100 most common Polish verbs

Ranked by how often each verb is actually spoken in films and TV series, with the English meaning and a short example. Free to download for Anki, Quizlet, Excel or print.

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The list

100 verbs

#	Polish	English and example
1	byćverb	to beDzisiaj jestem w domu. Today I am at home.
2	miećverb	to haveMam dwa duże psy. I have two big dogs.
3	mócverb	can, to be able toCzy mogę tu usiąść? Can I sit here?
4	wiedziećverb	to knowNie wiem, gdzie on jest. I don't know where he is.
5	chciećverb	to wantChcę wypić gorącą kawę. I want to drink hot coffee.
6	musiećverb	must, to have toMuszę już iść do domu. I have to go home now.
7	powiedziećverb	to say, to tellMuszę ci coś powiedzieć. I have to tell you something.
8	mówićverb	to speak, to sayOn mówi bardzo szybko. He speaks very fast.
9	zrobićverb	to do, to makeCo mam teraz zrobić? What should I do now?
10	robićverb	to do, to makeCo robisz dziś wieczorem? What are you doing tonight?
11	myślećverb	to thinkMyślę o tobie codziennie. I think about you every day.
12	widziećverb	to seeNie widzę cię dobrze. I can't see you well.
13	chodzićverb	to walk, to go (regularly)Dzieci chodzą do szkoły. The kids go to school.
14	daćverb	to giveDaj mi swój numer. Give me your number.
15	iśćverb	to go, to walkIdziemy dziś do kina. We're going to the cinema today.
16	zostaćverb	to stay, to becomeZostanę tu do jutra. I'll stay here until tomorrow.
17	staćverb	to standStoję tu od godziny. I've been standing here for an hour.
18	powinienverb	should, ought toPowinieneś trochę więcej odpoczywać. You should rest a bit more.
19	znaleźćverb	to findNie mogę znaleźć kluczy. I can't find my keys.
20	dziękowaćverb	to thankDziękuję ci za pomoc. Thank you for the help.
21	przepraszaćverb	to apologize, to excusePrzepraszam, że jestem spóźniony. Sorry I'm late.
22	czekaćverb	to waitCzekam na ciebie tutaj. I'm waiting for you here.
23	potrzebowaćverb	to needPotrzebuję twojej pomocy teraz. I need your help now.
24	wyglądaćverb	to look (appear)Wyglądasz dzisiaj bardzo dobrze. You look very good today.
25	znaćverb	to know (be acquainted with)Znam go od dawna. I've known him for a long time.
26	zabićverb	to killTen upał mnie dziś zabije. This heat will kill me today.
27	zobaczyćverb	to see (catch sight of)Chcę zobaczyć ten film. I want to see this film.
28	pójśćverb	to go (set off)Pójdę z tobą do kina. I'll go with you to the cinema.
29	wrócićverb	to return, to come backWrócę do domu o szóstej. I'll come home at six.
30	rozumiećverb	to understandNie rozumiem tego słowa. I don't understand this word.
31	pomócverb	to helpCzy możesz mi pomóc? Can you help me?
32	słyszećverb	to hearNie słyszę cię dobrze. I can't hear you well.
33	kochaćverb	to loveKocham cię bardzo mocno. I love you very much.
34	czućverb	to feelCzuję się dziś lepiej. I feel better today.
35	przyjśćverb	to comePrzyjdź do nas na kolację. Come to our place for dinner.
36	żyćverb	to liveChcę żyć w spokoju. I want to live in peace.
37	dostaćverb	to get, to receiveDostałem list od brata. I got a letter from my brother.
38	wziąćverb	to takeWeź ten klucz ze sobą. Take this key with you.
39	słuchaćverb	to listenLubię słuchać muzyki wieczorem. I like listening to music in the evening.
40	pracowaćverb	to workPracuję w dużej firmie. I work in a big company.
41	lubićverb	to likeLubię pizzę i makaron. I like pizza and pasta.
42	pamiętaćverb	to rememberPamiętam ten dzień dobrze. I remember that day well.
43	znaczyćverb	to meanCo znaczy to słowo? What does this word mean?
44	patrzećverb	to look, to watchPatrz na mnie, proszę. Look at me, please.
45	pozwolićverb	to allow, to letNie pozwolę ci tego zrobić. I won't let you do that.
46	zacząćverb	to begin, to startKiedy chcesz zacząć pracę? When do you want to start work?
47	przestaćverb	to stopPrzestań już krzyczeć, proszę. Stop shouting already, please.
48	wyjśćverb	to go out, to leaveMuszę wyjść na chwilę. I need to step out for a moment.
49	trzymaćverb	to hold, to keepTrzymaj mnie za rękę. Hold my hand.
50	sądzićverb	to think, to judgeSądzę, że masz rację. I think you're right.
51	jechaćverb	to go (by vehicle), to driveJedziemy dziś nad morze. We're going to the sea today.
52	zabraćverb	to take away, to take alongZabierz mnie do domu. Take me home.
53	uważaćverb	to be careful, to considerUważaj, podłoga jest mokra. Careful, the floor is wet.
54	próbowaćverb	to tryPróbuję się uczyć polskiego. I'm trying to learn Polish.
55	możnaverb	it is possible, one mayCzy można tu zaparkować? Is it possible to park here?
56	rozmawiaćverb	to talk, to chatLubię rozmawiać z tobą. I like talking with you.
57	witaćverb	to greet, to welcomeWitamy w naszym domu. Welcome to our home.
58	trzebaverb	it is necessary, one mustTrzeba dziś kupić chleb. We need to buy bread today.
59	nazywaćverb	to call, to nameJak się nazywa ta ulica? What is this street called?
60	wracaćverb	to return, to come backWracamy już do domu. We're going back home now.
61	skończyćverb	to finishKiedy skończysz pracę, zadzwoń. When you finish work, call.
62	szukaćverb	to look for, to searchOd rana szukam moich kluczy. I've been looking for my keys since morning.
63	spojrzećverb	to look, to glanceSpójrz na to zdjęcie. Look at this photo.
64	wierzyćverb	to believeNie wierzę w to wszystko. I don't believe all that.
65	martwićverb	to worryNie martw się, wszystko dobrze. Don't worry, all is well.
66	porozmawiaćverb	to have a talkChcę z tobą porozmawiać. I want to talk with you.
67	zostawićverb	to leave (behind)Zostaw mnie samego, proszę. Leave me alone, please.
68	udaćverb	to pretend, to succeed (udać się)Udało mi się zdać egzamin. I managed to pass the exam.
69	dawaćverb	to giveZawsze daję ci dobre rady. I always give you good advice.
70	posłuchaćverb	to listen (for a while)Chcę posłuchać tej piosenki. I want to listen to this song.
71	pomyślećverb	to think, to considerMuszę o tym chwilę pomyśleć. I need to think about it for a moment.
72	zaczynaćverb	to begin, to startFilm zaczyna się o ósmej. The movie starts at eight.
73	wydawaćverb	to spend, to issue, to seemWydajesz za dużo pieniędzy na kawę. You spend too much money on coffee.
74	umrzećverb	to dieNie chcę jeszcze umierać! I don't want to die yet!
75	podobaćverb	to be liked, to appeal toBardzo mi się podoba ten dom. I like this house very much.
76	zmienićverb	to changeChcę zmienić pracę w tym roku. I want to change jobs this year.
77	braćverb	to takeBiorę ten niebieski płaszcz. I'll take this blue coat.
78	dowiedziećverb	to find out, to learnChcę się dowiedzieć prawdy. I want to find out the truth.
79	zamknąćverb	to close, to shutZamknij okno, jest zimno. Close the window, it is cold.
80	poznaćverb	to meet, to get to knowBardzo miło cię poznać. It is very nice to meet you.
81	wybaczyćverb	to forgiveProszę, wybacz mi to wszystko. Please forgive me for all of it.
82	sprawdzićverb	to checkSprawdź to jeszcze raz. Check it once more.
83	działaćverb	to work, to actTen telefon już nie działa. This phone doesn't work anymore.
84	spotkaćverb	to meet, to run intoSpotkałem ją wczoraj w sklepie. I ran into her in the shop yesterday.
85	potrafićverb	to be able to, to know how toCzy ty potrafisz dobrze gotować? Can you cook well?
86	zajmowaćverb	to occupy, to take upZajmuję się dziećmi całe popołudnie. I look after the kids all afternoon.
87	odejśćverb	to leave, to go awayChcę odejść z tej pracy. I want to leave this job.
88	spróbowaćverb	to try, to tasteSpróbuj tego ciasta, jest pyszne. Try this cake, it is delicious.
89	wejśćverb	to enter, to come inMożesz wejść, drzwi są otwarte. You can come in, the door is open.
90	baćverb	to fear, to be afraidNaprawdę boję się ciemności, wiesz? I'm really afraid of the dark, you know?
91	dzwonićverb	to call, to ringDzwonię do ciebie od rana. I have been calling you since morning.
92	zadzwonićverb	to call, to phoneZadzwonię do ciebie wieczorem. I'll call you this evening.
93	wystarczaćverb	to be enough, to sufficeTen pokój wystarcza nam w zupełności. This room is completely enough for us.
94	zgadzaćverb	to agreeZgadzam się z tobą. I agree with you.
95	pokazywaćverb	to showPokazuję ci tylko, jak to działa. I'm only showing you how it works.
96	zapomniećverb	to forgetZapomniałem kluczy do domu. I forgot my house keys.
97	zamierzaćverb	to intend, to plan toCo zamierzasz teraz zrobić? What do you intend to do now?
98	stracićverb	to loseNie chcę cię stracić. I don't want to lose you.
99	ruszaćverb	to move, to touchNie ruszaj się, proszę! Don't move, please!
100	siedziećverb	to sit, to be seatedSiedzę w domu cały dzień. I sit at home all day.

How this list was made

Most frequency lists count newspapers and books. This one counts what people say on screen: word counts from the OpenSubtitles 2018 collection of film and TV subtitles (237 million Polish words), published by the FrequencyWords project.

Different forms of the same word are counted together under the dictionary form, so every form of a verb adds to the verb's rank. Names, English words, typos and swear words were removed. Nouns are shown with their article where the language has one, so you learn the gender with the word.

Ranking: OpenSubtitles 2018 via FrequencyWords by Hermit Dave (CC BY-SA 4.0). This list is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Questions

How many Polish words do you need to understand films and TV?

In 237 million words of Polish subtitles, the 100 most common words make up 51.7% of everything said, the top 500 make up 67.7% and the top 1000 make up 71.9%. The rest are rarer words that are easiest to pick up from the shows themselves, in context.

How do I import this list into Anki?

Download the Anki deck (.apkg) and open it, or in Anki choose File, Import and pick the file. The cards arrive in the order of the list, most common first, with the meaning and an example on the back. AnkiDroid and AnkiMobile open the same file.

Can I use it in Quizlet?

Yes. Open the Quizlet file, copy everything, then in Quizlet create a set, choose Import and paste. Keep "Tab" between term and definition and "New line" between cards. Knowt and Brainscape accept the same text.

Is it free to use and share?

Yes. Download it, print it and share it. The list is published under CC BY-SA 4.0: if you publish it or a changed version, credit Fluent by Accident and the FrequencyWords project and share it under the same licence.

Where do the translations and examples come from?

The ranking comes only from real word counts. The English meanings and example sentences were drafted with AI and can contain small mistakes. If you spot one, write to rk@coldabry.com.