Polish Alphabet/Pronunciation
Content
Vowels
| Polish Letter | Polish Example | Pronunciation |
| a | ale | as in English smart |
| e | energia | as in English met |
| i | i | as in English she, but shorter |
| o | opis | as in English copper |
| ó/u | stół, u | as in English mood, but shorter |
| y | być | as in English bit |
| ą | dokąd | pronounced on |
| ą before b or p | ząb | pronounced om |
| ą before ł | wziął | pronounced o |
| ę | zakręt | pronounced en |
| ę before p or p | sęp | pronounced em |
| ę as last letter, or before ł or l | imię | often pronounced e |
Consonants
| Polish Letter | Polish Example | Pronunciation |
| b | Bóg | as in English boy |
| c | cena | as in English blitz |
| ć/ci | żyć | as in English choice |
| cz | czy | as in English chop |
| d | deszcz | as in English width |
| dz | widzę | as in English woods |
| dź/dzi | łódź | as in English jeep |
| dż | miażdżyć | as in English jam |
| f | fabryka | as in English fence |
| g | gorzej | as in English gas |
| h | herbata | as in English hope, but a little more raspier |
| ch | tych | same as Polish’s h |
| j | jak | as in English yes |
| k | ku | as in English kill |
| l | lubić | as in English lock |
| ł | stół | as in English west |
| m | mężczyzna | as in English mate |
| n | nuta | as in English nut |
| ń/ni | nie | as in English lenient |
| p | ptak | as in English pale |
| r | robić | trilled r |
| rz | papierze | as in English pleasure |
| s | słońce | as in English sun |
| ś/si | sierpień | as in English short |
| sz | poszukać | as in English shop |
| t | to | as in English tack |
| w | wschód | as in English vet |
| z | bez | as in English zoo |
| ź/zi | gałąź | as in Polish rz/ż, but softer |
| ż | że | same as Polish’s rz |
Important Rules
Here are some reference notes as to some rules of the alphabet.
- Nouns ending with k and g can’t be followed directly by e or y. Usually, the k and g are followed first by an i.
This is important for noun declension. For example, in the instrumental case with a singular masculine noun, the suffix -em is added to the noun. However, if there is a k or g at the end of the noun, an i must be inserted before the -em.
pociąg (train) → pociągiem.
bank (bank) → bankiem. - The consonants ć, dź, ń, ś, and ź (i.e. consonants with accent marks) only have their accent marks at the end of words and before consonants. When these consonants are in front of a vowel, they lose the accent mark and an i is added.
gość (guest) → goście. (Nominative plural form) - The letter y may never directly follow l and j.