Polish · Greetings & Essentials
"But" in Polish: ale
ale
But in Polish is ale. Ale contrasts statements; place a comma before ale when it joins clauses or contrasting phrases.
A first use of but
Chcę przyjść, ale pracuję.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ale
Say it
ale
/alɛ/
In ale, keep the vowels clear and avoid adding vowels inside consonant clusters. The content words in ale normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"But" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ale | But The main expression for but. | The main expression for but. |
| lecz | But Alternative wording; compare its context and register below. | Alternative wording; compare its context and register below. |
How to use ale in real life
- 1A first use of but
Chcę przyjść, ale pracuję.
I want to come, but I work.
This is a natural setting for ale.
- 2A second conversational context
Hotel jest mały, ale wygodny.
The hotel is small but comfortable.
Notice how ale fits with the surrounding words here.
- 3Another practical use
Rozumiem, ale mam pytanie.
I understand, but I have a question.
Ale contrasts statements; place a comma before ale when it joins clauses or contrasting phrases.
Mistakes English speakers make with ale
Incorrect: Chcę przyjść ale pracuję.
Correct: ale
For this meaning, the complete Polish form is ale. Ale contrasts statements; place a comma before ale when it joins clauses or contrasting phrases.
Incorrect: Hotel jest mały ale wygodny.
Correct: ale
Keep the wording and grammatical forms in ale; the proposed form changes or breaks this expression.
Good to know
Ale contrasts statements; place a comma before ale when it joins clauses or contrasting phrases.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Practice but
Partner
Co powiesz w tej sytuacji?
What will you say in this situation?
You
Chcę przyjść, ale pracuję.
I want to come, but I work.
Partner
A w innym kontekście?
And in another context?
You
Hotel jest mały, ale wygodny.
The hotel is small but comfortable.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"But" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "But" in Polish
When should I say ale?
Ale contrasts statements; place a comma before ale when it joins clauses or contrasting phrases.
Is lecz another way to say but?
Lecz is a useful related expression. The main form here is ale; choose the wording that fits the person and context.
What wording should I avoid with ale?
Avoid Chcę przyjść ale pracuję.. The correct expression is ale; Ale contrasts statements; place a comma before ale when it joins clauses or contrasting phrases.
Can you show ale in a sentence?
Rozumiem, ale mam pytanie. — I understand, but I have a question.
Use these words in a conversation
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