Polish · Everyday Verbs
"to prefer" in Polish: woleć
woleć
To prefer in Polish is woleć. The useful forms are wolę (I), wolisz (you, singular) and woli (he, she or it). Woleć means prefer; wolę A od B uses genitive after od to compare alternatives.
Your own action
Wolę herbatę od kawy.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce woleć
Say it
voletsh
/vɔlɛtɕ/
In woleć, ć/ci has a soft ch-like sound. The content words in woleć normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"to prefer" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| woleć | to prefer Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| wolę | I prefer First-person singular present. | First-person singular present. |
| wolisz | you prefer Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| woli | he or she prefers Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use woleć in real life
- 1Your own action
Wolę herbatę od kawy.
I prefer tea to coffee.
Wolę is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Wolisz iść pieszo?
Would you prefer to walk?
Use wolisz when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
Ona woli spokojny hotel.
She prefers a quiet hotel.
Woleć means prefer; wolę A od B uses genitive after od to compare alternatives.
Mistakes English speakers make with woleć
Incorrect: Ja woleć.
Correct: Ja wolę.
Conjugate woleć with ja: wolę. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty wolę.
Correct: Ty wolisz.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of woleć is wolisz, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Woleć means prefer; wolę A od B uses genitive after od to compare alternatives.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about prefer
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Wolę herbatę od kawy.
I prefer tea to coffee.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Wolisz iść pieszo?
Would you prefer to walk?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to prefer" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to prefer" in Polish
What does woleć mean?
Woleć means prefer; wolę A od B uses genitive after od to compare alternatives.
How do I use woleć with “I”?
The first-person form is wolę. For example: Wolę herbatę od kawy. — I prefer tea to coffee.
How do I ask one person using woleć?
Use wolisz for informal singular you. Wolisz iść pieszo? — Would you prefer to walk?
What is the third-person form of woleć?
Use woli with a singular subject. Ona woli spokojny hotel. — She prefers a quiet hotel.
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