Talkfirst
Polish phrasebook
by topic
Ready-made phrases for specific situations in Poland, with English translations, a dialogue and practical tips.
- ShoppingPolish shopping phrases with English translations: the counter, the checkout, paying by card, receipts, returns and exchanges. A dialogue and tips.
- At the doctor and pharmacyPolish phrases for the doctor and the pharmacy with English translations: booking a visit, symptoms, prescriptions and sick notes. A dialogue and tips.
- WorkPolish phrases for work with English translations: job hunting, CV and interview, contracts and pay, shifts, breaks and leave. A job interview dialogue.
- RestaurantPolish restaurant and café phrases with English translations: a table and booking, ordering, allergies, the bill, the receipt and tipping. A café dialogue.
Short answer. This Polish phrasebook has 4 topics: shopping, the doctor and pharmacy, work, and restaurants, each with English translations, a dialogue and tips. There is no phonetic respelling on purpose: learn whole phrases and swap the details, so once you know Poproszę paragon, ask for a bag or some water the same way.
Each topic brings together phrases from Talkfirst's Polish decks, a short dialogue from a scene that the AI conversation partner plays out loud, and tips on how things work in Poland. If you are just starting, read Polish for beginners: essential phrases first: it covers greetings, politeness and how to read Polish letters.
Why there is no phonetic spelling here
People often look for Polish phrases "with pronunciation" spelled out in English letters, but English spelling cannot show Polish sounds well: the nasal ą and ę, or the difference between ś and sz, and between ć and cz. If you learn a phrase from a respelling, the wrong pronunciation sticks, and fixing it later is harder than learning it right from the start. There are only a few reading rules, and the beginner's guide covers them in one evening; after that, listen to each phrase and repeat it out loud. In Talkfirst you can play every phrase on its flashcard and say it to the AI conversation partner.
Learn whole phrases and swap the details: once you know Poproszę paragon, ask for a bag or some water the same way. One phrase becomes a template for a dozen situations.
Basic single words by topic, from family and home to food, numbers and transport, are on the page basic Polish words for beginners.