polski · A1 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Greetings and introductions
Choose time-appropriate greetings and formal pan/pani or informal ty.
Understand the choice
A complete introduction combines greeting, name, origin, and appropriate address. Cześć uses informal relationships; dzień dobry and pan/pani suit neutral/formal first meetings.
Core rule: Mam na imię gives a name; być z + genitive or pochodzić z gives origin; pan/pani takes third-person forms.
Notice it in context
Dzień dobry, mam na imię Amina i jestem z Poznania.
Good morning, my name is Amina and I am from Poznań.
Mam encodes ja; na imię is fixed; jestem z takes genitive Poznania.
Dzień dobry, jak ma pani na imię?
Good morning, what is your name?
Formal pani takes third-person ma.
Cześć Adam, jesteś z Wrocławia?
Hi Adam, are you from Wrocław?
Informal ty is encoded by jesteś; z takes genitive Wrocławia.
What to remember
- Dobranoc is a farewell before sleep, not an evening greeting.
- Miło mi is a compact polite response to an introduction.
Common trap: Do not address an unknown adult with ty unless invited.