Polish at work: a glossary for warehouses, building sites and factories

First day at a warehouse in Gorzów. The supervisor quickly shows the newcomer around: "Tu bierzesz paleciak, tam jest rampa, skaner masz na regale, jak skończysz kompletację, zawołaj mnie." Of the whole sentence the newcomer caught "tu" and "tam". A week later these words will be routine — but the first week is much calmer if you learn them in advance.

The common view is that you'll "pick up" work Polish on the job. Partly true, but the price of learning that way is mistakes, misunderstandings and sometimes danger, when you don't understand a warning. Below is a glossary for the three most common workplaces for foreigners, plus words shared by all of them.

For everyone: shifts and people

• Zmiana — shift: ranna (morning), popołudniowa (afternoon), nocna (night).
• Grafik — shift schedule.
• Przerwa — break.
• Brygadzista, kierownik, majster — team leader, manager, foreman.
• Nadgodziny — overtime.
• Szatnia — changing room; szafka — locker.
• Odbić kartę — to clock in with your card.

Warehouse (magazyn)

• Regał — rack; półka — shelf.
• Paleta — pallet; karton — box.
• Wózek widłowy — forklift; paleciak — pallet jack.
• Skaner — scanner; etykieta — label.
• Zamówienie — order; kompletacja — order picking.
• Załadunek / rozładunek — loading / unloading.
• Rampa — loading dock.
• Folia stretch — stretch film; foliowanie — wrapping pallets.
• Uszkodzony towar — damaged goods.

Building site (budowa)

• Rusztowanie — scaffolding.
• Kask, kamizelka, rękawice — helmet, hi-vis vest, gloves.
• Cegła, pustak — brick, hollow block.
• Zaprawa — mortar; betoniarka — concrete mixer.
• Młotek, wiertarka, szlifierka — hammer, drill, angle grinder.
• Poziomica — spirit level.
• Gwóźdź, śruba, kołek — nail, screw, wall plug.
• Kierownik budowy — site manager.

Production (produkcja)

• Linia produkcyjna, taśma — production line, conveyor.
• Maszyna — machine; operator maszyn — machine operator.
• Norma — output target.
• Wada, brak — defect, reject.
• Kontrola jakości — quality control.
• Odpady — waste.
• Awaria — breakdown.

Safety: the words to learn first

• Uwaga! — Watch out!
• Stop! / Stój! — Stop!
• Wyjście ewakuacyjne — emergency exit.
• Zakaz wstępu — no entry.
• Apteczka — first-aid kit.
• Wypadek — accident.
• Szkolenie BHP — health and safety training.

Everyday phrases

• "Gdzie mam to położyć?" — Where should I put this?
• "Skończyłem / skończyłam, co dalej?" — I'm done, what next? (man / woman)
• "Maszyna się zepsuła" — The machine has broken down.
• "Potrzebuję pomocy" — I need help.
• "Powtórz, proszę, wolniej" — Please say it again, slower.
• "Mogę iść na przerwę?" — Can I take my break?
• "Źle się czuję" — I don't feel well.

Paperwork at work

• Umowa — contract; aneks — amendment to it.
• Wypłata — pay; pasek — payslip; zaliczka — advance.
• Urlop — holiday; urlop na żądanie — a holiday day "on demand".
• L4, zwolnienie lekarskie — sick leave.
• Badania lekarskie — pre-employment medical check.
• Świadectwo pracy — employment certificate after leaving.

How to ask for an explanation

If the supervisor speaks fast, don't be shy about asking again. Poles are used to working with foreigners and usually explain willingly if you ask politely: "Przepraszam, nie zrozumiałem. Może pan pokazać?" — Sorry, I didn't understand. Could you show me? Showing is often easier than explaining in words — for both of you. And next time you'll know what it's called.

How to learn this glossary in a week

Don't cram everything. Take only the block for your workplace plus "safety" and "phrases". Write the words on cards, and every time you see the object at work, name it silently in Polish. Words tied to real things stick many times faster than words from a list. After a week of this game you'll be surprised how many words you know without any cramming.

First-week checklist

• Safety. Learn the safety words before your first shift.
• Your block. Warehouse, site or production — just yours.
• Phrases. The 7 everyday phrases — by heart.
• Cards. Keep word cards in your pocket.
• Colleagues. Ask "Jak to się nazywa po polsku?" — What's this called in Polish?
• Notebook. Write down new words right after your shift.