Learn Hardcore Polish: Lubię to.

Lubię means “I like” and to is a neuter pronoun meaning “it.” So literally it’s “I like it.” In everyday English we simply say “I like that” or “I like it.”

Why is the verb lubić conjugated as lubię here?

Polish verbs change their endings to match the subject. Lubię is the first-person singular present tense form of lubić (“to like”). Every time you say “I” as the subject, you use -ę on the verb stem.

Why don’t we see the subject pronoun ja in Lubię to?

In Polish, subject pronouns are often dropped because verb endings already show who is doing the action. Saying Ja lubię to is grammatically correct but usually unnecessary unless you want to emphasize “I.”

How do you pronounce Lubię to?

It’s pronounced roughly LOO-byeh toh.
• u as in “book”
• ie as a combined sound like yeh
• o as in “port”
Stress is always on the second-to-last syllable: LOO-byeh.

Can I change the word order and say To lubię instead?

Yes. To lubię (“that I like”) is also correct. Changing word order can add emphasis. To lubię stresses the to (“this/that”), while Lubię to is the neutral default.

What’s the difference between lubić and kochać?

Both mean “to like/love,” but lubić is milder (“to like”), while kochać is stronger (“to love”). Use lubić for hobbies or things, and kochać for intense feelings toward people or very important things.

Can lubić be used with people too, or only with things?

You can use lubić with people to mean “to like someone” (e.g., Lubię ją = “I like her”). For stronger affection, you’d switch to kochać.

Is to always neuter, and does its gender affect anything here?

Yes, to is a neuter pronoun used as a general “it” or “this/that” placeholder. Its gender doesn’t affect lubię, because lubię only agrees with the subject “I,” not the object.