Learn Polish: Tutaj nie wolno pić. - Drinking is not allowed here.

Tutaj nie wolno pić.

Drinking is not allowed here.

Breakdown of Tutaj nie wolno pić.

it is not allowed (+ infinitive)

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Questions & Answers about Tutaj nie wolno pić.

What kind of word is wolno and why doesn't it have a regular verb ending?

wolno is a special impersonal word meaning "it is allowed" or "one may." It doesn't conjugate (change its ending) for different people like "I" or "you." You simply put nie in front of it to say that something is forbidden.

Why do we use the dictionary form pić instead of a conjugated form?

Whenever you use wolno or nie wolno, the action that is allowed or forbidden must be in the infinitive (the basic dictionary form). That's why we use pić (to drink) instead of a form like pije (he/she drinks).

There is no word for "you" or "anyone" in this sentence. How do we know who isn't allowed to drink?

Expressions with wolno are impersonal, meaning they apply to everyone in general. You don't need to add a word for "you" or "people" because nie wolno already means "one must not" or "it is not allowed" for anybody.

Does pić mean drinking alcohol here, or drinking in general?

Just like the English word "drinking," using the Polish verb pić all by itself usually implies drinking alcohol. If it meant water or soda, the sentence would likely specify the drink.