Checking into a Hotel
Checking into a hotel · a free Polish immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
Dzień dobry, mam rezerwację na nazwisko Kowalski.
Good morning, I have a reservation under the name Kowalski.
Literal Day good, I-have reservation on name Kowalski.
A standard greeting phrase used when approaching hotel reception. 'Dzień dobry' is the formal daytime greeting.
- 'mam' is first-person singular of 'mieć' (to have)
- 'na nazwisko' literally means 'on the name/surname' — used for reservations
Czy mogę prosić o pokój z widokiem na morze?
Could I please have a room with a sea view?
Literal Whether I-can ask-for room with view on sea?
A polite request using the conditional form 'czy mogę' (could I / may I), which is the standard polite way to make requests in Polish.
- 'czy mogę' is the polite conditional — literally 'whether I can'
- 'prosić o' means 'to ask for / request'
- 'z widokiem na' means 'with a view of'
Na jak długo pan się zameldowuje?
How long will you be checking in for, sir?
Literal For how long you-sir yourself check-in?
A common receptionist question using the formal 'pan' (sir) address. 'Zameldować się' means to register or check in officially.
- 'pan' is the formal second-person address for a man
- 'się' is a reflexive particle required with 'zameldować'
- 'na jak długo' means 'for how long'
Zostanę trzy noce, od dzisiaj do piątku.
I will stay three nights, from today until Friday.
Literal I-will-stay three nights, from today until Friday.
States the length of stay using 'zostanę' (I will stay) and the accusative case after numbers.
- 'zostanę' is the future tense of 'zostać' (to stay/remain)
- 'trzy noce' uses accusative form of 'noc' (night)
- 'od... do...' means 'from... to/until...'
Śniadanie jest podawane od siódmej do dziesiątej.
Breakfast is served from seven to ten.
Literal Breakfast is served from seventh to tenth.
Uses ordinal numbers with hours and the passive construction 'jest podawane' (is served).
- 'jest podawane' is passive: 'is served/given'
- 'od siódmej do dziesiątej' uses genitive of ordinal numbers for hours
- ordinal numbers agree in gender with the noun they modify
Gdzie jest winda, proszę?
Where is the elevator, please?
Literal Where is elevator, please?
A simple directional question using 'gdzie' (where). 'Proszę' softens the question and is a versatile polite word.
- 'gdzie' is an interrogative adverb meaning 'where'
- 'proszę' can mean please, here you are, or excuse me depending on context
Winda jest na końcu korytarza, po lewej stronie.
The elevator is at the end of the corridor, on the left side.
Literal Elevator is at end corridor, on left side.
Gives directions using prepositions of location: 'na końcu' (at the end) and 'po lewej stronie' (on the left side).
- 'na końcu' uses locative case: 'at the end'
- 'po lewej stronie' means 'on the left side' — locative with 'po'
- 'korytarza' is genitive of 'korytarz' (corridor)
Czy w pokoju jest klimatyzacja?
Is there air conditioning in the room?
Literal Whether in room is air-conditioning?
A yes/no question using 'czy' as a question marker — the standard way to form yes/no questions in Polish.
- 'czy' at the start of a sentence signals a yes/no question
- 'w pokoju' uses locative case of 'pokój' (room)
- 'klimatyzacja' is a feminine noun meaning air conditioning
Proszę o dodatkowy ręcznik, jeśli można.
I would like an extra towel, if possible.
Literal I-ask for extra towel, if one-can.
A polite request combining 'proszę o' (I'd like / please give me) with the softening phrase 'jeśli można' (if possible).
- 'proszę o' + accusative = 'I'd like / please give me'
- 'dodatkowy' is an adjective meaning 'additional/extra'
- 'jeśli można' literally means 'if one can' — a polite softener
Do zobaczenia i życzę miłego pobytu.
Goodbye and I wish you a pleasant stay.
Literal Until seeing and I-wish pleasant stay.
A warm farewell phrase commonly used by hotel staff. 'Życzę' (I wish) takes the genitive case for what is wished.
- 'do zobaczenia' literally 'until seeing' — standard Polish goodbye
- 'życzę' + genitive: takes the genitive for the wished thing
- 'miłego pobytu' is genitive of 'miły pobyt' (pleasant stay)
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
rezerwacja
reservation / booking
Mam rezerwację na dwie noce.
I have a reservation for two nights.
Changes to accusative 'rezerwację' after 'mam' (I have)
pokój
room
Czy mogę dostać pokój na pierwszym piętrze?
Can I have a room on the first floor?
Irregular: locative form is 'pokoju' — w pokoju means in the room
recepcja
reception / front desk
Klucz zostawiłem na recepcji.
I left the key at reception.
Locative: 'na recepcji' (at reception)
śniadanie
breakfast
O której jest śniadanie?
What time is breakfast?
Neuter noun; 'na śniadanie' means for breakfast
piętro
floor / storey
Mój pokój jest na trzecim piętrze.
My room is on the third floor.
Locative: 'na piętrze'; ground floor is 'parter'
klucz
key
Gdzie mogę odebrać klucz do pokoju?
Where can I pick up the room key?
Also used for electronic key cards in modern hotels
winda
elevator / lift
Czy jest winda do piątego piętra?
Is there an elevator to the fifth floor?
Locative 'w windzie' means in the elevator
ręcznik
towel
Proszę o czysty ręcznik.
Please give me a clean towel.
Related to 'ręka' (hand) — literally a hand cloth
zameldować się
to check in / to register
Chciałbym się zameldować.
I would like to check in.
Reflexive verb — always used with 'się'; antonym: 'wymeldować się' (to check out)
pobyt
stay / sojourn
Życzę miłego pobytu w naszym hotelu.
I wish you a pleasant stay in our hotel.
Genitive 'pobytu' used after 'życzę' (I wish you)
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Anna podchodzi do recepcji i mówi: Dzień dobry, mam rezerwację na nazwisko Nowak. Recepcjonistka sprawdza komputer i odpowiada: Tak, widzę rezerwację na trzy noce. Czy mogę prosić o pani paszport? Anna podaje dokument i pyta: Czy w pokoju jest klimatyzacja? Tak, oczywiście — odpowiada recepcjonistka z uśmiechem — winda jest po lewej stronie. Śniadanie podajemy od siódmej do dziesiątej w restauracji na parterze. Życzę miłego pobytu!
Sentence by sentence
Anna podchodzi do recepcji
Anna approaches the reception desk
'Podchodzić do' (to approach) takes the genitive: 'recepcji' is genitive of 'recepcja'
mam rezerwację na nazwisko Nowak
I have a reservation under the name Nowak
'Na nazwisko' (under the surname) is the standard phrase for identifying a reservation
Czy mogę prosić o pani paszport?
Could I ask for your passport, ma'am?
'Pani' before a noun is the formal feminine possessive address; 'prosić o' + accusative means to ask for
winda jest po lewej stronie
the elevator is on the left side
'Po lewej stronie' uses the locative after 'po' to express location on a particular side
Śniadanie podajemy od siódmej do dziesiątej
We serve breakfast from seven to ten
'Podajemy' is first-person plural of 'podawać' (to serve/give); ordinal numbers used for clock times in genitive
Życzę miłego pobytu!
I wish you a pleasant stay!
'Życzę' + genitive: both 'miłego' and 'pobytu' are in genitive — the standard hotel farewell formula
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Polite Requests with 'Czy mogę...?' (May I / Could I...?)
In Polish, polite requests are formed using 'czy mogę' (may I / could I) followed by an infinitive verb. This is the standard register for service interactions such as hotels, restaurants, and shops. For extra politeness, add 'proszę' (please) or 'jeśli można' (if possible) to the phrase.
Czy mogę + [infinitive verb] + [object in accusative]?
Czy mogę prosić o klucz do pokoju?
Could I please have the room key?
Czy mogę zostawić bagaż na recepcji?
May I leave my luggage at reception?
Czy mogę dostać dodatkowy ręcznik?
Could I get an extra towel?
Czy mogę zapłacić kartą?
May I pay by card?
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to Polish: 'Good morning, I have a reservation under the name Kowalski.'
Hint Start with a greeting, then use 'mam rezerwację na nazwisko'.
Complete the polite request: 'Czy mogę prosić o pokój z _____ na morze?' (a room with a sea _____)
Hint The word means 'view' in the instrumental case.
Translate to English: 'Winda jest na końcu korytarza, po lewej stronie.'
Hint 'Koniec' means 'end', 'korytarz' means 'corridor'.
You want to ask how long you are checking in for. Which phrase fits best?
Rewrite as a polite request using 'Czy mogę...?': 'Chcę dodatkowy ręcznik.' (I want an extra towel.)
Hint Use 'Czy mogę prosić o...' to make it polite.
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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