Markets & Souvenirs

1. Ile to kosztuje?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking the price at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   "Ile to kosztuje?" is the most common Polish phrase for asking the price

2. Czy można się targować o cenę?

   Can I bargain on the price?

   Usage

   Asking whether bargaining is acceptable

   Grammar Note

   "Targować się" shares roots with "targ" (market). Common at Kraków and Warsaw market stalls

3. Oferuję dwadzieścia złotych

   I'll offer twenty zloty

   Usage

   Offering a counter-price during bargaining

   Grammar Note

   "Oferuję" is the first-person present of "oferować" (to offer). "Złotych" is the genitive plural (used after 5+)

4. Czy może pan/pani udzielić mi rabatu?

   Could you give me a discount?

   Usage

   Politely requesting a discount

   Grammar Note

   "Pan" (Mr.) and "pani" (Ms.) are polite forms of address in Polish, replacing the informal "ty" (you)

5. Czy to jest ręcznie robione?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Checking whether an item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "Ręcznie" (by hand) + "robione" (made). Polish crafts from Zakopane (carvings, embroidery) are often handmade

6. Z jakiego materiału to jest zrobione?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking about the material of an item

   Grammar Note

   "Jakiego" is the genitive of "jaki" (what/which). Key materials: jedwab (silk), bawełna (cotton), skóra (leather)

7. Czy może pan/pani zapakować to jako prezent?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "Zapakować" is a perfective verb meaning to wrap. "Jako prezent" means "as a present"

8. Gdzie jest nocny targ?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   "Nocny" is the adjective form of "noc" (night). "Targ" is the Polish word for market

9. Czy mogę dostać paragon?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Asking for a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Paragon" is the Polish word for receipt. Polish law requires sellers to issue receipts for tax purposes

10. Kiedy targ jest czynny?

    When is the market open?

    Usage

    Checking when the market is open

    Grammar Note

    "Czynny" means "in operation/open". "Otwarty" is a synonym meaning "open"

11. Tylko oglądam, dziękuję

    I'm just looking, thank you

    Usage

    Politely declining a shopkeeper's approach

    Grammar Note

    "Dziękuję" is the standard thank you. "Tylko" means "only/just"

12. Czy przyjmujecie karty płatnicze?

    Do you accept card payment?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    BLIK mobile payment is very popular in Poland. Card payments are widely accepted across most businesses

13. Kupuję to jako pamiątkę dla przyjaciela

    I'm buying this as a souvenir for a friend

    Usage

    Telling the seller it is a souvenir gift

    Grammar Note

    "Pamiątka" (souvenir) derives from "pamięć" (memory). "Przyjaciela" is the genitive of "przyjaciel" (friend)

14. Czy można to wysłać za granicę?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking about international shipping options

    Grammar Note

    "Za granicę" means "abroad/across the border". "Poczta Polska" is Poland's main postal service

15. Który produkt jest u państwa najlepszy?

    What is your best product?

    Usage

    Asking for the seller's top recommendation

    Grammar Note

    "Najlepszy" is the superlative of "dobry" (good). "Państwa" is the genitive plural of the formal address

16. Czy cena jest do negocjacji?

    Is the price negotiable?

    Usage

    Checking whether the price can be negotiated

    Grammar Note

    "Do negocjacji" means "open to negotiation". Common phrasing at Polish flea markets (targowisko)

17. Czy ma pan/pani inny rozmiar?

    Do you have a different size?

    Usage

    Looking for a different size

    Grammar Note

    "Inny" means "other/different". Add "większy" (bigger) or "mniejszy" (smaller) to be specific

18. To jest za drogie

    This is too expensive

    Usage

    Expressing that the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "Za" before an adjective means "too/overly". "Trochę za drogie" (a little too expensive) invites negotiation

19. Sól

    Salt

    Usage

    Point to this when shopping at a market or grocery; "without salt" is "bez soli"

20. Cukier

    Sugar

    Usage

    Point to this when shopping; "without sugar" is "bez cukru"

21. Pieprz

    Black pepper

    Usage

    The peppercorn spice; do not confuse it with "papryka", which is bell pepper or paprika powder

22. Olej

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Vegetable cooking oil such as rapeseed; olive oil is a separate word, "oliwa (z oliwek)"

23. Ocet

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Point to this when shopping; apple cider vinegar is "ocet jabłkowy"

24. Masło

    Butter

    Usage

    Point to this when shopping; margarine is a different product, "margaryna"

25. Ser

    Cheese

    Usage

    In Poland hard cheese is "ser żółty" and the white curd cheese is "twaróg" or "ser biały"

26. Miód

    Honey

    Usage

    Often sold direct at markets; note that "miód pitny" is mead, an alcoholic drink

27. Jogurt

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Point to this when shopping; plain unsweetened yoghurt is "jogurt naturalny"

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