Polish · Everyday Verbs
"to say" in Polish: powiedzieć
powiedzieć
To say in Polish is powiedzieć. The useful forms are powiem (I), powiesz (you, singular) and powie (he, she or it). Powiedzieć is perfective, so powiem means I will say, not I say; mówię supplies the ordinary present.
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How to pronounce powiedzieć
Say it
povieihietsh
/pɔvjɛdʑɛtɕ/
In powiedzieć, ć/ci has a soft ch-like sound. The content words in powiedzieć normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"to say" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| powiedzieć | to say Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| powiem | I will say First-person singular future. | First-person singular future. |
| powiesz | you will say Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| powie | he or she will say Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use powiedzieć in real life
- 1Your own action
Powiem ci jutro.
I will tell you tomorrow.
Powiem is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Powiesz mi prawdę?
Will you tell me the truth?
Use powiesz when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
Ona powie kilka słów.
She will say a few words.
Powiedzieć is perfective, so powiem means I will say, not I say; mówię supplies the ordinary present.
Mistakes English speakers make with powiedzieć
Incorrect: Ja powiedzieć.
Correct: Ja powiem.
Conjugate powiedzieć with ja: powiem. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty powiem.
Correct: Ty powiesz.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of powiedzieć is powiesz, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Powiedzieć is perfective, so powiem means I will say, not I say; mówię supplies the ordinary present.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about say
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Powiem ci jutro.
I will tell you tomorrow.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Powiesz mi prawdę?
Will you tell me the truth?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to say" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to say" in Polish
What does powiedzieć mean?
Powiedzieć is perfective, so powiem means I will say, not I say; mówię supplies the ordinary present.
How do I use powiedzieć with “I”?
The first-person form is powiem. For example: Powiem ci jutro. — I will tell you tomorrow.
How do I ask one person using powiedzieć?
Use powiesz for informal singular you. Powiesz mi prawdę? — Will you tell me the truth?
What is the third-person form of powiedzieć?
Use powie with a singular subject. Ona powie kilka słów. — She will say a few words.
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