Prepositions are the glue holding sentences together. In Polish, they dictate how objects relate to each other - whether something is on, under, or near something else. Get them wrong, and your meaning collapses. Here are the eight you’ll use daily.
1. W (In, At)
W
/ˈvu/“In, At”
Indicates location inside something or a general area. Also used for time expressions like months or years.
- Jestem w domu. (I’m at home.)
- Urodziłem się w 1990 roku. (I was born in 1990.)
Watch out: Use 'we' before words starting with 'f', 'w', 's', 'z', 'sz', 'ż', 'ch', or 'rz'. Example: 'we Wrocławiu' (in Wrocław).
2. Na (On, At)
Na
/ˈna/“On, At”
For surfaces, open spaces, or events. Also used for days of the week.
- Książka jest na stole. (The book is on the table.)
- Jesteśmy na koncercie. (We’re at a concert.)
3. Z (From, With)
Z
/ˈzɛt/“From, With”
Shows origin, material, or accompaniment.
- Jestem z Polski. (I’m from Poland.)
- Herbata z cytryną. (Tea with lemon.)
4. Do (To)
Do
/ˈdɔ/“To”
Direction toward a place or person. Also used for purposes or deadlines.
- Idę do pracy. (I’m going to work.)
- Prezent do ciebie. (A gift for you.)
5. Przed (Before, In Front Of)
Przed
/ˈpʂɛt/“Before, In Front Of”
Time before an event or physical position.
- Stoimy przed domem. (We’re standing in front of the house.)
- Zjedz coś przed wyjściem. (Eat something before leaving.)
6. Po (After, For)
Po
/ˈpɔ/“After, For”
Time after an event or purpose (e.g., going for something).
- Spotkajmy się po obiedzie. (Let’s meet after lunch.)
- Wyszedł po mleko. (He went out for milk.)
7. Pod (Under)
Pod
/ˈpɔt/“Under”
Physical position beneath something.
- Kot śpi pod stołem. (The cat is sleeping under the table.)
8. Bez (Without)
Bez
/ˈbɛs/“Without”
Absence of something.
- Kawa bez cukru. (Coffee without sugar.)
Prepositions often dictate the case of the noun that follows. For example, 'w' and 'na' typically require the locative case, while 'z' and 'do' demand the genitive. If you're struggling with cases, check out our guide to Polish noun cases.
