Polish · Everyday Verbs
"to look for" in Polish: szukać
szukać
To look for in Polish is szukać. The useful forms are szukam (I), szukasz (you, singular) and szuka (he, she or it). Szukać requires genitive: szukam klucza, not klucz. It expresses searching rather than successful finding.
Your own action
Szukam mojego klucza.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce szukać
Say it
shookatsh
/ʂukatɕ/
In szukać, sz is a hard sh-like sound; ć/ci has a soft ch-like sound. The content words in szukać normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"to look for" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| szukać | to look for Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| szukam | I look for First-person singular present. | First-person singular present. |
| szukasz | you look for Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| szuka | he or she looks for Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use szukać in real life
- 1Your own action
Szukam mojego klucza.
I look for my key.
Szukam is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Szukasz pracy?
Are you looking for work?
Use szukasz when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
Ona szuka dworca.
She looks for the station.
Szukać requires genitive: szukam klucza, not klucz. It expresses searching rather than successful finding.
Mistakes English speakers make with szukać
Incorrect: Ja szukać.
Correct: Ja szukam.
Conjugate szukać with ja: szukam. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty szukam.
Correct: Ty szukasz.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of szukać is szukasz, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Szukać requires genitive: szukam klucza, not klucz. It expresses searching rather than successful finding.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about look for
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Szukam mojego klucza.
I look for my key.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Szukasz pracy?
Are you looking for work?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to look for" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to look for" in Polish
What does szukać mean?
Szukać requires genitive: szukam klucza, not klucz. It expresses searching rather than successful finding.
How do I use szukać with “I”?
The first-person form is szukam. For example: Szukam mojego klucza. — I look for my key.
How do I ask one person using szukać?
Use szukasz for informal singular you. Szukasz pracy? — Are you looking for work?
What is the third-person form of szukać?
Use szuka with a singular subject. Ona szuka dworca. — She looks for the station.
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