Breakdown of Znamy już wagę paczki.
znać
to know (someone or something)
już
already / anymore (with negation)
paczka
package
waga
weight
Questions & Answers about Znamy już wagę paczki.
Why does this sentence use Znamy (from znać) instead of Wiemy (from wiedzieć) for 'we know'?
Even though we are talking about a piece of information, Polish uses znać when the direct object is a simple noun like wagę (weight). You use wiedzieć when the knowledge is followed by a whole clause or question word, for example: Wiemy, ile waży paczka (We know how much the package weighs).
Why is już placed exactly where it is in the sentence?
In Polish, the temporal particle już (already) is flexible but generally sits right after the main verb or right before the word it emphasizes. Placing it immediately after the verb (Znamy) is the standard, neutral way to say you already know something. Putting it at the very beginning (Już znamy...) would place heavier emphasis on the 'already', sounding more like 'Finally, we already know it.'
Why does the ending of waga change to wagę, but paczka changes to paczki?
This phrase chains two different grammatical cases. Wagę is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb (we know what? - the weight). Feminine nouns ending in -a change to -ę in the accusative. Paczki is in the genitive case because it shows possession (the weight of the package), changing the -a to -i after the consonant k.
Does the word waga also mean a weighing scale?
Yes, waga means both 'weight' and a physical weighing 'scale'. You have to rely on context to tell them apart. In this sentence, 'knowing the scale of the package' doesn't make logical sense, so it naturally translates to 'weight'.
Learn Znamy już wagę paczki and more in Polish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free