Café & Drinks

1. Poproszę piwo

   po-PRO-sheh PYEH-vo

   A beer, please

   Usage

   Basic phrase to order a beer at a bar or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   Poproszę is a polite "I would like" for ordering. Popular Polish beers include Żywiec, Tyskie, and Okocim

2. Poproszę wódkę

   po-PRO-sheh VOOD-keh

   A vodka, please

   Usage

   Used to order vodka, Poland's national spirit, at a bar or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Wódka" changes to "wódkę" in the accusative case. Famous Polish vodkas include Żubrówka (bison grass) and Chopin

3. Poproszę kawę z mlekiem

   po-PRO-sheh KA-veh z MLEH-kem

   A coffee with milk, please

   Usage

   Ordering a coffee with milk at a café

   Grammar Note

   After "z" (with), use the instrumental case. "Bez mleka" (without milk) is also useful

4. Poproszę herbatę

   po-PRO-sheh her-BA-teh

   A tea, please

   Usage

   Tea is widely enjoyed in Poland; available at most cafés and restaurants

   Grammar Note

   "Herbata" comes from Latin "herba" (herb) combined with "ta" (tea). It is often served with lemon in Poland

5. Poproszę wodę mineralną

   po-PRO-sheh VO-deh mi-ne-RAL-noh

   A mineral water, please

   Usage

   Ordering mineral water at a restaurant or food establishment

   Grammar Note

   Add "niegazowaną" (still) or "gazowaną" (sparkling) to specify your preference

6. Czy macie wino krajowe?

   chi MA-cheh VEE-no kra-YO-veh?

   Do you have domestic wine?

   Usage

   Used when wanting to try Polish wine, which has been gaining recognition in recent years

   Grammar Note

   "Czy" starts a yes/no question. "Macie" is the 2nd person plural of "mieć" (to have), used with staff

7. Na zdrowie!

   na ZDRO-vyeh

   Cheers! / To your health!

   Usage

   Used as a toast when drinking, or said to someone who sneezes

   Grammar Note

   Literally "to health". In Polish toasting culture, clink glasses and make eye contact — skipping this is considered rude

8. Poproszę kompot

   po-PRO-sheh KOM-pot

   A kompot, please

   Usage

   Traditional Polish sweet fruit drink served warm or cold, common in home-style restaurants

   Grammar Note

   Kompot is a beloved home-style drink in Poland, commonly found in milk bars (bar mleczny) and family restaurants

9. Czy mogę zobaczyć kartę napojów?

   chi MO-geh zo-BA-chich KAR-teh na-PO-yoof?

   May I see the drinks menu?

   Usage

   Requesting the drinks menu at a restaurant or bar

   Grammar Note

   "Czy mogę + infinitive" is a polite request form. "Karta" becomes "kartę" in the accusative case

10. Bez alkoholu, proszę

    bez al-ko-HO-loo PRO-sheh

    Without alcohol, please

    Usage

    Used to request a non-alcoholic drink or to ask that alcohol be omitted

    Grammar Note

    After "bez" (without), use the genitive case. Non-alcoholic options include "sok" (juice) and "lemoniada" (lemonade)

11. Bez lodu

    No ice

    Usage

    Show this when ordering a drink without ice; ice itself is "lód"

    Grammar Note

    The preposition "bez" takes the genitive, so "lód" becomes "lodu"

12. Woda mineralna

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Ordering bottled water; in Poland you will always be asked which kind — still is "niegazowana", sparkling is "gazowana"

13. Gorąca woda

    Hot water

    Usage

    Asking for hot water, e.g. for baby formula or instant noodles; freshly boiled water is "wrzątek"

    Grammar Note

    Polish has no single word for "hot water": the adjective "gorąca" is added to "woda"

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