Polish · Everyday Verbs
"can (to be able to)" in Polish: móc / umieć
móc / umieć
Can (to be able to) in Polish is móc / umieć. The useful forms are mogę (I), możesz (you, singular) and może (he, she or it). Móc means can in the sense of ability, permission or possibility; umieć is learned skill.
Your own action
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How to pronounce móc / umieć
Say it
moots
/muts/
In móc, ó has the same vowel as u. The content words in móc normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"can (to be able to)" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| móc | can (to be able to) Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| mogę | I can (to be able to) First-person singular present. | First-person singular present. |
| możesz | you can (to be able to) Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| może | he or she cans (to be able to) Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use móc / umieć in real life
- 1Your own action
Mogę przyjść jutro.
I can come tomorrow.
Mogę is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Możesz mi pomóc?
Can you help me?
Use możesz when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
Ona może zapłacić kartą.
She can pay by card.
Móc means can in the sense of ability, permission or possibility; umieć is learned skill.
Mistakes English speakers make with móc / umieć
Incorrect: Ja móc.
Correct: Ja mogę.
Conjugate móc with ja: mogę. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty mogę.
Correct: Ty możesz.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of móc is możesz, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Móc means can in the sense of ability, permission or possibility; umieć is learned skill.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about can (to be able to)
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Mogę przyjść jutro.
I can come tomorrow.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Możesz mi pomóc?
Can you help me?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"can (to be able to)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "can (to be able to)" in Polish
What does móc mean?
Móc means can in the sense of ability, permission or possibility; umieć is learned skill.
How do I use móc with “I”?
The first-person form is mogę. For example: Mogę przyjść jutro. — I can come tomorrow.
How do I ask one person using móc?
Use możesz for informal singular you. Możesz mi pomóc? — Can you help me?
What is the third-person form of móc?
Use może with a singular subject. Ona może zapłacić kartą. — She can pay by card.
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