Polish · Everyday Verbs
"to tell" in Polish: opowiadać
opowiadać
To tell in Polish is opowiadać. The useful forms are opowiadam (I), opowiadasz (you, singular) and opowiada (he, she or it). Opowiadać means tell or recount a story; opowiadać o takes locative for the topic.
Your own action
Opowiadam historię dzieciom.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce opowiadać
Say it
opoviadatsh
/ɔpɔvjadatɕ/
In opowiadać, ć/ci has a soft ch-like sound. The content words in opowiadać normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"to tell" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| opowiadać | to tell Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| opowiadam | I tell First-person singular present. | First-person singular present. |
| opowiadasz | you tell Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| opowiada | he or she tells Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use opowiadać in real life
- 1Your own action
Opowiadam historię dzieciom.
I tell the children a story.
Opowiadam is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Opowiadasz o podróży?
Are you talking about the trip?
Use opowiadasz when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
Ona opowiada ciekawie.
She tells stories engagingly.
Opowiadać means tell or recount a story; opowiadać o takes locative for the topic.
Mistakes English speakers make with opowiadać
Incorrect: Ja opowiadać.
Correct: Ja opowiadam.
Conjugate opowiadać with ja: opowiadam. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty opowiadam.
Correct: Ty opowiadasz.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of opowiadać is opowiadasz, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Opowiadać means tell or recount a story; opowiadać o takes locative for the topic.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about tell
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Opowiadam historię dzieciom.
I tell the children a story.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Opowiadasz o podróży?
Are you talking about the trip?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to tell" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to tell" in Polish
What does opowiadać mean?
Opowiadać means tell or recount a story; opowiadać o takes locative for the topic.
How do I use opowiadać with “I”?
The first-person form is opowiadam. For example: Opowiadam historię dzieciom. — I tell the children a story.
How do I ask one person using opowiadać?
Use opowiadasz for informal singular you. Opowiadasz o podróży? — Are you talking about the trip?
What is the third-person form of opowiadać?
Use opowiada with a singular subject. Ona opowiada ciekawie. — She tells stories engagingly.
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