adjectives do not.

The words

Noun (3)

ludziepeopleNounA1

W sobotę w sklepach jest dużo ludzi.There are a lot of people in the shops on Saturday.

The plural of człowiek. After dużo the genitive follows: ludzi.

rodziceparentsNounA1

Moi rodzice mieszkają w Lublinie.My parents live in Lublin.

Plural only, and masculine personal: moi rodzice.

urodzinybirthdayNounA1

Na urodziny zawsze dostaję książki.I always get books for my birthday.

Plural only: moje urodziny.

Noun (f) (19)

osobapersonNoun (f)A1

W pokoju jest pięć osób.There are five people in the room.

Feminine, even when a man is meant.

kobietawomanNoun (f)A1

Ta kobieta pracuje w aptece.This woman works at the chemist’s.

Woman in general; a wife is żona.

dziewczynagirl, young woman; girlfriendNoun (f)A1

Marek ma nową dziewczynę.Marek has a new girlfriend.

A girl or a young woman, and also a girlfriend.

dziewczynkalittle girlNoun (f)A1

Mała dziewczynka bawi się w parku.A little girl is playing in the park.

rodzinafamilyNoun (f)A1

Moja rodzina jest duża.My family is big.

matkamotherNoun (f)A1

Moja matka jest nauczycielką.My mother is a teacher.

A little formal; within the family people say mama.

mamamumNoun (f)A1

Mamo, gdzie są moje klucze?Mum, where are my keys?

When you call her, it is the vocative: Mamo!

córkadaughterNoun (f)A1

Moja córka lubi rysować.My daughter likes drawing.

siostrasisterNoun (f)A1

Moja siostra mieszka w Niemczech.My sister lives in Germany.

Genitive plural sióstr.

babciagrandmother, granNoun (f)A1

Babcia mieszka sama w dużym domu.Gran lives on her own in a big house.

wnuczkagranddaughterNoun (f)A1

Moja wnuczka chodzi do przedszkola.My granddaughter goes to nursery.

żonawifeNoun (f)A1

To jest moja żona, Ewa.This is my wife, Ewa.

przyjaciółka(close) female friendNoun (f)A1

Idę do kina z przyjaciółką.I’m going to the cinema with my friend.

koleżanka(female) colleague, friendNoun (f)A1

Moja koleżanka ma urodziny w maju.My colleague’s birthday is in May.

ciociaaunt, auntieNoun (f)A1

Ciocia przychodzi do nas w sobotę.Our aunt is coming to see us on Saturday.

kuzynkacousin (female)Noun (f)A1

Moja kuzynka ma małe dziecko.My cousin has a little baby.

English “cousin” does not show the sex; Polish does.

PolkaPolish womanNoun (f)A1

Kasia jest Polką, ale mieszka w Berlinie.Kasia is Polish, but she lives in Berlin.

NiemkaGerman womanNoun (f)A1

Jestem Niemką, ale mówię po polsku.I’m German, but I speak Polish. (a woman speaking)

studentka(female) studentNoun (f)A1

Ania jest studentką i mieszka w Krakowie.Ania is a student and lives in Kraków.

Noun (m) (21)

człowiekperson, human beingNoun (m)A1

To jest bardzo dobry człowiek.He is a very good person.

masculine, a person. The plural is a different word: ludzie, as with “person — people”.

mężczyznamanNoun (m)A1

Ten mężczyzna to mój nowy szef.This man is my new boss.

masculine, a person, although it ends in -a: ten mężczyzna.

chłopiecboyNoun (m)A1

Ten chłopiec ma siedem lat.This boy is seven.

masculine, a person. The e drops: chłopca, plural chłopcy.

ojciecfatherNoun (m)A1

Mój ojciec pracuje w szpitalu.My father works at a hospital.

masculine, a person. The e drops: ojca, ojcu.

tatadadNoun (m)A1

Tata gotuje w niedzielę obiad.Dad cooks lunch on Sundays.

masculine, a person, although it ends in -a.

synsonNoun (m)A1

Mam syna i córkę.I have a son and a daughter.

masculine, a person. Locative and vocative: synu.

bratbrotherNoun (m)A1

Mój brat jest starszy ode mnie.My brother is older than me.

masculine, a person. Plural bracia.

dziadekgrandfather, grandadNoun (m)A1

Mój dziadek ma osiemdziesiąt lat.My grandad is eighty.

masculine, a person. The e drops: dziadka. The plural dziadkowie also means “grandparents”.

wnukgrandson, grandchildNoun (m)A1

Babcia ma trzech wnuków.Gran has three grandchildren.

masculine, a person. After the number men take the genitive: trzech wnuków.

mążhusbandNoun (m)A1

Mój mąż jest z Niemiec.My husband is from Germany.

masculine, a person. Genitive męża, plural mężowie.

chłopakboy, young man; boyfriendNoun (m)A1

Kasia ma chłopaka z Hiszpanii.Kasia has a boyfriend from Spain.

masculine, a person. A boy or a young man, and also a boyfriend.

przyjaciel(close) friendNoun (m)A1

Piotr jest moim najlepszym przyjacielem.Piotr is my best friend.

masculine, a person. Plural przyjaciele. A close friend, not a partner — narrower than English “friend”.

kolegacolleague, friend, mateNoun (m)A1

Mój kolega z pracy mówi po niemiecku.My colleague from work speaks German.

masculine, a person, in -a. Also a friend from school or an acquaintance — the everyday “friend”.

wujekuncleNoun (m)A1

Wujek mieszka w Gdyni.My uncle lives in Gdynia.

masculine, a person. The e drops: wujka.

kuzyncousin (male)Noun (m)A1

Mój kuzyn studiuje w Warszawie.My cousin is studying in Warsaw.

masculine, a person.

PolakPoleNoun (m)A1

Piotr jest Polakiem z Gdańska.Piotr is a Pole from Gdańsk.

masculine, a person. Plural Polacy. Names for people of a nation take a capital letter.

NiemiecGerman (man)Noun (m)A1

Mój sąsiad jest Niemcem.My neighbour is German.

masculine, a person. The e drops: Niemca, plural Niemcy.

wiekage; centuryNoun (m)A1

W jakim wieku jest twój syn?How old is your son?

masculine, inanimate. Your own age is usually given with mieć: mam trzydzieści lat.

studentstudentNoun (m)A1

Mój brat jest studentem medycyny.My brother is a medical student.

masculine, a person. Plural studenci.

nauczycielteacherNoun (m)A1

Nasz nauczyciel jest bardzo miły.Our teacher is very nice.

masculine, a person. Plural nauczyciele; a female teacher is nauczycielka.

szefbossNoun (m)A1

Mój szef ma dzisiaj urlop.My boss is on holiday today.

masculine, a person. Plural szefowie.

Noun (n) (2)

dzieckochildNoun (n)A1

Mamy dwoje dzieci.We have two children.

Plural dzieci. Children are counted with dwoje, troje.

rodzeństwobrothers and sisters, siblingsNoun (n)A1

Masz rodzeństwo? — Tak, brata.Have you got any brothers or sisters? — Yes, a brother.

One neuter word in the singular for all the siblings together, where English uses a plural.

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This list belongs to People, family and feelings — five lists and 196 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Hear and recognise these words in the listening trainer