Idziemy do piekarni po świeże bułki z masłem.

We are going to the bakery for fresh rolls with butter.

Breakdown of Idziemy do piekarni po świeże bułki z masłem.

• iść: to go
• do: to
• świeży: fresh
• z: with
• piekarnia: the bakery
• po: for
• bułka: the roll
• masło: the butter

Questions & Answers about Idziemy do piekarni po świeże bułki z masłem.

What’s the difference between idziemy, chodzimy, pójdziemy, and jedziemy?

• idziemy = we are going on foot (now/soon; a single occasion).
• chodzimy = we go on foot regularly/habitually (repeated action).
• pójdziemy = we will go on foot (one-time future; perfective).
• jedziemy = we are going by vehicle (now/soon; car, bus, etc.).

Why is it do piekarni and not something like do piekarnię or do piekarnia?

Because do always takes the genitive. The noun piekarnia (a feminine noun) in the genitive singular is piekarni. Accusative would be piekarnię, but that’s not used after do.

Could I use na instead of do (i.e., na piekarnię)?

No. For going to shops and most buildings you use do: do piekarni, do sklepu. Na is used with many institutions/events (e.g., na pocztę, na stadion, na koncert) or when the goal is an activity (e.g., na zakupy, na kawę). Na piekarnię would sound wrong (or literally “onto the bakery”).

What does po mean here, and which case does it take?

Here po means “for (to get/fetch).” In this meaning it takes the accusative: po świeże bułki, po mleko, po wodę. Note that po also has other meanings with the locative (e.g., time “after”: po obiedzie; movement on/along a surface: po ulicy).

Why is it świeże bułki and not świeży/świeża bułki?

• bułki is plural (feminine, non-masculine-personal).
• In the plural, non-masculine-personal adjectives take -e: świeże.
• Singular would be: świeża bułka; masculine singular: świeży chleb; neuter singular: świeże mleko.

Are bułki here nominative or accusative?

Accusative. After po (meaning “for, to fetch”), we use the accusative. For non-masculine-personal nouns, nominative plural and accusative plural look the same, so bułki can be both forms depending on context.

Why is it z masłem and not z masło or z masła?

• With the meaning “with (accompaniment),” z takes the instrumental: z masłem (“with butter”).
• z masła (genitive) would mean “made of/from butter,” which doesn’t fit here (you’re not saying the rolls are made of butter).

Does bułki z masłem mean “buttery rolls”? If not, how do I say that?

Bułki z masłem = rolls with butter (served/spread with butter).
“Buttery rolls” (rolls made with butter in the dough) are bułki maślane.

Is bułka z masłem an idiom?

Yes. As an idiom, bułka z masłem means “a piece of cake / very easy.” In your sentence, the phrase is literal (actual rolls with butter).

Can I change the word order? For example: Idziemy po świeże bułki z masłem do piekarni.

Yes. Both orders are natural:

• Idziemy do piekarni po świeże bułki z masłem (neutral; destination first).
• Idziemy po świeże bułki z masłem do piekarni (slight emphasis on the purpose “for rolls”).
  Polish word order is relatively flexible; context and emphasis guide it.

How do I say “Let’s go to the bakery for fresh rolls with butter”?

• Idźmy do piekarni po świeże bułki z masłem. (neutral “let’s go”)
• Chodźmy do piekarni po świeże bułki z masłem. (more inviting: “come on, let’s go”)

If we’re going by car, should I change idziemy?

Yes, use jedziemy: Jedziemy do piekarni po świeże bułki z masłem.

Can I say w piekarni instead of do piekarni?

They mean different things:

• do piekarni = to the bakery (movement toward).
• w piekarni = in/at the bakery (location).
  Example: Jesteśmy w piekarni (“We’re at the bakery”).

Do I need a word for “some,” like “some fresh rolls”?

Polish has no articles, so świeże bułki already works as “(some) fresh rolls.”
To stress quantity:

• “a few” = kilka/parę: kilka świeżych bułek, parę bułek.
• An unspecified “some” = jakieś: jakieś świeże bułki.

How would I make it habitual, like “We go to the bakery for fresh rolls (regularly)”?

Use chodzimy for habitual action: Chodzimy do piekarni po świeże bułki z masłem.

What’s the nuance between idziemy and pójdziemy?

• idziemy = we’re going (now/soon; ongoing plan).
• pójdziemy = we will go (at some point; a one-time future decision).
  For an immediate plan, idziemy is more natural.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

• Idziemy ≈ ee-JYEH-mee (the dzi before a vowel is a soft “JY” sound).
• piekarni ≈ pye-KAR-nee (the ni before “i” sounds like ń).
• po = poh.
• świeże ≈ SHFYEH-zhe (soft ś; ż like “zh” in “measure”).
• bułki ≈ BOO-wkee (Polish ł sounds like English “w”).
• z masłem ≈ z MAHS-wehm (again ł = “w”).
  Stress is almost always on the penultimate syllable.

Could I say na instead of po for the purpose, e.g., “go for rolls”?

Different nuance:

• iść po bułki = go to get/fetch rolls (typically to bring back).
• iść na bułki is unusual; with foods/drinks we commonly say iść na kawę/piwo/lody (“go for coffee/beer/ice cream” to consume).
  So for shopping/fetching, stick with po: iść po bułki.