Learn Hardcore Polish: Czy ty masz inny kubek?

You don’t have to use czy. Both Czy masz inny kubek? and Masz inny kubek? are correct. Czy is a neutral, clear way to mark a yes/no question (common in writing and careful speech). Dropping czy and using rising intonation is very common in everyday speech.

Why is ty there? Can I omit it?

Yes—Polish usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person. Masz already means “you (sg.) have.” Use ty only for emphasis or contrast, e.g. Ja nie mam. A ty masz inny kubek? (I don’t. And do you?)

Is this polite enough for a stranger? How do I make it more polite/formal?

For polite/formal address, switch to the respectful forms:

to a man: Czy ma Pan inny kubek?
to a woman: Czy ma Pani inny kubek? Capitalize Pan/Pani in writing. For a group formally: Czy mają Państwo inny kubek?

Why is it inny kubek and not innego kubka?

After mieć (to have), the direct object takes the accusative. Masculine inanimate nouns like kubek have the same nominative and accusative in singular, so it’s inny kubek. With negation you’ll often see genitive: Nie mam innego kubka.

What’s the difference between inny, jeszcze jeden, and kolejny?

inny = a different/other one (not the same one).
jeszcze jeden = one more/additional.
kolejny = the next one in a sequence (often “another,” but with an ordered/serial feel). Examples:
Poproszę inny kubek. (A different mug.)
Poproszę jeszcze jeden kubek. (One more mug.)
To mój kolejny kubek dziś. (My next/another mug today.)

Can I change the word order?

Yes, but some orders are more natural:

Neutral: Czy masz inny kubek? / Masz inny kubek?
Emphatic subject: Ty masz inny kubek? (surprise/contrast)
Emphatic object: Inny kubek masz? (marked/stylistic) Avoid Masz ty inny kubek? unless you want a very emphatic or colloquial tone.

How do I ask several people at once?

Use the 2nd person plural:

Informal: Czy macie inny kubek?
Formal: Czy mają Państwo inny kubek?

How would I answer yes or no naturally?

Yes: Tak, mam. / Tak, mam inny (kubek).
No: Nie, nie mam. / Nie, nie mam innego (kubka). Note the genitive in the full negative: innego kubka.

How is this pronounced?

Approximate guide (stress is on the next‑to‑last syllable):

czy ≈ “tchih” (like “ch” in “church” + a hard vowel)
ty ≈ “tih” with a hard Polish y (not the English “ee”)
masz ≈ “mahsh” (sz = “sh”)
inny ≈ “IN-nih” (double n; final y is the hard vowel)
kubek ≈ “KOO-bek” (stress on ku)

How does gender agreement work with inny?

The adjective agrees with the noun:

Masculine inanimate: inny kubek
Feminine: inna filiżanka (cup)
Neuter: inne krzesło (chair)
Plural (non‑masc‑personal): inne kubki; inni is only for groups of people.

What if I mean “other mugs” (plural)?

Use the plural for both words: Czy masz inne kubki? You can also say Czy masz jakieś inne kubki? (“any other mugs?”) or Czy masz jakiś inny kubek? (“any other mug?”).

Where is the article “a/the” in Polish?

Polish has no articles. kubek can mean “a mug” or “the mug” depending on context. If you need to stress indefiniteness, add jakiś: jakiś kubek = “some mug.”

Is there a difference between kubek and filiżanka?

Yes:

kubek = mug (larger, straight sides, no saucer)
filiżanka = cup (smaller, often with a saucer) A common diminutive is kubeczek (little/affectionate mug).

How do I say “Don’t you have a different mug?” (expectation/surprise)

Use a negative question: Czy nie masz innego kubka? Without czy in speech: Nie masz innego kubka? This often implies you expect the answer to be “yes” or you’re surprised.