How to Say “How Are You” in Polish: 10 Formal & Informal Expressions
Here are 10 ways to ask “how are you?” in Polish, from casual to formal, with pronunciation, when to use each, and how to answer, from a native teacher.
You’ve mastered cześć. Now someone smiles back, and you want to ask how they’re doing, without sounding like you swallowed a phrasebook.
Good news: I’m a native Polish teacher, and in this post I’ll give you ten real ways Poles ask “how are you?”, from casual to formal, plus how to actually answer when someone asks you.
One thing to know before you ask
Here’s something most phrasebooks won’t tell you: Poles tend to take “how are you?” literally. In English, “how are you?” is often just a friendly noise, part of the greeting itself, and nobody expects a real answer. In Polish, if you ask, you may well get an honest one, good day or bad. It’s treated as genuine interest, not small talk.
So use these phrases when you actually want to know, and don’t be surprised by a real reply. (Pronunciation guides below are approximate; if you want the sounds properly, start with my guide to the Polish alphabet.)
Let’s start casual.
Informal ways to ask “how are you?”
Use these with friends, family, classmates, and people roughly your own age.
1. Jak się masz? (yak sheh mash)
The classic. Literally “how do you have yourself?” It’s the textbook informal “how are you?” and it’s perfectly good, though Poles use it a little less casually than you’d use “how are you?” in English. Warm and friendly among people you know.
2. Co słychać? (tso SWIH-hahch)
Literally “what’s audible?” — the Polish version of “what’s up?” or “what’s new?” Relaxed, common, and a lovely one to have in your pocket for friends.
3. Co u ciebie? (tso oo CHEH-byeh)
“How are things with you?” Friendly and a bit personal, like asking what’s going on in someone’s life. Great for catching up.
4. Jak leci? (yak LEH-chee)
Literally “how’s it flying?” Casual and cheerful, close to “how’s it going?” Use it with people you’re comfortable with.
5. Jak tam? (yak tam)
Very casual, like “how’re things?” Often paired with another phrase (No cześć, jak tam? — “Hey, how’s it going?”). Keep this one for friends.
6. Co nowego? (tso no-VEH-go)
“What’s new?” Exactly what it sounds like, and used the same way as in English.
7. Jak się czujesz? (yak sheh CHOO-yesh)
A word of caution on this one. It means “how are you feeling?” and is really about health or emotional state, not a general greeting. Use it when someone’s been unwell or going through something, not as a casual hello.
Want to keep all of these somewhere handy?
Grab my free list of everyday Polish phrases.
Formal ways to ask “how are you?”
Use these with strangers, elders, colleagues, or anyone you’d address respectfully. Polish formality uses Pan (to a man) and Pani (to a woman) instead of “you,” together with the “he/she” form of the verb.
8. Jak się Pan/Pani ma? (yak sheh pan / PAH-nee ma)
The standard formal “how are you?” Say Pan to a man, Pani to a woman. Talking to a group? Jak się Państwo mają?
9. Jak się Pan/Pani miewa? (yak sheh pan / PAH-nee MYEH-vah)
A slightly warmer formal version, closer to “how have you been?” It suggests you’re asking about the general state of things over time. Polite and a little caring.
10. Jak samopoczucie? (yak sah-mo-po-CHOO-cheh)
Literally “how’s your wellbeing?” This one is my favourite tip for beginners: it’s polite, it works in most situations, and it cleverly sidesteps the whole Pan/Pani verb agreement, so there’s less to get wrong while you’re still learning. A genuinely useful shortcut.
How to answer “how are you?” in Polish
Half the battle is knowing what to say back. Here are your go-to replies, from cheerful to honest:
Dobrze, dziękuję. (DOB-zheh, jen-KOO-yeh) — “Good, thank you.”
Wszystko w porządku. (FSHIST-ko f po-ZHONT-koo) — “Everything’s fine.” (Or just w porządku.)
Świetnie! (SHFYET-nyeh) — “Great!”
Tak sobie. (tak SO-byeh) — “So-so.”
Jako tako. (YAH-ko TAH-ko) — “Not bad, so-so.”
Po staremu. (po stah-REH-moo) — “Same as always.”
Nie najlepiej. (nyeh nai-LEH-pyey) — “Not the best.” (Poles will happily tell you this — remember, they mean it.)
And always send the question back:
A u ciebie? (ah oo CHEH-byeh) — “And you?” (informal)
A u Pana / Pani? (ah oo PAH-nah / PAH-nee) — “And you?” (formal)
Putting it together
Here’s how it sounds in real life.
Informal, with a friend:
- Cześć! Jak się masz? — “Hi! How are you?”
- Dobrze, dziękuję. A u ciebie? — “Good, thanks. And you?”
Formal, meeting someone properly:
- Dzień dobry, jak się Pani miewa? — “Hello, how have you been?”
- Dziękuję, wszystko w porządku. — “Thank you, everything’s fine.”
For the greeting half of those exchanges — cześć, dzień dobry and the rest — see my guide to saying hello in Polish.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s the most common way to say “how are you?” in Polish?
Jak się masz? is the classic informal version, and co słychać? is a very common casual alternative. For formal situations, jak się Pan/Pani ma? is the standard.
Is jak się masz correct and natural?
Yes, it’s correct and widely understood. Just remember Poles use it a little more sincerely than the English “how are you?”; it invites a genuine answer rather than serving as an automatic greeting.
How do you answer “how are you?” in Polish?
The safe, friendly default is Dobrze, dziękuję (“good, thank you”), or wszystko w porządku (“everything’s fine”). If you’re not doing so well, tak sobie (“so-so”) or nie najlepiej (“not great”) are honest options. Then return it with a u ciebie?
How do you ask “how are you?” formally in Polish?
Use Jak się Pan ma? to a man, Jak się Pani ma? to a woman, or the warmer jak się Pan/Pani miewa? If you’d rather avoid the grammar, jak samopoczucie? is a polite catch-all.
Do Poles actually ask “how are you?”
Yes, but less automatically than English speakers, and they mean it. It’s a real question about your day or your health, so expect (and give) a real answer.
