Polish · Real conversations
Payments: Polish conversation practice
Clarify a payment, a receipt, or a refund. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A2 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A customer discussing a payment at a service counter.
Goal: Clarify a payment, a receipt, or a refund.
Read the conversation
Partner
Proszę spróbować zapłacić kartą w terminalu.
Show English translation
Please try your card at the terminal.
You
Karta została odrzucona.
Show English translation
The card was declined.
Partner
Możemy spróbować innej karty. Tym razem płatność się udała.
Show English translation
We can try another card. The payment went through this time.
You
Czy mogę prosić o paragon?
Show English translation
Could I have a receipt?
Partner
Oczywiście. Mogę też wyjaśnić wcześniejszy zwrot pieniędzy.
Show English translation
Certainly. I can also explain your earlier refund.
You
Kiedy otrzymam zwrot pieniędzy?
Show English translation
When will the refund arrive?
Partner
Powinien dotrzeć w przyszłym tygodniu. Czy dziś planuje pan / pani kolejny zakup?
Show English translation
It should arrive next week. Are you making another purchase today?
You
Czy mogę zapłacić na raty?
Show English translation
Can I pay in installments?
Partner
Być może. Warunki zależą od planu płatności.
Show English translation
That may be possible. The terms depend on the payment plan.
You
Czy jest dodatkowa opłata?
Show English translation
Is there an extra charge?
Try your part first
Partner says: Please try your card at the terminal. Your goal: The card was declined.
Reveal a sample reply
Karta została odrzucona.
The card was declined.
Partner says: We can try another card. The payment went through this time. Your goal: Could I have a receipt?
Reveal a sample reply
Czy mogę prosić o paragon?
Could I have a receipt?
Partner says: Certainly. I can also explain your earlier refund. Your goal: When will the refund arrive?
Reveal a sample reply
Kiedy otrzymam zwrot pieniędzy?
When will the refund arrive?
Partner says: It should arrive next week. Are you making another purchase today? Your goal: Can I pay in installments?
Reveal a sample reply
Czy mogę zapłacić na raty?
Can I pay in installments?
Partner says: That may be possible. The terms depend on the payment plan. Your goal: Is there an extra charge?
Reveal a sample reply
Czy jest dodatkowa opłata?
Is there an extra charge?
Make it your own
- Use another card.
- Ask for a printed receipt.
- Check the refund date again.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking Polish
Polish distinguishes familiar ty from polite pan and pani. Choose pan when addressing a man and pani when addressing a woman formally; the paired forms shown in examples are alternatives, so say one. A formal question usually uses a third-person verb, such as Czy może pan …? First-person past and conditional forms can change with the speaker’s gender.
Keep letters such as ą, ę, ł, ń, ó, ś, ź, and ż. Noun and adjective endings can change with their role in the sentence. Learn the complete expression before replacing a name, object, or time.
