Polish · Everyday Verbs
"to work" in Polish: pracować
pracować
To work in Polish is pracować. The useful forms are pracuję (I), pracujesz (you, singular) and pracuje (he, she or it). Pracować describes working; pracować jako introduces a job title without instrumental after jako.
Your own action
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How to pronounce pracować
Say it
pratsovatsh
/pratsɔvatɕ/
In pracować, ć/ci has a soft ch-like sound. The content words in pracować normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"to work" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| pracować | to work Infinitive or dictionary expression. | Infinitive or dictionary expression. |
| pracuję | I work First-person singular present. | First-person singular present. |
| pracujesz | you work Informal second-person singular. | Informal second-person singular. |
| pracuje | he or she works Third-person singular. | Third-person singular. |
How to use pracować in real life
- 1Your own action
Pracuję w biurze.
I work in an office.
Pracuję is the form shown for your action in this example.
- 2Speaking to one person
Pracujesz dziś wieczorem?
Do you work this evening?
Use pracujesz when addressing one person informally; polite address uses third-person grammar.
- 3Another person or situation
Ona pracuje jako nauczycielka.
She works as a teacher.
Pracować describes working; pracować jako introduces a job title without instrumental after jako.
Mistakes English speakers make with pracować
Incorrect: Ja pracować.
Correct: Ja pracuję.
Conjugate pracować with ja: pracuję. A bare infinitive cannot express this statement.
Incorrect: Ty pracuję.
Correct: Ty pracujesz.
For informal singular ty, the matching form of pracować is pracujesz, rather than the first-person form.
Good to know
Pracować describes working; pracować jako introduces a job title without instrumental after jako.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Talk about work
Partner
Podaj przykład użycia tego czasownika.
Give an example using this verb.
You
Pracuję w biurze.
I work in an office.
Partner
A jak zapytasz drugą osobę?
And how will you ask another person?
You
Pracujesz dziś wieczorem?
Do you work this evening?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to work" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to work" in Polish
What does pracować mean?
Pracować describes working; pracować jako introduces a job title without instrumental after jako.
How do I use pracować with “I”?
The first-person form is pracuję. For example: Pracuję w biurze. — I work in an office.
How do I ask one person using pracować?
Use pracujesz for informal singular you. Pracujesz dziś wieczorem? — Do you work this evening?
What is the third-person form of pracować?
Use pracuje with a singular subject. Ona pracuje jako nauczycielka. — She works as a teacher.
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