Polish · Everyday Verbs
"to want" in Polish: chcieć
chcieć
To want in Polish is chcieć. The useful forms are chcę (I), chcesz (you, singular) and chce (he, she or it). Chcieć can be followed by an infinitive or an accusative noun; chciałbym/chciałabym makes a request gentler.
Your own action
Chcę odpocząć po pracy.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce chcieć
Say it
khtsietsh
/xtɕɛtɕ/
In chcieć, ć/ci has a soft ch-like sound. The content words in chcieć normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"to want" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| chcieć | to want Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| chcę | I want First-person singular present. | First-person singular present. |
| chcesz | you want Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| chce | he or she wants Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use chcieć in real life
- 1Your own action
Chcę odpocząć po pracy.
I want to rest after work.
Chcę is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Chcesz kawę?
Do you want coffee?
Use chcesz when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
On chce kupić bilet.
He wants to buy a ticket.
Chcieć can be followed by an infinitive or an accusative noun; chciałbym/chciałabym makes a request gentler.
Mistakes English speakers make with chcieć
Incorrect: Ja chcieć.
Correct: Ja chcę.
Conjugate chcieć with ja: chcę. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty chcę.
Correct: Ty chcesz.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of chcieć is chcesz, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Chcieć can be followed by an infinitive or an accusative noun; chciałbym/chciałabym makes a request gentler.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about want
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Chcę odpocząć po pracy.
I want to rest after work.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Chcesz kawę?
Do you want coffee?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to want" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to want" in Polish
What does chcieć mean?
Chcieć can be followed by an infinitive or an accusative noun; chciałbym/chciałabym makes a request gentler.
How do I use chcieć with “I”?
The first-person form is chcę. For example: Chcę odpocząć po pracy. — I want to rest after work.
How do I ask one person using chcieć?
Use chcesz for informal singular you. Chcesz kawę? — Do you want coffee?
What is the third-person form of chcieć?
Use chce with a singular subject. On chce kupić bilet. — He wants to buy a ticket.
Use these words in a conversation
Find useful phrases for a situation, learn what to say back, and rehearse your part with revealable sample answers.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
