Learn Polish: To jest pies.

When you introduce or point something out using "This is...", Polish uses the fixed phrase To jest. You always use To in this structure, regardless of whether the noun that follows is masculine, feminine, or neuter.

Why is there no word for "a" before pies?

Polish does not use articles like "a", "an", or "the". The single word pies translates to "a dog" or "the dog" depending on the situation. In this sentence, "a dog" is the most natural English translation.

Is pies in its basic dictionary form here?

Yes! The phrase To jest is always followed by the Nominative case. The Nominative is just the basic, unchanged form of a noun, exactly as you would find it in a dictionary.

How do I pronounce the "ie" in pies?

The "i" softens the "p" and creates a short "y" sound before the "e". It sounds roughly like "pyes" in English. It definitely does not rhyme with the English food "pies"!