Proszę?

It is pronounced roughly PRO-sheh?

More precisely:

• pro- sounds like pro in problem, but with a rolled or tapped r
• sz in Polish sounds like English sh
• ę at the end is often pronounced close to eh in everyday speech, especially before a pause

So Proszę? often sounds very close to PRO-sheh?

As a standalone question, Proszę? is commonly used to mean:

• Pardon?
• Sorry?
• Could you repeat that?

It is what you say when:

• you did not hear someone
• you did not understand them
• you want them to repeat what they said

Because here it is being used as a question-like reaction meaning Pardon? or What did you say?

Compare:

• Proszę. = Here you go / Please
• Proszę? = Pardon? / Sorry?

The word itself is the same, but the punctuation and intonation change the meaning.

It is polite and neutral, and it works in both formal and informal situations.

You can use it:

• with strangers
• with teachers
• with shop assistants
• with friends

It is a very safe expression to use.

No. Proszę is a very common Polish word with several meanings depending on context.

For example:

• Proszę! = Here you go!
• Proszę usiąść. = Please sit down.
• Proszę o kawę. = I’d like a coffee.
• Proszę? = Pardon?

So learners often find proszę confusing at first, because one form can cover several English expressions.

It comes from the verb prosić, which means to ask, to request, or to beg depending on context.

Proszę is the 1st person singular present tense form, literally I ask / I request.

But in modern Polish, it is also used as a fixed polite expression in many situations, so you should often learn it by function rather than by literal translation.

Not exactly.

Even though proszę often translates as please, Proszę? does not usually mean English please?

As a question, it normally means:

• Sorry?
• Pardon?
• Come again?

So this is one of those cases where a direct word-for-word translation can be misleading.

Both can be used to mean Pardon? or Yes?, but they are not identical.

• Proszę? is very common and broadly useful
• Słucham? literally relates to I’m listening, and can mean:
  • Yes? when responding to someone calling you
  • Pardon? when asking for repetition

In many situations, both are possible. For a learner, Proszę? is an excellent all-purpose polite option.

Normally, no. It is polite.

However, like in English, tone matters. If you say it sharply or with an annoyed expression, it can sound impatient, like:

• Excuse me?
• What?

But with normal polite intonation, it is perfectly fine.

Very often in situations like these:

• You did not catch what someone said
• Someone spoke too quietly
• There was noise around you
• You are surprised and want confirmation

For example:

• Person A: Jutro spotkanie jest o szóstej.
• Person B: Proszę?
• Person A: Mówię, że spotkanie jest o szóstej.

So it functions naturally as a request for repetition.

No. Proszę? by itself is complete and natural.

You do not need to say a full sentence like:

• Czy możesz powtórzyć? = Can you repeat?

That longer version is also correct, but Proszę? is much shorter and very common in everyday speech.