Polish · Everyday Verbs
"to stay" in Polish: zostawać
zostawać
To stay in Polish is zostawać. The useful forms are zostaję (I), zostajesz (you, singular) and zostaje (he, she or it). Zostawać means stay or remain and can also mean become; zostać is perfective.
Your own action
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How to pronounce zostawać
Say it
zostavatsh
/zɔstavatɕ/
In zostawać, ć/ci has a soft ch-like sound. The content words in zostawać normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"to stay" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| zostawać | to stay Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| zostaję | I stay First-person singular present. | First-person singular present. |
| zostajesz | you stay Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| zostaje | he or she stays Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use zostawać in real life
- 1Your own action
Zostaję dziś w domu.
I stay home today.
Zostaję is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Zostajesz na noc?
Are you staying overnight?
Use zostajesz when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
Ona zostaje w hotelu.
She stays at the hotel.
Zostawać means stay or remain and can also mean become; zostać is perfective.
Mistakes English speakers make with zostawać
Incorrect: Ja zostawać.
Correct: Ja zostaję.
Conjugate zostawać with ja: zostaję. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty zostaję.
Correct: Ty zostajesz.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of zostawać is zostajesz, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Zostawać means stay or remain and can also mean become; zostać is perfective.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about stay
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Zostaję dziś w domu.
I stay home today.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Zostajesz na noc?
Are you staying overnight?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to stay" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to stay" in Polish
What does zostawać mean?
Zostawać means stay or remain and can also mean become; zostać is perfective.
How do I use zostawać with “I”?
The first-person form is zostaję. For example: Zostaję dziś w domu. — I stay home today.
How do I ask one person using zostawać?
Use zostajesz for informal singular you. Zostajesz na noc? — Are you staying overnight?
What is the third-person form of zostawać?
Use zostaje with a singular subject. Ona zostaje w hotelu. — She stays at the hotel.
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