Recepcja jest na parterze, obok wejścia.

In Polish, floors of a building are usually expressed with na + the locative case.

So you say:

• na parterze = on the ground floor
• na pierwszym piętrze = on the first floor
• na drugim piętrze = on the second floor

Even though English often uses on for floors too, the important thing for a learner is that Polish normally uses na here, not w.

Because after na in this meaning, Polish uses the locative case.

The basic form is:

• parter = ground floor

After na, it becomes:

• na parterze

This is a normal case change. Many nouns change their endings in the locative.

Because obok requires the genitive case.

The dictionary form is:

• wejście = entrance

After obok, it changes to:

• wejścia

So:

• obok wejścia = next to the entrance

This is very common in Polish: certain prepositions always force a particular case, and obok is one of the prepositions that takes the genitive.

It is the genitive singular form of wejście.

Forms:

• nominative: wejście
• genitive: wejścia

Since obok takes the genitive, you get obok wejścia.

Recepcja means reception or reception desk/area, depending on context.

It is a feminine noun in Polish. You can tell from the ending -a, which is very often feminine.

That is why the verb is:

• Recepcja jest... = The reception is...

If you later describe it with adjectives, they will also be feminine:

• duża recepcja = a big reception area

Here, jest means is.

In the present tense, Polish usually does use jest when talking about location:

• Recepcja jest na parterze. = The reception is on the ground floor.

In some kinds of sentences, especially informal ones or labels, Polish may omit jest, but the full standard sentence here naturally includes it.

For example:

• Recepcja na parterze might appear on a sign or in very short note-like language.
• But in normal full speech, Recepcja jest na parterze is the standard form.

Yes. Polish word order is more flexible than English because case endings show grammatical relationships.

This sentence could be rearranged, for example:

• Recepcja jest na parterze, obok wejścia.
• Na parterze, obok wejścia, jest recepcja.

Both are understandable, but they sound slightly different in emphasis.

The original version is the most neutral and natural if you are simply giving information.

It can mean either. In natural English, both next to and beside are good translations.

Polish obok is a common general word for being at the side of something nearby.

So:

• obok wejścia = next to the entrance / beside the entrance

The comma separates an extra location detail.

The sentence first gives the main location:

• Recepcja jest na parterze = The reception is on the ground floor

Then it adds a more precise detail:

• obok wejścia = next to the entrance

The comma is natural here because the second phrase works like an added clarification. In practice, you may also see similar short location phrases written without a comma in some contexts, but with the comma this sentence looks clear and standard.

A few natural questions would be:

• Gdzie jest recepcja? = Where is the reception?
• Na którym piętrze jest recepcja? = What floor is the reception on?
• Gdzie jest recepcja w budynku? = Where is the reception in the building?

A natural answer would be:

• Recepcja jest na parterze, obok wejścia.

Usually, yes, parter corresponds to ground floor.

For a British English speaker, that matches directly:

• parter = ground floor

For an American English speaker, the equivalent is often:

• first floor

So learners should remember that the Polish building-floor system here lines up more naturally with British ground floor than with American first floor.

Yes, often you can.

Both can mean near / next to the entrance:

• obok wejścia
• koło wejścia

But there is a slight difference in feel:

• obok more strongly suggests right beside
• koło can mean near and may sound a little less exact

So if you want the idea of right next to the entrance, obok wejścia is a very good choice.