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  • Polish Swear Words

    March 11, 2024 4 min read

    20 Comments

    A group of older adults shocked at the use of Polish Swear Words

    How to Swear in Polish 

    Interested in learning how to swear in Polish? Look no further! We know the article title on Polish swear words got your attention, didn't it? Don't worry, you're in good company! Polish cuss words are like hidden treasure every language learner wants to find. So, we figured, why not spill the beans in a fun, slightly naughty way? After all, every new language opens up a whole world of creative insults...er, we mean, cultural expression.

    Look, we know these words are a little taboo, but hey, who doesn't love a bit of spice? Let's get down and dirty with Polish profanity (don't worry, your secret's safe with us!).

    What is the F Word in Polish

    The first, and most important thing to learn is how to say the f word in Polish.
    Or, let’s be more brave - fuck in Polish.

    After all, what's a language without the tools to tell someone off with flair? Polish swearing is an art form – it spices up your stories, lets you hex your enemies with style, and adds the perfect punctuation to a frustrating traffic jam. Heck, some people practically replace commas with colorful curses! (We're not judging...).

    But hey, even the best Polish bad words need context. Master the art of timing, and you're golden. Misuse them, and well...let's just say some situations call for a milder vocabulary.

    Want to polish your swearing skills?
    Click any bold linked word below for authentic pronunciation. (the audio opens in a new window – your discretion is advised)

    A true alternative for the English f word - kurwa.

    Kurwa (actually meaning bitch, whore), is pronounced as KUR-VA.

    Polish Swear Words and Slang

    Alright, consider that your crash course in Polish profanity 101! Ready to graduate to the big leagues? Because here's where the language truly gets creative...

    Buckle up, because we're about to drop a whole dictionary of delightful Polish curse words along with the Polish swear words with English translation. Think of it as continuing education in the fine art of how to swear in Polish with maximum impact. Here's your vocabulary list – complete with translations, of course!

    Most common (and most useful!) Polish swear words with pronunciation are:

    • Cholera! - HO-LE-RA, referring to the disease cholera and used as another alternative to the f-word but only referring to the situation (not the person). So if something goes wrong, you can just shout out: Cholera! It’s not too naughty of a word.
    • Spierdalaj! - SPER-DALAI - Fuck off.  Literally used as that.
    • Ja pierdolę! - JA PIR-DOLE, Used as fuck me, but literally meaning I fuck - when something is unbelievable, this is when you would use it.
    • Pieprz się! - PIEPZ SIE, Fuck you. Literally used as that - with the root word being pieprzyć, which is both to put pepper on stuff, as well as to fuck.
    • Dupek! - DU-PEK. Asshole. Again, literally used as that, but only toward males. It can also mean that someone is very, very stupid.
    • Huj! - HUI. Dick. Used the same as dupek, but has a more stronger effect.
    • Gówno! - GUV-NO. Only used to refer to something else that is of bad quality, and often used as Gówno prawda meaning that something is not true.
    • Gówniarz! - GUV-NIAZ. Little shit. Often used for someone who is immature or behaving badly.
    • Srać To shit or to tell lies. 

    Let's be honest, a Polish swear word list could fill an entire dictionary as Poles (and Slavs in general) tend to get mighty creative when it's time to express their displeasure. You can mix, match, and reinvent Polish curses to your heart's content – just be very picky about your audience. Slip up in front of your boss or sweet grandma,  or in front of children and well... you've been warned.

    So, consider this your official disclaimer: Unleashing a barrage of Polish profanity is a high-risk, potentially high-reward endeavor. Use with caution!

    Anyways, pardon our Polish... hope you had a little naughty fun while expanding your vocabulary today. If you want to learn more, check out our part two article, cursing in Polish.

    What are your favorite curse words in Polish? What of these do you find to be funny Polish swear words, and what do you think to be the best Polish swear words? 

    Frequently Asked Questions 

     What is the f word in Polish?

    The f word in Polish is a common question among those curious about Polish swear words. The equivalent of the f word in Polish is 'kurwa,' which is a versatile swear word used similarly to the English f word in various contexts. 

    What Does Holetta Mean in Polish?

    Holetta translates to "Oh my God" or "Oh Lord" in Polish. It is an expression used to express surprise, shock, or disbelief in a casual way. 

    What is the famous Polish swear? 

    The most famous Polish swear word is "kurwa," which is a commonly used profanity in Poland. It is a versatile term that can be used in various situations and but can be considered very offensive. 

    How Many Curse Words Are There in Polish?

    There are numerous curse words in Polish, with the exact count varying depending on the source. The most common estimate is that there are around 300 curse words in Polish, ranging from mild to extremely vulgar expressions.

    Updated: April 28, 2024

    20 Responses

    Piotr
    Piotr

    August 02, 2024

    Nell, “psia krew” literally means: “dogs’ blood”. It is a curse but not too offensive.

    Lesley
    Lesley

    July 26, 2024

    My partners father was polish, he always said kuravay, (roll of the tongue) I dont know how its spelt, knownone seems to know what it means, we have been unable to find out the meaning, it could be a swear word as he used it all the time, Can anybody help me, it might be a word used in the WW2 as he would have been over a hundred years old now.

    Robert
    Robert

    August 02, 2024

    Yes pizda and Cipka

    Barb
    Barb

    July 26, 2024

    While in Poland years ago, I was told that the f word was phonetically kwak…quack in English. Confirmed this with google audio translation, again, years ago. Unable to confirm this now. Wondering if it is true?

    Melinda Z
    Melinda Z

    March 26, 2024

    My grandmother would say two different phrases that sounded like sha kref oletta and pisanya dupa. I wasn’t sure what the meant and would get in trouble if I repeated them.

    Georgia Demith
    Georgia Demith

    March 06, 2024

    I am so glad I found this! Glad to know I’m not the only one here in the same boat.

    Michał from Poland
    Michał from Poland

    January 26, 2024

    Terre Tulsiak – it’s actually “szlaq jasny trafił” and means something like “it all went to shit”. “Szlag” comes from German “Shlag” and means apoplexy, so when you say the car was hit by shlag that translates “went to shit”. ;)

    Andrew Chmielinski – that’s “cholera jasna!” – “holy shit!”. Cholera is a sickness and its used as a curse in Poland.

    Browndog – " Pizda (cunt) Chatsna (jasna? bright then) kuraviastna (bitchy) Kucha (fuck-up)" :)

    rachel Claudia gurak – “kurwa” means “a whore”. It’s from German (and Latin) – die Kurve means “turn” (the same origin as “curve” in English) and since prostitutes were always standing near the turns on the road, the word became popular.

    Nell – I’m sure it’s “psiakrew!” (ENG “dogblood!”), something like “goddammit” in PL.

    Shade
    Shade

    January 02, 2024

    As a Pole I was curious about such a dictionary. Hah, pretty small and still “kind” list. Greetings buddies

    terre tulsiak
    terre tulsiak

    January 02, 2024

    My family has been saying Schlak Travfaa! for years, thinking its a swear word but no Polish person knows what it means…

    Brenda
    Brenda

    January 02, 2024

    Could someone help me? My mother-in-law used to yell at us when she was seriously tested something that sounded like shaw-ta be trauff. My sister in law understood it to be “curse on you” but I’ve tried many variable and can’t match it. I should add that they were from the Volyn area and spoke a dialect of Polish, Ukrainian and Russian, unique to their area. I’m trying to create a story of her life for the grandkids and would appreciate knowing what she was saying.

    Andrew Chmielinski
    Andrew Chmielinski

    September 23, 2023

    I don’t see this listed. English pronunciation: HOLE-YET-A ! Actual meaning ? Thanks.

    Gregory n Soltis
    Gregory n Soltis

    June 19, 2023

    I have a polish coworker that laughed and he just shook his head at me when I tried a couple of these phrases.

    Browndog
    Browndog

    May 23, 2023

    What does, not sure how it’s spelled.
    " Pizda Chatsna kuraviastna Kucha "mean. My dad had some polish friends and said they used it when they all used to get drunk together with him.

    Richard Bowden
    Richard Bowden

    March 04, 2023

    Why do Polish people find the English word “bug” funny?

    Teresa Panjer
    Teresa Panjer

    January 23, 2023

    Raised with both languages Polish and English I have often heard, cholera jasna, meaning a bright disease. My mom said her dad would very rarely say, jak pzyczepise to jak smoa do gowna. Lol

    Mike
    Mike

    January 23, 2023

    When we played cards (pitch) and my Grandpa would play a card to set someone, he would slam the card down and say shah kritch. Sounds close to shah kref. Same meaning??

    Danon
    Danon

    December 15, 2022

    „Shah-kref” is probably „Psia krew” melaniny Dog’s blood. We idee it when something is going wrong. Like u try to fix something and u cant u said that. Or when someone said something about other people and u get nervous u said that.

    Nell
    Nell

    December 05, 2022

    My Polish grandparents, when frustrated, often exclaimed something that sounded like “Shah-kref!” Any idea what this was?

    rachel Claudia gurak
    rachel Claudia gurak

    September 13, 2022

    Thank you my polish dad used to say kur-va then ego mass sounding but not spelt properly.

    Bart
    Bart

    May 04, 2022

    You forgot about very important word
    PIZDA . PIZDA JEBANA .It’s used every day and has many uses.

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