Learn Hardcore Polish: W piekarni ona prosi o bułkę z dżemem. - In the bakery she asks for a roll with jam.

Because after the preposition w meaning “in/at” (location), Polish uses the locative case. The noun piekarnia (a bakery, feminine) in the locative singular becomes piekarni. So: w piekarni = “in/at the bakery.”

Could I say do piekarni instead of w piekarni?

They mean different things:

w piekarni = in/at the bakery (location)
do piekarni = to the bakery (movement toward) Use w for where something happens, and do for going to that place.

Is the pronoun ona necessary here?

Usually no. Polish often drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person. (Ona) prosi… → Prosi…. Keep ona only for emphasis or contrast (e.g., “She, not he…”).

Why is it prosi o and not just prosi?

The verb pattern is prosić kogoś o coś = “to ask someone for something.” The preposition o takes the accusative case: o bułkę. Saying just prosi bułkę is incorrect.

What’s the difference between prosić and poprosić?

Aspect:

prosić (imperfective) = to be asking/ask in general or repeatedly.
poprosić (perfective) = to ask once, completed. In a shop you typically use the polite set phrase Poproszę… (“I’d like / I’ll have…”).

How would I politely order this in a bakery?

Two natural options:

Poproszę bułkę z dżemem.
Poproszę o bułkę z dżemem. The version without o is very common in ordering.

Why is it bułkę and not bułka?

Because o requires the accusative, and bułka (feminine) becomes bułkę in the accusative singular. No articles exist in Polish, so bułkę can mean “a roll” or “the roll,” depending on context.

Why z dżemem and not z dżemu?

Polish z has two main uses:

z + instrumental = “with”: z dżemem (with jam)
z + genitive = “from/out of/made of”: z dżemu would mean “from jam,” which doesn’t fit here.

How do I ask for two or more rolls with jam?

2–4: Poproszę dwie/trzy/cztery bułki z dżemem.
5+: Poproszę pięć bułek z dżemem. Note: dwie (not “dwa”) because bułka is feminine; after 5+ the noun takes genitive plural (bułek).

How do I include the person being asked?

Use the pattern prosić kogoś o coś (ask someone for something):

Ona prosi sprzedawcę (m.) / sprzedawczynię (f.) o bułkę z dżemem. The person is in the accusative (sprzedawcę / sprzedawczynię).

Can I say na piekarni?

No. For “at/in the bakery” use w piekarni. Some places use na (e.g., na poczcie = at the post office), but bakery takes w.

What’s the difference between prosić o and pytać o?

prosić o = ask for (request something): Proszę o bułkę.
pytać o = ask about (seek information): Pytam o bułkę (“I’m asking about the roll”—e.g., do you have it? price?).

Do I need a comma after W piekarni?

No. W piekarni ona prosi o… is fine without a comma. You’d add one only if the intro is long or for special emphasis.

Is bułka z dżemem a typical item?

It can mean a plain roll served/spread with jam. If you mean a jam-filled pastry, a more common term is drożdżówka z dżemem (a sweet yeast bun with jam).

How flexible is the word order?

Quite flexible. All of these are possible, with different emphasis:

W piekarni (ona) prosi o bułkę z dżemem. (focus on place)
Ona prosi o bułkę z dżemem w piekarni. (adds the place at the end)
O bułkę z dżemem (ona) prosi w piekarni. (strong focus on what she’s asking for)

How would I negate it: “She doesn’t ask for a roll with jam”?

Ona nie prosi o bułkę z dżemem. The case after o doesn’t change under negation (still accusative).

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

w sounds like English “v”.
ł sounds like English “w”: bułkę ≈ “boo-wkeh” (the ę before k sounds like “en/eng”).
dż in dżemem sounds like English “j” in “jam.”
Stress in Polish is usually on the second-to-last syllable: pie-KAR-ni, PRO-si, DŻE-mem.

Where are the articles (“a/the”)?

Polish has none. Context supplies what English would express with a/the. So bułkę can translate as “a roll” or “the roll.”