Polish · Greetings & Essentials
"Nothing" in Polish: nic
nic
Nothing in Polish is nic. Nic means nothing; Polish commonly uses a negated verb with it, as in nic nie wiem.
A first use of nothing
Nic nie wiem.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nic
Say it
nits
/ɲits/
In nic, keep the vowels clear and avoid adding vowels inside consonant clusters. The content words in nic normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"Nothing" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nic | Nothing The main expression for nothing. | The main expression for nothing. |
| niczego | Nothing Alternative wording; compare its context and register below. | Alternative wording; compare its context and register below. |
How to use nic in real life
- 1A first use of nothing
Nic nie wiem.
I know nothing.
This is a natural setting for nic.
- 2A second conversational context
Nic się nie stało.
Nothing happened.
Notice how nic fits with the surrounding words here.
- 3Another practical use
Nie kupuję nic.
I do not buy anything.
Nic means nothing; Polish commonly uses a negated verb with it, as in nic nie wiem.
Mistakes English speakers make with nic
Incorrect: nic wiem
Correct: nic
For this meaning, the complete Polish form is nic. Nic means nothing; Polish commonly uses a negated verb with it, as in nic nie wiem.
Incorrect: nic się stało
Correct: nic
Keep the wording and grammatical forms in nic; the proposed form changes or breaks this expression.
Good to know
Nic means nothing; Polish commonly uses a negated verb with it, as in nic nie wiem.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Practice nothing
Partner
Co powiesz w tej sytuacji?
What will you say in this situation?
You
Nic nie wiem.
I know nothing.
Partner
A w innym kontekście?
And in another context?
You
Nic się nie stało.
Nothing happened.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Nothing" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Nothing" in Polish
When should I say nic?
Nic means nothing; Polish commonly uses a negated verb with it, as in nic nie wiem.
Is niczego another way to say nothing?
Niczego is a useful related expression. The main form here is nic; choose the wording that fits the person and context.
What wording should I avoid with nic?
Avoid nic wiem. The correct expression is nic; Nic means nothing; Polish commonly uses a negated verb with it, as in nic nie wiem.
Can you show nic in a sentence?
Nie kupuję nic. — I do not buy anything.
Use these words in a conversation
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