Asking for Directions in Polish
Asking for directions · a free Polish immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
Przepraszam, czy mogę zapytać o drogę?
Excuse me, may I ask for directions?
Literal Excuse me, can I ask about the road?
A polite opener used when approaching a stranger for help. 'Przepraszam' softens the interruption, while 'czy mogę' is a formal polite question form.
- 'czy mogę' + infinitive = polite request or question
- 'zapytać o' = to ask about (perfective verb)
Gdzie jest najbliższa stacja metra?
Where is the nearest metro station?
Literal Where is the nearest metro station?
'Gdzie jest' is the standard way to ask for a location. 'Najbliższa' is the superlative of 'bliska' (close), agreeing with the feminine noun 'stacja'.
- 'gdzie jest' = where is (location question)
- superlative: 'najbliższa' (fem.) from 'bliska'
- feminine noun agreement: stacja requires najbliższa
Skręć w lewo przy kościele.
Turn left at the church.
Literal Turn to the left by the church.
'Skręć' is the imperative of 'skręcić' (to turn). 'W lewo' means to the left. 'Przy' followed by the locative case means at or by a place.
- imperative: skręcić → skręć (turn!)
- 'w lewo' / 'w prawo' = to the left / right
- 'przy' + locative = at or next to
Idź prosto aż do skrzyżowania.
Go straight ahead until the intersection.
Literal Go straight until the crossroads.
'Idź' is the imperative of 'iść' (to go on foot). 'Prosto' means straight. 'Aż do' expresses all the way until and takes the genitive case.
- imperative: iść → idź (go!)
- 'prosto' = straight ahead
- 'aż do' + genitive = all the way to
Jak daleko stąd jest dworzec?
How far is the train station from here?
Literal How far from here is the station?
'Jak daleko' asks about distance. 'Stąd' means from here. 'Dworzec' (train station) appears in the nominative as the subject of 'jest'.
- 'jak daleko' = how far
- 'stąd' = from here (fixed locative adverb)
- dworzec = train station (masculine)
Czy to jest daleko od centrum?
Is it far from the city center?
Literal Is it far from the center?
'Czy' introduces a yes/no question. 'Od centrum' uses the genitive after 'od' (from). 'Centrum' (center) is neuter and remains unchanged in genitive.
- 'czy' = yes/no question particle
- 'od' + genitive = from
- centrum (neuter) genitive = centrum (unchanged)
Apteka jest naprzeciw parku.
The pharmacy is opposite the park.
Literal The pharmacy is opposite the park.
'Naprzeciw' (opposite) is a preposition that takes the genitive case. 'Parku' is the genitive form of 'park'.
- 'naprzeciw' + genitive = opposite
- park → parku (genitive singular)
Przejdź przez most i skręć w prawo.
Cross the bridge and turn right.
Literal Go across the bridge and turn to the right.
'Przejdź' is the imperative of 'przejść' (to cross or pass through). 'Przez' + accusative means across or through. 'Skręć w prawo' = turn right.
- imperative: przejść → przejdź
- 'przez' + accusative = across or through
- 'w prawo' = to the right
Czy wiesz, gdzie jest ulica Marszałkowska?
Do you know where Marszałkowska Street is?
Literal Do you know where Marszałkowska Street is?
'Czy wiesz' (do you know) introduces an embedded question. The word order inside mirrors a direct question, with 'gdzie' (where) heading the clause.
- 'czy wiesz, gdzie' = do you know where (indirect question)
- street names in Polish often take adjectival form: Marszałkowska
To jest za rogiem, zajmie to około dziesięciu minut.
It is just around the corner, it will take about ten minutes.
Literal It is behind the corner, it will take around ten minutes.
'Za rogiem' (around the corner) uses 'za' + instrumental. 'Zajmie' is the future tense of 'zająć' (to take time). 'Około' + genitive gives an approximation.
- 'za' + instrumental = behind or around
- 'zajmie' = it will take (future, 3rd person singular)
- 'około' + genitive = approximately
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
skrzyżowanie
intersection, crossroads
Skręć w lewo przy skrzyżowaniu.
Turn left at the intersection.
Locative: skrzyżowaniu; genitive: skrzyżowania
skręcić
to turn
Skręć w prawo za bankiem.
Turn right after the bank.
Imperative: skręć; perfective aspect
prosto
straight ahead
Idź prosto przez dwie przecznice.
Go straight for two blocks.
Also means simply or directly in other contexts
naprzeciw
opposite, across from
Bank jest naprzeciw poczty.
The bank is opposite the post office.
Takes the genitive case
dworzec
train station
Jak daleko jest dworzec autobusowy?
How far is the bus station?
Genitive: dworca
ulica
street
Szukam ulicy Królewskiej.
I am looking for Królewska Street.
Genitive: ulicy; commonly abbreviated as ul.
stąd
from here
To jest niedaleko stąd.
It is not far from here.
Fixed form; no declension
róg
corner
Apteka jest za rogiem.
The pharmacy is around the corner.
Instrumental: rogiem; 'za rogiem' = around the corner
przejść
to cross, to go through
Przejdź przez park i będziesz na miejscu.
Cross the park and you will be there.
Imperative: przejdź; perfective aspect
około
approximately, about
To zajmie około pięciu minut.
It will take about five minutes.
Takes the genitive case
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Marta zatrzymuje się na środku placu i rozgląda się, szukając właściwej ulicy. Przeprasza starszego pana i pyta: Czy mogę zapytać o drogę do muzeum? Mężczyzna uśmiecha się i odpowiada: Idź prosto aż do skrzyżowania, skręć w lewo przy kościele, a muzeum jest naprzeciw parku. Marta dziękuje i rusza przed siebie, mijając róg i widząc wielki budynek.
Sentence by sentence
Marta zatrzymuje się na środku placu
Marta stops in the middle of the square
'Zatrzymuje się' is a reflexive verb meaning stops herself. 'Na środku' + genitive = in the middle of.
szukając właściwej ulicy
searching for the right street
'Szukając' is a gerund (verbal adverb). 'Właściwej ulicy' is genitive, required after 'szukać' (to search for).
Czy mogę zapytać o drogę do muzeum?
May I ask for directions to the museum?
'Czy mogę' + infinitive is a polite question form. 'Do muzeum' uses the genitive after 'do' (to or toward).
Idź prosto aż do skrzyżowania
Go straight until the intersection
Imperative 'idź' + 'prosto' + 'aż do' + genitive: a complete direction instruction covering manner and destination.
skręć w lewo przy kościele
turn left at the church
Imperative 'skręć' + direction 'w lewo' + preposition 'przy' + locative 'kościele'.
muzeum jest naprzeciw parku
the museum is opposite the park
'Naprzeciw' + genitive 'parku' pinpoints the location across from a landmark.
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Directional Imperatives: idź, skręć, przejdź
Polish uses imperative verb forms to give directions. The three most common are 'idź' (go), 'skręć' (turn), and 'przejdź' (cross or go through). These come directly from the infinitive and are used without a subject pronoun. Pair them with direction adverbs (w lewo, w prawo, prosto) or prepositions (przez, aż do, przy) to build complete direction phrases.
[Imperative verb] + [direction or location phrase]
Idź prosto do końca ulicy.
Go straight to the end of the street.
Skręć w prawo za mostem.
Turn right after the bridge.
Przejdź przez park i skręć w lewo.
Cross the park and turn left.
Idź aż do skrzyżowania i skręć w prawo.
Go all the way to the intersection and turn right.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to Polish: 'Where is the nearest metro station?'
Hint Use 'najbliższa' for 'nearest' and 'stacja metra' for 'metro station'.
Complete the sentence: 'Idź ___ aż do skrzyżowania.' (Go ___ until the intersection.)
Hint The missing word means 'straight ahead'.
What does this sentence mean in English? 'Przejdź przez most i skręć w prawo.'
Which sentence means 'The pharmacy is opposite the park'?
Rewrite as a direct imperative (command): 'Powinieneś skręcić w lewo przy kościele.' (You should turn left at the church.)
Hint Drop 'powinieneś skręcić' and use just the imperative form of 'skręcić'.
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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