How to Do Grocery Shopping in Polish?

Table of Content:

1. Method 1: Listen and Learn New Words in Polish
2. Method 2: Use Gestures and Simple Polish Phrases
3. Method 3: Ask Simple Questions in Polish (You Don’t Have to Buy Anything!)
4. Method 4: Repeat and Paraphrase
5. Small Steps, Big Progress!

You don’t have to speak right away – just listen and observe! The market is full of useful words and phrases. You’ll see them on signs, price tags, and labels, and hear them in conversations between sellers and customers.

How to do it?

• Read the signs at stalls and check product labels.
• Listen to how sellers talk about prices and items.
• Repeat phrases in your head – it’s great practice!
• Write down interesting words on your phone or in a notebook.

Pay attention to these phrases:

• “Świeże jajka” → Fresh eggs
• “Tanie warzywa” → Cheap vegetables
• “Sezonowe owoce” → Seasonal fruit

The seller says: “Pomarańcze są po 10 zł/kg.” → “Oranges are 10 zł per kilogram.” Now you know how to say “per kilogram!”

On product labels, you may find:

• Miód lipowy (Linden honey), spadziowy (Forest honey), wielokwiatowy (Multifloral honey)
• Chleb pszenny (White bread), żytni (Rye bread), razowy (Wholewheat bread)

Before asking a question, take a moment to recognize these words and get familiar with them.

You don’t need full sentences to communicate. Sometimes, one word and a simple gesture are enough! Body language is a great tool – sellers around the world understand it, so don’t be afraid to use it.

How does it work?

• Show with your fingers how many items you want to buy.
• Use hand gestures to indicate a smaller or larger portion.
• Point to a product and say “proszę” (please) – that’s all you need!

Examples:

• Pokaż dwa palce → “Dwa kawałki sera, proszę.” / “Two pieces of cheese, please.”
• Make a small gesture with your hands → “Mniejszy kawałek, proszę.” / “A smaller piece, please.”
• Point at a vegetable and raise your eyebrows → “Świeże?” / “Fresh?”

With this simple method, you’ll break the language barrier and start communicating with confidence.

Practicing a language at the market doesn’t mean you have to buy something. Just asking a question is already a step forward! Even if your conversation ends after a few words, that’s completely fine.

Try asking simple questions like:

• “Te jabłka są słodkie czy kwaśne?” / “Are these apples sweet or sour?”
• “To masło jest wiejskie czy sklepowe?” / “Is this butter homemade or from a store?”
• “Te jajka są świeże?” / “Are these eggs fresh?”
• “To chleb pszenny czy razowy?” / “Is this white bread or wholewheat?”

Jeśli sprzedawca zapyta: “Podać?” (“Shall I give it to you?”), możesz odpowiedzieć:

• “Chciałem / chciałam tylko zapytać, dziękuję.” / “I just wanted to ask, thank you.”
• “Zastanawiam się, dziękuję.” / “I’m thinking, thank you.”

Even a short exchange like this makes a great language exercise.

The easiest way to check if you understood correctly? Repeat what the other person said! Feeling more confident? Try saying it in different words. This is a great method – it not only helps with understanding but also reinforces proper use of new words, makes them easier to remember, and gradually improves your fluency.

Examples – Repeating vs. Paraphrasing

The seller: “Pomarańcze są po 10 zł za kilogram.” / “Oranges are 10 zł per kilogram.”

• Repeating: “10 zł za kilogram, tak?” / “10 zł per kilogram, right?”
• Paraphrasing: “Czyli 10 zł za kilo tych owoców?” / “So, 10 zł per kilo of these fruits?”

The seller:: “Miód jest naturalny, bez cukru.” / “This honey is natural, without sugar.”

• Repeating: “Bez cukru, tak?” / “Without sugar, right?”
• Paraphrasing: “Czyli nie ma w nim żadnych dodatków?” / “So, it has no additives?”

The seller:: “Mamy świeży chleb prosto z piekarni.” / “We have fresh bread straight from the bakery.”

• Repeating: “Świeży chleb z piekarni, tak?” / “Fresh bread from the bakery, right?”
• Paraphrasing: “Czyli upieczony dzisiaj rano?” / “So, it was baked this morning?”

• Listen and write down new words.
• Use gestures to communicate easily.
• Ask simple questions to start a conversation.
• Repeat or paraphrase to confirm what you heard.

Now you know that the market is not just a place to shop – it’s the perfect place to practice Polish in a natural and fun way! Are you ready to try? Let us know how it goes!

The author of the article is Katarzyna Hoffmann, co-owner of the Polish Language Center Varia in Kraków. She graduated in German Philology from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.