Polish · Everyday Verbs
"to break" in Polish: łamać / rozbijać
łamać / rozbijać
To break in Polish is łamać / rozbijać. The useful forms are łamię (I), łamiesz (you, singular) and łamie (he, she or it). Łamać means break something such as a bone or stick; rozbijać is used for smashing glass or similar objects.
Your own action
Łamię gałąź na kawałki.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce łamać / rozbijać
Say it
vamatsh
/wamatɕ/
In łamać, ł sounds like English w; ć/ci has a soft ch-like sound. The content words in łamać normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"to break" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| łamać | to break Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| łamię | I break First-person singular present. | First-person singular present. |
| łamiesz | you break Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| łamie | he or she breaks Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use łamać / rozbijać in real life
- 1Your own action
Łamię gałąź na kawałki.
I break a branch into pieces.
Łamię is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Łamiesz tę zasadę?
Are you breaking this rule?
Use łamiesz when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
Ona łamie czekoladę.
She breaks the chocolate.
Łamać means break something such as a bone or stick; rozbijać is used for smashing glass or similar objects.
Mistakes English speakers make with łamać / rozbijać
Incorrect: Ja łamać.
Correct: Ja łamię.
Conjugate łamać with ja: łamię. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty łamię.
Correct: Ty łamiesz.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of łamać is łamiesz, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Łamać means break something such as a bone or stick; rozbijać is used for smashing glass or similar objects.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about break
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Łamię gałąź na kawałki.
I break a branch into pieces.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Łamiesz tę zasadę?
Are you breaking this rule?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to break" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to break" in Polish
What does łamać mean?
Łamać means break something such as a bone or stick; rozbijać is used for smashing glass or similar objects.
How do I use łamać with “I”?
The first-person form is łamię. For example: Łamię gałąź na kawałki. — I break a branch into pieces.
How do I ask one person using łamać?
Use łamiesz for informal singular you. Łamiesz tę zasadę? — Are you breaking this rule?
What is the third-person form of łamać?
Use łamie with a singular subject. Ona łamie czekoladę. — She breaks the chocolate.
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