A1 Polish GrammarPersonal Pronouns
Learn Polish personal pronouns (ja, ty, on, ona, ono, my, wy, oni, one) and how to use them in sentences. Polish has complex pronoun forms due to its case system, but subject pronouns are often omitted because verb endings indicate the subject.
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1Subject Pronouns (Nominative)
Polish has eight subject pronouns in the nominative case. Like other Slavic languages, subject pronouns are often dropped because verb conjugations clearly indicate the subject. They are used for emphasis or contrast.
Polish Subject Pronouns
| Person | Polish | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | ja | I |
| 2nd singular | ty | you (informal) |
| 3rd sing. masc. | on | he |
| 3rd sing. fem. | ona | she |
| 3rd sing. neut. | ono | it |
| 1st plural | my | we |
| 2nd plural | wy | you (plural) |
| 3rd pl. masc. pers. | oni | they (men/mixed) |
| 3rd pl. other | one | they (women/things) |
Examples
Ja jestem studentem.
I am a student.
ja for emphasis
Ty masz rację.
You are right.
ty (informal singular)
On mieszka w Warszawie.
He lives in Warsaw.
on for he
One pracują razem.
They (women) work together.
one for all-female group
2Formal Address (Pan/Pani)
Polish uses pan (sir) and pani (madam) for formal address instead of a formal 'you' pronoun. These take third-person verb forms. Państwo is used for formal plural or mixed groups.
Formal Pronouns
| Form | Usage | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| pan | formal masc. | 3rd sing. | Pan jest lekarzem? |
| pani | formal fem. | 3rd sing. | Pani chce kawy? |
| państwo | formal plural | 3rd plural | Państwo są z Polski? |
| panowie | formal men | 3rd plural | Panowie czekają. |
Examples
Czy pan mówi po angielsku?
Do you speak English, sir?
pan + 3rd person verb
Pani jest nauczycielką?
Are you a teacher, ma'am?
pani + 3rd person verb
Skąd państwo są?
Where are you (formal) from?
państwo for formal plural
Co pan robi?
What do you do (for work)?
formal question with pan
3Pronoun Omission
Polish frequently drops subject pronouns because verb endings clearly indicate the subject. The pronoun is included for emphasis, contrast, or when starting a new topic. This makes Polish a 'pro-drop' language.
With and Without Pronouns
| With Pronoun | Without Pronoun | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ja mówię po polsku. | Mówię po polsku. | I speak Polish. |
| My mieszkamy tu. | Mieszkamy tu. | We live here. |
| Oni pracują. | Pracują. | They work. |
| Ty masz czas? | Masz czas? | Do you have time? |
Examples
Pracuję w banku.
I work at a bank.
pronoun omitted (-ę shows ja)
Ja pracuję, ale on nie.
I work, but he doesn't.
pronouns for contrast
Jesteśmy z Polski.
We are from Poland.
-śmy ending shows my
Kto to? To ja!
Who is it? It's me!
ja for identification
4Third Person Plural (Oni vs One)
Polish distinguishes between oni (masculine personal - groups including at least one man) and one (non-masculine personal - all women, children, animals, or things). This affects verb conjugation as well.
Oni vs One
| Group | Pronoun | Verb Example |
|---|---|---|
| men only | oni | Oni są. |
| men + women | oni | Oni idą. |
| women only | one | One są. |
| children/things | one | One leżą. |
Examples
Chłopcy? Oni są w szkole.
The boys? They are at school.
oni for masculine group
Maria i Anna? One są siostrami.
Maria and Anna? They are sisters.
one for all-female group
Jan i Maria? Oni są małżeństwem.
Jan and Maria? They are married.
oni for mixed group
Książki? One są na stole.
The books? They are on the table.
one for things
Practice Exercises
3 exercises
Complete: '___ jestem studentem.' (I am a student.)
Third person feminine: '___ nie lubi deszczu.' (She doesn't like rain.)
Formal address: 'Czy chce ___ kawę?' (Would you like coffee? - to a woman)
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