Learn Hardcore Polish: Po kolacji zmywam naczynia w kuchni. - After dinner I wash the dishes in the kitchen.

po (after) + locative → po kolacji
w (in) + locative (for static location) → w kuchni Both kolacja and kuchnia are feminine nouns that take -i in the locative singular: kolacji, kuchni.

What case is naczynia, and why does it end with -a if it’s plural?

Naczynia is accusative plural (it’s the direct object of zmywam). The singular is neuter naczynie. Many neuter nouns form the nominative/accusative plural in -a, hence naczynia.

Does zmywam mean “I wash” or “I am washing”?

Both are possible. Imperfective present in Polish covers simple present and present progressive. With po kolacji, it most naturally sounds habitual (I usually do this after dinner). If you mean right now, add a time word like teraz or właśnie.

What’s the difference between zmywać and myć?

myć = to wash (general: hands, car, floor, etc.).
zmywać = to wash off/remove by washing; very common with dishes: zmywać naczynia. Perfectives:
umyć (from myć) and zmyć/pozmywać (from zmywać). For dishes, zmywać/pozmywać naczynia is the most idiomatic; myć/umyć naczynia is understood and used too.

How do I say “I’ll do the dishes after dinner”?

Use a perfective future:

Po kolacji zmyję naczynia.
Po kolacji pozmywam naczynia. Both are fine; perfective signals completion. If you want a future ongoing/habitual, use the analytic future: Po kolacji będę zmywać naczynia.

Why is there no word for “the” (as in “the dishes”)?

Polish has no articles. Definiteness is inferred from context. Zmywam naczynia can mean “I wash (the) dishes.”

Can I change the word order?

Yes. Polish word order is flexible. All of these are grammatical, with slight differences in emphasis:

Po kolacji zmywam naczynia w kuchni. (neutral, time first)
Po kolacji w kuchni zmywam naczynia. (location emphasized before the verb)
Zmywam naczynia po kolacji w kuchni. (focus often ends up on the last element) Keep “old → new” information flow in mind: known info tends to come earlier, new or emphasized info later.

Does po always take the locative?

For the meaning “after (time)”—yes: po pracy, po kolacji. Po also takes locative in senses like “around/on”: chodzić po domu (walk around the house). It can take the accusative in other patterns, e.g., distribution: po dwa jabłka (two each), or with motion “to get/fetch”: iść po piwo.

What’s the difference between kolacja and obiad?

obiad = main midday/afternoon meal (often hot).
kolacja = evening meal/supper. So po kolacji is “after the evening meal.” Usage varies by region and family habits.

Why is it w kuchni and not something like w kuchnię?

Static location uses w + locative: w kuchni (in the kitchen). The accusative with w signals motion into in certain contexts (e.g., wjechać w drzewo = crash into a tree), but for entering a room the idiomatic choice is do + genitive: iść do kuchni (go to the kitchen).

Could I just say Po kolacji zmywam naczynia without w kuchni?

Yes. W kuchni is optional and simply adds where it happens. The sentence remains natural without it.

How do you conjugate zmywać (present) and its perfective zmyć (future)?

zmywać (imperfective, present): ja zmywam, ty zmywasz, on/ona/ono zmywa, my zmywamy, wy zmywacie, oni/one zmywają.
zmyć (perfective, simple future): ja zmyję, ty zmyjesz, on/ona/ono zmyje, my zmyjemy, wy zmyjecie, oni/one zmyją.

Is zmywam naczynia the only natural collocation, or is myję naczynia also OK?

Both are fine and common. Zmywać naczynia is a very typical phrase. Myć naczynia is also used and clear. Choice often comes down to habit and nuance (remove/clean off vs. wash).

How would I say I use a dishwasher?

“I’m doing the dishes in the dishwasher”: Zmywam naczynia w zmywarce.
More typical for the action: Wkładam naczynia do zmywarki (I’m putting the dishes into the dishwasher) / Wyjmuję naczynia ze zmywarki (I’m taking them out).

Pronunciation tips for tricky parts?

Stress is on the penultimate syllable: po ko-LA-cji ZMY-wam na-CZY-nia w KU-chni.
cz in naczynia = ch in “church” (retroflex).
y in naczynia = hard i, like the vowel in “roses” (but more central).
ni before a vowel gives a soft n sound
ch in kuchni = German “Bach” [kh].
In kolacji, c is [ts], so the end sounds like “-tsyi”.

Why not po kolację?

Because po meaning “after” requires the locative, not the accusative. The correct locative form is po kolacji.

Does naczynia mean only plates?

No. Naczynia is a broad term: dishes, bowls, cups, pots, etc. Cutlery is usually sztućce; pots specifically garnki; pans patelnie.

How can I make it sound more clearly habitual?

Add an adverb of frequency: Zwykle po kolacji zmywam naczynia w kuchni. You can also front the time phrase, as in the original, which already nudges it toward a routine reading.