Polish · People & Family
"Mother" in Polish: matka
matka
Mother in Polish is matka. Matka is feminine; useful forms are matki (genitive), matkę (direct object) and matką (instrumental). Matka is the neutral or more formal word for mother; mama is the ordinary familiar form.
Identifying or describing mother
Matka jest w pracy.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce matka
Say it
matka
/matka/
In matka, keep the vowels clear and avoid adding vowels inside consonant clusters. The content words in matka normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"Mother" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| matka | mother Dictionary form for feminine matka. | Dictionary form for feminine matka. |
| matki | of mother Genitive form, used for example after nie ma. | Genitive form, used for example after nie ma. |
| matką | with mother Instrumental form after z meaning with. | Instrumental form after z meaning with. |
| matkę | mother 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 matka in real life
- 1Identifying or describing mother
Matka jest w pracy.
The mother is at work.
This sentence uses matka to describe mother in context.
- 2Using mother in daily life
Odwiedzam matkę w niedzielę.
I visit my mother on Sunday.
Notice the form used for matka in this practical sentence.
- 3Another use of mother
Rozmawiam z matką o rodzinie.
I talk with my mother about the family.
The construction shows how matka fits a different situation.
Mistakes English speakers make with matka
Incorrect: Nie ma matka.
Correct: Nie ma matki.
After nie ma, matka takes the genitive form matki.
Incorrect: z matka
Correct: z matką
When z means with, use the instrumental: z matką. Z can also mean from.
Good to know
Matka is the neutral or more formal word for mother; mama is the ordinary familiar form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Describe mother in two different contexts
Partner
Ułóż zdanie z tym słowem.
Make a sentence with this word.
You
Matka jest w pracy.
The mother is at work.
Partner
A teraz podaj inny przykład.
Now give a different example.
You
Odwiedzam matkę w niedzielę.
I visit my mother on Sunday.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Mother" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Mother" in Polish
What grammatical form is matka?
Matka is feminine. No article is required with matka; surrounding words carry its gender and number agreement.
How does matka change as a direct object?
The accusative form is matkę. For comparison, the genitive is matki; negation can change the case required by a verb.
How do I use matka after “with”?
Use z matką. Here z introduces the instrumental form of matka, rather than its dictionary form.
What should I know about using matka?
Matka is the neutral or more formal word for mother; mama is the ordinary familiar form.
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