To duże ryzyko.

Here to works like this, that, or it in an identifying statement.

So To duże ryzyko literally feels like:

• This is a big risk
• That is a big risk
• It’s a big risk

In Polish, to is very common in sentences that define or identify something.

Examples:

• To problem. = That’s a problem.
• To mój brat. = That’s my brother.

In your sentence, to introduces the statement and points to some situation or action being talked about.

In the present tense, Polish often leaves out jest (is) in this kind of sentence.

So:

• To duże ryzyko.
• To jest duże ryzyko.

Both are correct.

The version without jest is very natural and common, especially in simple statements. The version with jest can sound a little more explicit or emphatic, but both mean the same thing.

Because ryzyko is a neuter noun, and adjectives in Polish must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

The adjective duży changes like this in the singular nominative:

• duży — masculine
• duża — feminine
• duże — neuter

Since ryzyko is neuter, you need duże:

• duże ryzyko = a big risk

Compare:

• duży problem = big problem
• duża szansa = big chance
• duże ryzyko = big risk

A very common clue is the ending -o. Many Polish nouns ending in -o are neuter.

So:

• ryzyko — neuter
• okno — neuter
• piwo — neuter

Because ryzyko is neuter, related words also follow neuter agreement:

• to ryzyko
• duże ryzyko
• małe ryzyko

As always, there are patterns rather than perfect rules, but -o = often neuter is a very useful guideline.

It is in the nominative case.

In a sentence like To duże ryzyko, the noun is basically the thing being identified, so nominative is used.

You can think of the structure as similar to:

• To problem.
• To ryzyko.
• To duże ryzyko.

The adjective duże is also nominative, matching ryzyko.

Yes, absolutely.

• To duże ryzyko.
• To jest duże ryzyko.

Both are natural and correct.

Very roughly:

• To duże ryzyko = slightly more compact, neutral, conversational
• To jest duże ryzyko = a little more explicit, sometimes a bit more emphatic

In everyday speech, Polish often prefers the shorter version.

Yes, but the basic version To duże ryzyko is the most straightforward.

Possible alternatives include:

• To jest duże ryzyko.
• Duże to ryzyko. — more marked, stylistic, or emphatic
• Ryzyko jest duże. — The risk is big

Polish word order is more flexible than English, but different orders can change the emphasis. If you are learning, To duże ryzyko is the safest and most natural form to use.

A rough pronunciation guide for an English speaker is:

to DOO-zheh rih-ZIH-koh

A few details:

• duże: the ż sounds like the s in measure
• ry: the Polish y is not exactly like English ee or i; it is a short central vowel, so ry may be tricky at first
• stress in Polish usually falls on the second-to-last syllable:
  • DU-żE
  • ry-ZY-ko

So the natural rhythm is: to DU-zhe ry-ZY-ko

Not exactly.

In sentences like this, to is broader than just English this. Depending on context, it can correspond to:

• this
• that
• it

So To duże ryzyko could mean:

• This is a big risk
• That is a big risk
• It’s a big risk

The exact English translation depends on the situation, but the Polish sentence itself is perfectly natural.

Sometimes yes, depending on context.

Literally:

• duże = big/large
• ryzyko = risk

So the literal meaning is big risk. But in natural English, high risk may sound more idiomatic in some situations.

For example:

• To duże ryzyko. = That’s a big risk.
• In some contexts: That’s too risky or That’s high risk may sound more natural in English.

But grammatically, the Polish word is still simply duże.

In this sentence, it behaves like a singular noun meaning a risk or risk in a general sense.

So To duże ryzyko can be understood as:

• That is a big risk or
• That is great risk / too much risk in a broader sense, depending on context

In practice, English usually translates it as a big risk.

Polish does not use articles like a or the, so the context decides how specific or general the meaning is.

Yes. Wielkie ryzyko is possible, but it sounds stronger.

Compare:

• duże ryzyko = big risk
• wielkie ryzyko = great/enormous/very serious risk

So:

• To duże ryzyko. = neutral, common
• To wielkie ryzyko. = stronger, more dramatic

A learner should probably start with duże ryzyko, because it is very common and broadly useful.