Polish · Everyday Verbs
"to be" in Polish: być
być
To be in Polish is być. The useful forms are jestem (I), jesteś (you, singular) and jest (he, she or it). Być is irregular. Identity nouns after jestem often take instrumental, while adjectives remain nominative.
Your own action
Jestem nauczycielem.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce być
Say it
bihtsh
/bɨtɕ/
In być, ć/ci has a soft ch-like sound; y is distinct from the vowel i. The content words in być normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"to be" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| być | to be Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| jestem | I be First-person singular present. | First-person singular present. |
| jesteś | you be Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| jest | he or she is Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use być in real life
- 1Your own action
Jestem nauczycielem.
I am a teacher.
Jestem is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Jesteś dziś zmęczony.
You are tired today.
Use jesteś when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
Sklep jest otwarty.
The shop is open.
Być is irregular. Identity nouns after jestem often take instrumental, while adjectives remain nominative.
Mistakes English speakers make with być
Incorrect: Ja być.
Correct: Ja jestem.
Conjugate być with ja: jestem. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty jestem.
Correct: Ty jesteś.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of być is jesteś, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Być is irregular. Identity nouns after jestem often take instrumental, while adjectives remain nominative.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about be
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Jestem nauczycielem.
I am a teacher.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Jesteś dziś zmęczony.
You are tired today.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to be" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to be" in Polish
What does być mean?
Być is irregular. Identity nouns after jestem often take instrumental, while adjectives remain nominative.
How do I use być with “I”?
The first-person form is jestem. For example: Jestem nauczycielem. — I am a teacher.
How do I ask one person using być?
Use jesteś for informal singular you. Jesteś dziś zmęczony. — You are tired today.
What is the third-person form of być?
Use jest with a singular subject. Sklep jest otwarty. — The shop is open.
Use these words in a conversation
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