Polish · People & Family
"Colleague" in Polish: kolega / koleżanka z pracy
kolega / koleżanka z pracy
Colleague in Polish is kolega / koleżanka z pracy. Kolega is masculine personal; useful forms are kolegi (genitive), kolegę (direct object) and kolegą (instrumental). Kolega z pracy is a male colleague; koleżanka z pracy is female. Kolega alone can also mean a friend or peer.
Identifying or describing colleague
Kolega z pracy jest na spotkaniu.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce kolega / koleżanka z pracy
Say it
kolega
/kɔlɛɡa/
In kolega, keep the vowels clear and avoid adding vowels inside consonant clusters. The content words in kolega normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"Colleague" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| kolega | colleague Dictionary form for masculine personal kolega. | Dictionary form for masculine personal kolega. |
| kolegi | of colleague Genitive form, used for example after nie ma. | Genitive form, used for example after nie ma. |
| kolegą | with colleague Instrumental form after z meaning with. | Instrumental form after z meaning with. |
| kolegę | colleague as a direct object Accusative form, used with many affirmative object-taking verbs. | Accusative form, used with many affirmative object-taking verbs. |
How to use kolega / koleżanka z pracy in real life
- 1Identifying or describing colleague
Kolega z pracy jest na spotkaniu.
The colleague is at a meeting.
This sentence uses kolega to describe colleague in context.
- 2Using colleague in daily life
Widzę kolegę z pracy na dworcu.
I see a colleague at the station.
Notice the form used for kolega in this practical sentence.
- 3Another use of colleague
Rozmawiam z kolegą z pracy.
I talk with a colleague.
The construction shows how kolega fits a different situation.
Mistakes English speakers make with kolega / koleżanka z pracy
Incorrect: Nie ma kolega.
Correct: Nie ma kolegi.
After nie ma, kolega takes the genitive form kolegi.
Incorrect: z kolega
Correct: z kolegą
When z means with, use the instrumental: z kolegą. Z can also mean from.
Good to know
Kolega z pracy is a male colleague; koleżanka z pracy is female. Kolega alone can also mean a friend or peer.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Describe colleague in two different contexts
Partner
Ułóż zdanie z tym słowem.
Make a sentence with this word.
You
Kolega z pracy jest na spotkaniu.
The colleague is at a meeting.
Partner
A teraz podaj inny przykład.
Now give a different example.
You
Widzę kolegę z pracy na dworcu.
I see a colleague at the station.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Colleague" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Colleague" in Polish
What grammatical form is kolega?
Kolega is masculine personal. No article is required with kolega; surrounding words carry its gender and number agreement.
How does kolega change as a direct object?
The accusative form is kolegę. For comparison, the genitive is kolegi; negation can change the case required by a verb.
How do I use kolega after “with”?
Use z kolegą. Here z introduces the instrumental form of kolega, rather than its dictionary form.
What should I know about using kolega?
Kolega z pracy is a male colleague; koleżanka z pracy is female. Kolega alone can also mean a friend or peer.
Use these words in a conversation
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