How to ask “How Are You?” in Polish
Asking about someone’s well-being is a simple yet effective way to show interest in Polish (język polski) conversations. Whether you’re chatting with new friends in Warsaw, messaging a colleague, or catching up with family, “How are you?” sets a friendly tone and invites more personal conversation.
There are two main forms of asking “How are you?” in Polish, depending on the level of formality:
- Informal: Jak się masz? → How are you? (casual)
- Formal: Jak się Pan/Pani ma? → How are you? (polite, addressing Mr./Mrs./Ms.)
Quick Tip
If you’re not sure which to use, check out our Polish greetings lesson. Once you get familiar with formal vs. informal Polish, it’ll be second nature.
Free 6-week email course
Just starting with Polish? Get one easy lesson per week plus a short exercise to help things stick. Course launches in May – sign up now to be among the first to receive it!
How to Answer “How Are You?”
When someone asks “Jak się masz?” you can go with a short Dobrze (Good). Here’s how a short exchange might look:
Jak się masz? → How are you? (informal)
Dobrze, a Ty? → I’m good, and you? (informal)
Jak się Pan/Pani ma? → How are you? (formal)
Dobrze, a Pan/Pani? → I’m good, and you? (formal)
Extra polite phrase:
Dziękuję, że pytasz. → Thanks for asking. (informal)
Dziękuję bardzo, że Pan/Pani pyta. → Thank you very much for asking. (formal)
Dobrze, dziękuję, że pytasz. A Ty? → I’m good, thanks for asking. And you? (informal)
Dobrze, dziękuję bardzo, że Pan/Pani pyta. A Pan/Pani? → I’m good, thank you for asking. And you? (formal)
Want to elaborate on how you feel? Here are more expressions:
Jestem… → I am…
- Świetnie! → Great!
- Bardzo dobrze! → Very good!
- Dobrze. → Good.
- Tak sobie. → So-so.
- Źle. → Bad.
- Bardzo źle! → Very bad.
- Okropnie. → Horrible.
- Jestem głodny (m) / głodna (f) → I’m hungry
- Jestem zmęczony (m) / zmęczona (f) → I’m tired
- Jestem skacowany (m) / skacowana (f) → I’m hungover (colloquial)
Now that you know how to ask “How are you?” in Polish, you’ll be ready to take conversations a step further. And if you want to sound like a true local, don’t always say “Dobrze”—sometimes, sharing minor complaints or small updates feels more authentic in Polish culture!
Language guide
Explore grammar and learning tips in our Polish language guide.
-
Pronunciation & Writing
Master the Polish alphabet! Learn the 32 letters, their pronunciation, and special diacritical marks like ą, ć, and ł.
-
Conversation Basics
Master Polish introductions! Learn how to say “My name is…” and introduce yourself in formal and informal settings.
-
Conversation Basics
Master essential Polish greetings! Learn how to say hello, good evening, and more for everyday conversations.
