Polish
10 Polish swear words you'll actually hear
A traveller's shortlist of Polish expletives, insults and exclamations — what they mean, and how strong they are.
Every language swears differently. This guide collects 10 Polish expressions you're genuinely likely to hear — from mild exclamations to properly strong stuff — and explains what each one actually means, not just its dictionary translation.
Burn Ratings are an approximate, cross-language heuristic. Context, region, tone and who's speaking all change how a word lands. Treat these as a guide, not gospel.
- chuj 4/5 · Strong
This is a very vulgar term for 'penis' that doubles as a harsh personal insult. It's used to demean someone, often implying they're worthless or contemptible.
Full entry → - ja pierdolę 4/5 · Strong
Literally “I fuck”. This is a strong expression of shock or frustration, akin to saying 'I can't believe this' or 'What the fuck.'
Full entry → - jebać 4/5 · Strong
Literally “have sex”. This is a very vulgar way to say 'to fuck.' It's used to express a strong sentiment or action.
Full entry → - pierdolić 4/5 · Strong
Literally “have sex”. It means to fuck, but can also refer to talking nonsense or disregarding something. Context is key, as it’s not always sexual.
Full entry → - spierdalać 4/5 · Strong
It means to get away or fuck off, used in a very aggressive manner.
Full entry → - gówno prawda 3/5 · Vulgar
Literally “shit truth”. This means a blatant rejection of a claim, implying that it's completely false. It's not about actual truth but rather dismissing something as nonsense.
Full entry → - jebany 4/5 · Strong
This term is used as a vulgar adjective or intensifier, often to emphasize something negatively. Literally, it translates to 'fucked,' but its meaning varies based on what it modifies.
Full entry → - cholerny 2/5 · Coarse
Literally “cholera-related”. It’s used as an intensifier similar to 'damn' or 'damned.' It doesn’t usually refer to the disease itself.
Full entry → - dupa 2/5 · Coarse
Literally “buttocks”. It's a coarse term for someone's backside. It can also appear in various idiomatic expressions in Polish.
Full entry →