Zaraz wracam.

I’ll be right back.

Breakdown of Zaraz wracam.

• ja: I
• wracać: to return
• zaraz: soon

Questions & Answers about Zaraz wracam.

Why is the verb in the present tense (wracam) if the meaning is about the near future?

Polish often uses the present tense for very near-future actions, especially with time words like zaraz (right away), już (already/just about to), or za chwilę (in a moment). So Zaraz wracam literally says “I am returning right away,” but it functions like English “I’ll be right back.” You’ll hear the same pattern in sentences like Zaraz wychodzę (I’m leaving in a second) or Jutro wyjeżdżam (I leave tomorrow).

What is the difference between Zaraz wracam and Zaraz wrócę?

• Zaraz wracam uses the imperfective verb wracać and sounds very colloquial and immediate—like “I’ll be right back (heading out now, back in a moment).”
• Zaraz wrócę uses the perfective wrócić (future form) and emphasizes the completed return—“I’ll return shortly.” In practice, both are perfectly natural for “I’ll be right back.” If anything, Zaraz wrócę can feel a touch more formal or more like a promise of completion.

Can I say Wracam zaraz instead, or does the word order matter?

Zaraz wracam is the fixed, idiomatic order and is by far the most common. Wracam zaraz is grammatical, but it’s less idiomatic and can sound slightly marked or emphatic. Stick to Zaraz wracam as your default.

Do I need to say ja (I), as in Ja zaraz wracam?

No. Polish usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person. Ja is only added for emphasis or contrast, e.g., Ja zaraz wracam, a ty zostań (I’ll be right back, and you stay).

How formal is Zaraz wracam? Can I use it at work or with strangers?

It’s neutral and widely acceptable. In a more formal or customer-facing context, you might soften or expand it:

• Już wracam (I’m coming right back)
• Zaraz wracam, proszę chwilę poczekać (I’ll be right back; please wait a moment)
• Zaraz do pana/pani wracam (I’ll be right back to you, sir/ma’am)

How do I change it for other persons, like “We’ll be right back” or “He’ll be right back”?

• We: Zaraz wracamy / Zaraz wrócimy
• He/She: Zaraz wraca or Zaraz wróci Both imperfective (wraca-) and perfective (wróci-) are fine; the same nuance as in the singular applies.

Can I add a destination, like “I’ll be right back to the office”?

Yes, but be careful with the meaning:

• wracać do + Genitive = return to: Wracam do biura (I’m going back to the office).
• wracać z + Genitive = return from: Wracam z pracy (I’m coming back from work). Adding zaraz just means “soon/right away,” e.g., Zaraz wracam do biura = I’m going back to the office soon (not “I’ll be back here soon”). If you mean “back here,” you typically just say Zaraz wracam or clarify with z powrotem: Zaraz będę z powrotem (I’ll be right back).

How would I tell someone else to come back soon (imperative)?

Use the imperative of wracać:

• Wracaj zaraz! (Come back right away!)
• Stronger: Wracaj natychmiast! To make it polite to one person formally: Proszę zaraz wracać.

What’s the nuance difference between zaraz, już, za chwilę, and natychmiast?

• zaraz: right away/very soon; commonly used, can be slightly vague.
• już: already/about to; Już wracam feels even more immediate (“on it now”).
• za chwilę / za moment: in a moment; a touch less immediate than zaraz.
• natychmiast: immediately; strong/command-like or formal. Note: Zaraz can also be used ironically or loosely (as in English “one sec”).

Any pronunciation tips for Zaraz wracam?

• Syllable stress is penultimate: ZA-raz wra-CAM.
• w is like English v.
• r is a tapped/trilled r.
• c in wracam is like ts: vra-tsam.
• A practical approximation: “ZAH-raz VRA-tsam.”

Does the verb show gender here?

Not in the present: wracam doesn’t mark gender. In the past, it would: Wróciłem (I returned, male speaker) vs Wróciłam (female speaker).

Is there a natural negative equivalent like “I won’t be back soon”?

Don’t negate zaraz directly. Say:

• Nie wrócę szybko (I won’t be back soon/quickly).
• Prędko nie wrócę (I won’t be back any time soon).
• Nie wrócę zaraz is possible but sounds odd; prefer the options above.

Are there common alternatives to say the same thing?

Yes:

• Już wracam (very common in service/at home).
• Zaraz wrócę (perfective future).
• Zaraz będę (I’ll be right there/back).
• Zaraz będę z powrotem (explicit “back again”).

Is Zaraz wracam used on signs or in media?

Yes. You’ll see Zaraz wracam on shop doors (the “be right back” sign) and Zaraz wracamy on TV/radio (“we’ll be right back” after a break). It’s a set phrase in those contexts.

What’s the chat/texting shorthand?

People use zw (from zaraz wracam) or just the English brb. Both are understood in casual messaging.