Signs

1. Wejście

   Entrance

   Usage

   Displayed at the entrance of buildings, stations, and facilities; signs show it as "WEJŚCIE"

2. Wyjście

   Exit

   Usage

   Displayed at the exit of buildings, stations, and facilities; signs read "WYJŚCIE", also used as a directional sign in stations

3. Wyjście ewakuacyjne

   Emergency Exit

   Usage

   Emergency exit sign, shown with the white-on-green running-man pictogram; signs read "WYJŚCIE EWAKUACYJNE", sometimes "WYJŚCIE AWARYJNE"

4. Otwarte

   Open (door sign)

   Usage

   The "open" side of the flip sign hanging on a shop door; shown as "OTWARTE"

5. Zamknięte

   Closed (door sign)

   Usage

   The "closed" side of a shop door sign; also marks closing days inside a "godziny otwarcia" (opening hours) notice

6. Czynne

   Open for Business

   Usage

   Appears on the opening-hours notice of banks, post offices, and pharmacies, usually followed by days and times ("CZYNNE: PN–PT 9–18") — more formal than the "OTWARTE" flip sign

7. Przerwa

   On a break

   Usage

   Polish has no exact equivalent of Japanese "junbichuu"; a short pause is posted as "PRZERWA" (break), and "ZARAZ WRACAM" (back shortly) is also common

8. Toaleta męska

   Men (men's toilet)

   Usage

   Marks the men's toilet; also written "MĘSKA", "PANOWIE", or "WC MĘSKIE". Polish doors traditionally use a triangle (▼) for men, paired with a circle (●) for women, sometimes with no words at all

9. Toaleta damska

   Women (women's toilet)

   Usage

   Marks the women's toilet; also written "DAMSKA", "PANIE", or "WC DAMSKIE". It may be shown as a circle (●), paired with the triangle (▼) for men

10. Zakaz wstępu

    No Entry

    Usage

    Posted on doors or areas closed to the public; signs read "ZAKAZ WSTĘPU". "WSTĘP WZBRONIONY" means the same; "TYLKO DLA PERSONELU" (staff only) is a related, narrower sign

11. Zakaz palenia

    No Smoking

    Usage

    No-smoking sign posted in stations, indoors, and in restaurants; "PALENIE WZBRONIONE" means the same. Indoor public spaces in Poland are smoke-free by law

12. Palarnia

    Smoking Area

    Usage

    Marks a designated smoking room or area at airports and stations; an outdoor spot may instead be signed "MIEJSCE DLA PALĄCYCH"

13. Schody

    Stairs

    Usage

    Directional sign pointing to stairs; a lift is "WINDA" and an escalator is "SCHODY RUCHOME"

14. Pchać

    Push

    Usage

    Sign on a door indicating it should be pushed; shown as "PCHAĆ", sometimes as "OD SIEBIE" (away from you)

15. Ciągnąć

    Pull

    Usage

    Sign on a door indicating it should be pulled; shown as "CIĄGNĄĆ", sometimes as "DO SIEBIE" (towards you)

16. Teren budowy

    Construction Site

    Usage

    Posted at construction sites; roadworks are signed "ROBOTY DROGOWE", while a building or shop being refurbished says "REMONT" — a closure notice reads "NIECZYNNE Z POWODU REMONTU"

17. Nieczynny

    Out of Order

    Usage

    Posted on lifts, ticket machines, or toilets that are not working; the ending agrees with the noun ("WINDA NIECZYNNA", "BANKOMAT NIECZYNNY"). On a shop door the same word means "closed for the day", so read it against what it is stuck to. "USZKODZONY" (damaged) is also used

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