THE QUICK ANSWER
At a Polish checkout, you may hear Czy potrzebna jest torba? (Do you need a bag?) and Kartą czy gotówką? (By card or in cash?). Useful replies include Tak, poproszę, Nie, dziękuję and Kartą, proszę.
WORDS YOU CAN USE TODAY
8 useful phrases
Listen to the Polish, then try it aloud. Audio uses a synthetic Polish voice; no voice installation is needed.
Przepraszam, gdzie jest mleko?
Excuse me, where is the milk?
Przepraszam politely gets someone’s attention.
Ile to kosztuje?
How much does this cost?
Point to the item if you do not know its Polish name.
Czy potrzebna jest torba?
Do you need a bag?
One way a cashier may ask about a bag.
Tak, poproszę.
Yes, please.
A short reply when you want what is being offered.
Nie, dziękuję.
No, thank you.
Use this to decline a bag or another offer.
Kartą czy gotówką?
By card or in cash?
Listen for the two payment options.
Kartą, proszę.
By card, please.
For cash, say Gotówką, proszę.
Poproszę paragon.
A receipt, please.
Paragon is a shop receipt, rather than a restaurant bill.
Practise conversations aloud with feedback in Movoza.
Recognise the question before building a reply
You may hear different versions of a question. A cashier might shorten Czy potrzebna jest torba? to Torbę? (A bag?). The word is your clue; Tak, poproszę or Nie, dziękuję is enough to answer.
Another possible question is Czy ma pani kartę lojalnościową? or Czy ma pan kartę lojalnościową? (Do you have a loyalty card?). Pani and pan address the customer politely. If you do not have one, say Nie, nie mam (No, I do not).
Ask for a slower repeat
When you miss a question, try Proszę powtórzyć (Please repeat) or Proszę mówić wolniej (Please speak more slowly). You can use these in shops, cafés and many other situations.
Do not worry about answering with a full sentence every time. Recognising a common question and giving a short, polite answer is useful conversation practice.
PUT IT TOGETHER
A short conversation
Read both parts. Then cover the English and try your reply aloud.
- Cashier
Dzień dobry. Czy potrzebna jest torba?
Hello. Do you need a bag?
- You
Nie, dziękuję.
No, thank you.
- Cashier
Kartą czy gotówką?
By card or in cash?
- You
Kartą, proszę.
By card, please.
- Cashier
Proszę. Paragon.
Here you are. Your receipt.
- You
Dziękuję. Do widzenia.
Thank you. Goodbye.
YOUR TURN
One small speaking challenge.
Say the two payment options aloud: Kartą, proszę and Gotówką, proszę. Then answer Kartą czy gotówką? without looking at the phrases.
The cashier asks about a bag. You do not need one. What can you say?
Show the answer
Nie, dziękuję. Nie, dziękuję politely declines the offer. It works for a bag as well as many other offers.
Now say Nie, dziękuję. aloud.
