Moja ciocia była kiedyś sekretarką, a dziś jest recepcjonistką w hotelu.

to be

Breakdown of Moja ciocia była kiedyś sekretarką, a dziś jest recepcjonistką w hotelu.

• mój: my
• w: in
• dziś: today

Questions & Answers about Moja ciocia była kiedyś sekretarką, a dziś jest recepcjonistką w hotelu.

Why is it moja ciocia, not mój ciocia?

Because ciocia is a feminine noun, and the possessive word my has to agree with it in gender, number, and case.

So:

• mój = my, for a masculine singular noun
• moja = my, for a feminine singular noun
• moje = my, for a neuter singular noun

Examples:

• mój wujek = my uncle
• moja ciocia = my aunt
• moje dziecko = my child

So moja ciocia is correct because ciocia is feminine.

What exactly does ciocia mean? Is it the normal word for aunt?

Yes. Ciocia means aunt, but it often feels a bit warmer or more familiar, a little like auntie in English.

In everyday Polish, people very commonly say ciocia.
A more formal or less affectionate word is teta, but that is much less common in normal conversation.

So in this sentence, moja ciocia is a very natural way to say my aunt.

Why is it była?