Prices and currency (złoty, grosz)

Asking for Prices

To ask how much something costs in Polish, use the phrase ile kosztuje. You can also ask directly about the price by using the noun cena (price).

How much does this coffee cost?
Ile kosztuje ta kawa?

The Polish Currency: Złoty and Grosz

The currency of Poland is the złoty, which is divided into 100 groszy. When expressing prices, the endings change depending on the number:

  • For 1, use złoty and grosz.
  • For numbers ending in 2, 3, or 4 (except 12, 13, and 14), use złote and grosze.
  • For 5–21 and any other number ending in 0, 1, or 5–9, use złotych and groszy.
This coffee costs 15 zlotys.
Ta kawa kosztuje 15 złotych.
Is the price 20 zlotys and 50 groszy?
Czy cena to 20 złotych i 50 groszy?
No, the price is 22 zlotys and 99 groszy.
Nie, cena to 22 złote i 99 groszy.

Cash or Card?

When it is time to pay, use the verb płacić (to pay). To say how you are paying, the payment method takes the Instrumental case ending ( for feminine nouns):

  • gotówka (cash) becomes gotówką (with cash).
  • karta (card) becomes kartą (by card).
Are you paying with cash, sir?
Czy płaci pan gotówką?
I don't have cash, I am paying by card.
Nie mam gotówki, płacę kartą.

Receipts, Change, and Wallets

To wrap up your transaction, you will need a few more essential words: a receipt (paragon), your change (reszta), and your wallet (portfel).

Yes, a receipt, please.
Tak, proszę paragon.
I am paying in cash and waiting for the change.
Płacę gotówką i czekam na resztę.
Where is my wallet?
Gdzie jest mój portfel?

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