Polish · Greetings & Essentials
"What?" in Polish: co
co
What? in Polish is co. Co means what, with case forms such as czego and czym; which form appears depends on the verb or preposition.
A first use of what?
Co robisz?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce co
Say it
tso
/tsɔ/
In co, keep the vowels clear and avoid adding vowels inside consonant clusters. The content words in co normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"What?" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| co | What? The main expression for what?. | The main expression for what?. |
| czego | what / of what Genitive form used after verbs and prepositions requiring genitive. | Genitive form used after verbs and prepositions requiring genitive. |
How to use co in real life
- 1A first use of what?
Co robisz?
What are you doing?
This is a natural setting for co.
- 2A second conversational context
Co to znaczy?
What does that mean?
Notice how co fits with the surrounding words here.
- 3Another practical use
Nie wiem, co kupić.
I do not know what to buy.
Co means what, with case forms such as czego and czym; which form appears depends on the verb or preposition.
Mistakes English speakers make with co
Incorrect: co potrzebujesz zamiast czego
Correct: co
For this meaning, the complete Polish form is co. Co means what, with case forms such as czego and czym; which form appears depends on the verb or preposition.
Incorrect: co to znaczyć
Correct: co
Keep the wording and grammatical forms in co; the proposed form changes or breaks this expression.
Good to know
Co means what, with case forms such as czego and czym; which form appears depends on the verb or preposition.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Practice what?
Partner
Co powiesz w tej sytuacji?
What will you say in this situation?
You
Co robisz?
What are you doing?
Partner
A w innym kontekście?
And in another context?
You
Co to znaczy?
What does that mean?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"What?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What?" in Polish
When should I say co?
Co means what, with case forms such as czego and czym; which form appears depends on the verb or preposition.
Is czego another way to say what??
Czego is a useful related expression. The main form here is co; choose the wording that fits the person and context.
What wording should I avoid with co?
Avoid co potrzebujesz zamiast czego. The correct expression is co; Co means what, with case forms such as czego and czym; which form appears depends on the verb or preposition.
Can you show co in a sentence?
Nie wiem, co kupić. — I do not know what to buy.
Use these words in a conversation
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