Po prostu wolę zostać w domu.

Breakdown of Po prostu wolę zostać w domu.

dom
the house
w
in
zostać
to stay
woleć
to prefer
po prostu
simply
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Questions & Answers about Po prostu wolę zostać w domu.

What does Po prostu add to the sentence?
It means simply/just. It softens the statement and suggests there isn’t a complicated reason: you just prefer it. The sentence works without it, but Po prostu makes it sound more casual and polite.
Is Po prostu required?
No. Wolę zostać w domu is fully correct. Adding Po prostu only changes the tone.
Where can I put Po prostu?

Most natural placements:

  • Po prostu wolę zostać w domu.
  • Wolę po prostu zostać w domu. Putting it at the very end (Wolę zostać w domu po prostu) can sound like an afterthought; not wrong, just more conversational.
Why is it wolę and not something with a future form?
Wolę (I prefer) governs the infinitive. You must use an infinitive after it: wolę zostać, not wolę zostanę. Other examples: wolę iść, wolę poczekać.
What’s the difference between wolę and preferuję?

Both mean “I prefer,” but:

  • wolę (from wolić) is the everyday, natural choice.
  • preferuję (from preferować) is more formal/learned and used less in casual speech. In this sentence, wolę sounds best.
How do you conjugate wolić?
  • ja wolę
  • ty wolisz
  • on/ona/ono woli
  • my wolimy
  • wy wolicie
  • oni/one wolą
Why zostać and not zostawać?

Aspect. Zostać is perfective (a single, concrete choice: I’ll stay this time). Zostawać is imperfective (habit/general tendency). Compare:

  • Wolę zostać w domu = I’d prefer to stay home (now/this time).
  • Wolę zostawać w domu = In general, I prefer staying home.
Does zostać also mean “to become”?
Yes, with a different structure and meaning: zostać + instrumental = “become.” For example, zostać lekarzem (to become a doctor). In your sentence it means “to stay/remain.”
Why is it w domu and not something else?
After w meaning “in/at,” you use the locative case: w domu (locative of dom). It expresses being inside/at a place, not movement.
How do I say “go home” vs “stay at home”?
  • “Go home”: iść do domu (movement to a place, hence do
    • genitive).
  • “Stay at home”: zostać w domu (w
    • locative for location).
Does w domu mean “in the house” or “at home”?
Both are possible, but in this common collocation it’s usually understood as “at home.”
Can I include the subject ja?
Yes, for emphasis/contrast: Ja po prostu wolę zostać w domu (“I, for my part, prefer…”). Normally it’s dropped because the verb ending already shows the person.
How do I say “I’d rather stay at home”?

Use the conditional of wolać:

  • Masculine speaker: Wolałbym zostać w domu.
  • Feminine speaker: Wolałabym zostać w domu. It’s a bit softer/more tentative than wolę.
How can I make it clear I mean “today/tonight”?

Add a time adverb:

  • Dziś po prostu wolę zostać w domu.
  • Po prostu wolę zostać dziś w domu. Placement is flexible; keep it near the verb phrase.
Any common colloquial alternatives to zostać here?

Yes, siedzieć in this context means “stay/hang out”:

  • Po prostu wolę siedzieć w domu. (very colloquial)
Pronunciation tips for tricky bits?
  • wolę: final ę is often pronounced like plain “e” in casual speech; that’s fine.
  • zostać: ć is a soft sound (like a “t” blended with “sh”).
  • w domu: the w before the voiced d sounds like English “v,” so it’s close to “v domu.”
  • Stress is on the second-to-last syllable: po PROstu, WOlę, doMU, ZOstać.
Is there any politeness nuance?
Yes. Po prostu helps make a refusal sound less confrontational, like “I just prefer to stay home,” without offering a long explanation.
What if I want to express the negative alternative?

Two natural options:

  • Po prostu wolę nie wychodzić. (I simply prefer not to go out.)
  • Po prostu nie chcę wychodzić. (I simply don’t want to go out.)