Polish · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Never" in Polish: nigdy
nigdy
Never in Polish is nigdy. Nigdy usually needs a negated verb in Polish: nigdy nie, rather than the single negative common in English.
A first use of never
Nigdy nie byłem w Krakowie.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nigdy
Say it
nigdih
/ɲiɡdɨ/
In nigdy, y is distinct from the vowel i. The content words in nigdy normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"Never" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nigdy | Never The main expression for never. | The main expression for never. |
| ani razu | Never Alternative wording; compare its context and register below. | Alternative wording; compare its context and register below. |
How to use nigdy in real life
- 1A first use of never
Nigdy nie byłem w Krakowie.
I have never been to Krakow.
This is a natural setting for nigdy.
- 2A second conversational context
Nigdy nie piję kawy wieczorem.
I never drink coffee in the evening.
Notice how nigdy fits with the surrounding words here.
- 3Another practical use
Ona nigdy się nie spóźnia.
She is never late.
Nigdy usually needs a negated verb in Polish: nigdy nie, rather than the single negative common in English.
Mistakes English speakers make with nigdy
Incorrect: nigdy byłem w Krakowie
Correct: nigdy
For this meaning, the complete Polish form is nigdy. Nigdy usually needs a negated verb in Polish: nigdy nie, rather than the single negative common in English.
Incorrect: nigdy piję kawę
Correct: nigdy
Keep the wording and grammatical forms in nigdy; the proposed form changes or breaks this expression.
Good to know
Nigdy usually needs a negated verb in Polish: nigdy nie, rather than the single negative common in English.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Practice never
Partner
Co powiesz w tej sytuacji?
What will you say in this situation?
You
Nigdy nie byłem w Krakowie.
I have never been to Krakow.
Partner
A w innym kontekście?
And in another context?
You
Nigdy nie piję kawy wieczorem.
I never drink coffee in the evening.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Never" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Never" in Polish
When should I say nigdy?
Nigdy usually needs a negated verb in Polish: nigdy nie, rather than the single negative common in English.
Is ani razu another way to say never?
Ani razu is a useful related expression. The main form here is nigdy; choose the wording that fits the person and context.
What wording should I avoid with nigdy?
Avoid nigdy byłem w Krakowie. The correct expression is nigdy; Nigdy usually needs a negated verb in Polish: nigdy nie, rather than the single negative common in English.
Can you show nigdy in a sentence?
Ona nigdy się nie spóźnia. — She is never late.
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