Polish · Difficult words
How to pronounce północ in Polish
północ
Midnight
Standard Polish · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
północ is pronounced /ˈpuw.nɔt͡s/ in Polish. In północ: Round the lips briefly for a w-like glide and connect it to the following sound. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in północ
Read północ in these IPA segments: ˈpuw · nɔt͡s. Dots and stress marks identify the boundaries shown in the reference; these symbols are not English spelling. The mark /ˈ/ comes immediately before the main stressed syllable. Give that syllable a little more prominence without swallowing the others.
1.The ł sound /w/
In północ: Round the lips briefly for a w-like glide and connect it to the following sound.
Watch out: Modern Polish ł is normally not an English l.
2.The c sound /ts/
In północ: Join t and s into a single affricate, as in the ending of English “cats”.
Watch out: Do not read Polish c as English k or as a lone s.
3.The open /ɔ/ vowel
In północ: Round the lips and keep a relatively open jaw. Sustain one vowel rather than moving toward a w sound.
Watch out: English “oh” often moves during the vowel; follow the steadier sound in the recording.
Hear it in context
Północ jest blisko.
Midnight is near.
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
północ is presented using Standard Polish. Regional accents and connected speech can change details. The isolated word and the example let you compare the dictionary form with a short spoken context.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Meaning and everyday use
Questions about północ
How do you pronounce północ?
północ is pronounced /ˈpuw.nɔt͡s/ in Polish. In północ: Round the lips briefly for a w-like glide and connect it to the following sound. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In północ: Round the lips briefly for a w-like glide and connect it to the following sound. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
