How to Say Thank You in Polish

Thank You Does Not Change with Formality

Dziękuję is correct with shop staff, a taxi driver or a stranger you stop for directions. There is no more formal version to reach for, and no situation where it would sound stiff.

How Dziękuję Is Pronounced

The dzi at the start is one soft sound, close to the j in "jeep". The ę at the end is a nasal vowel, but at the end of a word most speakers drop the nasal part, so it comes out as "yeh". Polish stresses the second to last syllable, which puts the weight on -ku-. Please check the audio.

Thank You Can Mean No Thank You

When something is being offered rather than given, dziękuję on its own is usually understood as a refusal. Someone offering you more food and hearing dziękuję will take the dish away. To accept, say poproszę, "I would like some", or tak, poproszę.

The Usual Reply to Dziękuję

The most common reply is proszę, which also means "please" and "here you are". Nie ma za co, "there is nothing to thank for", is just as usual.

• Dziękuję bardzo

  jen-KOO-yeh BAR-dzo

  Thank you very much. Safe in the same situations as dziękuję.

• Dzięki

  JEN-kee

  Thanks. Casual, and best kept for friends and people your own age.

• Dziękuję pięknie

  jen-KOO-yeh PYENK-nyeh

  Thank you kindly, literally "beautifully". Warm and a little old-fashioned.

• Dziękuję serdecznie

  jen-KOO-yeh ser-DECH-nyeh

  Heartfelt thanks, for real kindness rather than routine service.