📘 Polish for Newcomers
Moving to Poland? Learning a bit of the language can go a long way—especially when facing the dreaded world of paperwork, forms, and government offices. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be fluent! Here’s a practical guide to Polish words and phrases that will actually help you survive the system.
🏢 At the Urząd (Office)
Whether you’re applying for a PESEL, registering your address, or chasing a residency permit, these basics will help:
- 📄 Document – Dokument (doh-koo-MENT)
- 🪪 ID Card – Dowód osobisty (DOH-vood oh-soh-BEE-stee)
- 📝 Application – Wniosek (VNYOH-sek)
- 📆 Appointment – Wizyta (vee-ZEE-tah)
- 🔁 Extension – Przedłużenie (pshed-woo-ZHEH-nyeh)
- 🔎 I am looking for… – Szukam… (SHOO-kahm)
- 🔄 I need to renew… – Muszę odnowić… (MOO-sheh ohd-NOH-veech)
- 🤝 Can you help me? – Czy może mi pani/pan pomóc? (chi MOH-zhe mee PAH-nee / pahn POH-moots?)
🚗 Driving Licence Office (Prawo Jazdy)
- 🚘 Driving licence – Prawo jazdy (PRAH-voh YAHZ-dih)
- 📋 Category B – Kategoria B (kah-teh-GOH-ree-ah beh)
- 💳 Exchange licence – Wymiana prawa jazdy (vih-MYAH-nah PRAH-vah YAHZ-dih)
- 📎 Required documents – Wymagane dokumenty (vih-mah-GAH-neh doh-koo-MEN-tih)
- 💬 I want to exchange my licence – Chcę wymienić prawo jazdy (hcheh vih-MYEH-neech PRAH-voh YAHZ-dih)
🏠 Residency & Immigration Office
- 📍 Temporary residence – Pobyt czasowy (POH-bit chah-SOH-vih)
- 📍 Permanent residence – Pobyt stały (POH-bit STAH-wih)
- 📥 Application form – Formularz wniosku (for-MOO-lahrzh VNYOH-skoh)
- 👤 Foreigner – Cudzoziemiec (tsoo-dzoh-ZYEH-myets)
- 📆 Visa appointment – Wizyta wizowa (vee-ZEE-tah vee-ZOH-vah)
- ❓ What documents are needed? – Jakie dokumenty są potrzebne? (YAH-kye doh-koo-MEN-tih sohn poh-TREHB-neh?)
📬 Common Bureaucratic Words
- 📑 Form – Formularz (for-MOO-lahrzh)
- 🖋️ Signature – Podpis (POD-pees)
- 📮 Confirmation – Potwierdzenie (pot-fyer-DZHEH-nyeh)
- 💼 Office worker / clerk – Urzędnik / Urzędniczka (oo-ZHEND-neek / oo-ZHEND-neech-kah)
- 📂 Folder / file – Teczka (TECH-kah)
💡 Quick Tips for Bureaucratic Survival
- 🧘 Be calm and polite – it really helps.
- 📸 Bring copies of *everything*—even things they didn’t ask for.
- 🗣️ Start with “Dzień dobry” (jen DOH-brih) and a smile.
- 🙋♂️ Use “Nie mówię dobrze po polsku” – I don’t speak Polish well (nyeh MOO-vyeh DOB-zhe poh POL-skoo).
- 📃 Use Google Translate for full documents—but double check important stuff!
🇵🇱 Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be fluent in Polish to live here—but learning these practical words can make your life infinitely easier. With just a little practice, you’ll feel more confident when it matters most—especially when you’re standing at the window in an Urząd with six forms in your hand and a queue behind you.
Also read: Living in Poland