Learn Hardcore Polish: Ty masz pieniądze?

The pronoun ty means “you” (singular, informal). Polish verbs carry person information in their endings (here -sz on masz), so ty is not grammatically required. You include ty only for emphasis or clarity. In everyday speech you can simply say Masz pieniądze?.

What is the infinitive form of masz, and what does it literally mean?

The infinitive is mieć, which means to have. Masz is the second-person singular present form, literally you have.

Which grammatical case is pieniądze in, and why?

Pieniądze is in the accusative case because it’s the direct object of the verb mieć (to have). As an inanimate plural noun, its nominative and accusative forms look the same, so pieniądze serves both roles.

How do I pronounce pieniądze correctly?

A close approximation is pyeh-NYAWN-dzeh:

pi like “pee” (shorter)
e like “e” in “let”
ą is nasal, similar to French “on”
dż like “j” in “jar”
final e like “eh”

How can I make this question more formal or polite?

Add the question particle czy and use formal pronouns:

Czy ma Pan pieniądze? (to a man)
Czy ma Pani pieniądze? (to a woman)
Czy macie Państwo pieniądze? (to a group)

Why is there no auxiliary verb or question word like do at the start?

Polish forms yes-no questions by intonation and word order alone. You simply raise your pitch at the end. Using czy at the beginning is optional and mainly adds formality or clarity.

Can I ask Masz pieniądze? without ty or czy in all situations?

You can in most informal contexts (with friends or family). In formal contexts or with strangers, include czy and switch to Pan/Pani to be polite.

Could I rearrange the words, for example Pieniądze masz ty?

Yes, Polish has flexible word order.

Masz pieniądze? (standard)
Ty masz pieniądze? (emphatic “you have money?”)
Pieniądze masz? (focus on “money” – “Is it money that you have?”)
All are grammatically correct; the change highlights different parts of the sentence.