Polish · Food & Drink
"Potato" in Polish: ziemniak
ziemniak
Potato in Polish is ziemniak. Ziemniak is masculine; useful forms are ziemniaka (genitive), ziemniak (direct object) and ziemniakiem (instrumental). Ziemniak is the neutral dictionary noun for potato; ziemniaki is its common plural on a menu.
Identifying or describing potato
Ziemniak jest jeszcze twardy.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ziemniak
Say it
ziemniak
/ʑɛmɲak/
In ziemniak, ń/ni is a palatal n. The content words in ziemniak normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"Potato" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ziemniak | potato Dictionary form for masculine ziemniak. | Dictionary form for masculine ziemniak. |
| ziemniaka | of potato Genitive form, used for example after nie ma. | Genitive form, used for example after nie ma. |
| ziemniakiem | with potato Instrumental form after z meaning with. | Instrumental form after z meaning with. |
How to use ziemniak in real life
- 1Identifying or describing potato
Ziemniak jest jeszcze twardy.
The potato is still firm.
This sentence uses ziemniak to describe potato in context.
- 2Using potato in daily life
Obieram ziemniak do zupy.
I am peeling a potato for the soup.
Notice the form used for ziemniak in this practical sentence.
- 3Another use of potato
Nie mam ani jednego ziemniaka.
I do not have a single potato.
The construction shows how ziemniak fits a different situation.
Mistakes English speakers make with ziemniak
Incorrect: Nie ma ziemniak.
Correct: Nie ma ziemniaka.
After nie ma, ziemniak takes the genitive form ziemniaka.
Incorrect: z ziemniak
Correct: z ziemniakiem
When z means with, use the instrumental: z ziemniakiem. Z can also mean from.
Good to know
Ziemniak is the neutral dictionary noun for potato; ziemniaki is its common plural on a menu.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Describe potato in two different contexts
Partner
Ułóż zdanie z tym słowem.
Make a sentence with this word.
You
Ziemniak jest jeszcze twardy.
The potato is still firm.
Partner
A teraz podaj inny przykład.
Now give a different example.
You
Obieram ziemniak do zupy.
I am peeling a potato for the soup.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Potato" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Potato" in Polish
What grammatical form is ziemniak?
Ziemniak is masculine. No article is required with ziemniak; surrounding words carry its gender and number agreement.
How does ziemniak change as a direct object?
The accusative form is ziemniak. For comparison, the genitive is ziemniaka; negation can change the case required by a verb.
How do I use ziemniak after “with”?
Use z ziemniakiem. Here z introduces the instrumental form of ziemniak, rather than its dictionary form.
What should I know about using ziemniak?
Ziemniak is the neutral dictionary noun for potato; ziemniaki is its common plural on a menu.
Use these words in a conversation
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