Your first week at a Polish warehouse or factory goes much easier when you recognise the words people actually use: on the contract, on the shift board and from the team leader. Below are the ones that come up every day, grouped by situation.
Documents and hiring
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| umowa o pracę | employment contract | oo-MOH-vah oh PRAH-tseh |
| umowa zlecenie | contract of mandate (civil-law contract) | oo-MOH-vah zleh-TSEH-nyeh |
| pracodawca | employer | prah-tsoh-DAHV-tsah |
| pracownik | employee, worker | prah-TSOV-nyeek |
| agencja pracy | employment agency | ah-GEN-tsyah PRAH-tsih |
| rozmowa kwalifikacyjna | job interview | roz-MOH-vah kvah-lee-fee-kah-TSIY-nah |
| życiorys / CV | CV, résumé | zhih-CHOH-rihs / CV |
| zezwolenie na pracę | work permit | zeh-zvoh-LEH-nyeh nah PRAH-tseh |
| karta pobytu | residence card | KAHR-tah poh-BIH-too |
| badania lekarskie | medical check-up | bah-DAH-nyah leh-KAHRS-kyeh |
| szkolenie BHP | health and safety training | shkoh-LEH-nyeh BHP |
| okres próbny | probation period | OH-kres PROOB-nih |
Warehouse and production
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| magazyn | warehouse | mah-GAH-zin |
| hala | production hall | HAH-lah |
| paleta | pallet | pah-LEH-tah |
| wózek widłowy | forklift | VOO-zek vee-DWOH-vih |
| paczka | parcel, package | PAHCH-kah |
| karton | cardboard box | KAHR-ton |
| taśma | conveyor belt | TAHSH-mah |
| skaner | scanner | SKAH-ner |
| etykieta | label | eh-tih-KYEH-tah |
| zamówienie | order | zah-moo-VYEH-nyeh |
| kompletacja | order picking | kom-pleh-TAH-tsyah |
| pakowanie | packing | pah-koh-VAH-nyeh |
| maszyna | machine | mah-SHIH-nah |
| linia produkcyjna | production line | LEE-nyah proh-dook-TSIY-nah |
| towar | goods, stock | TOH-vahr |
| regał | rack, shelving | REH-gahw |
Shifts and pay
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| zmiana | shift | ZMYAH-nah |
| pierwsza / nocna zmiana | first (morning) / night shift | PYERV-shah / NOTS-nah ZMYAH-nah |
| nadgodziny | overtime | nahd-goh-JEE-nih |
| stawka godzinowa | hourly rate | STAHV-kah goh-jee-NOH-vah |
| wypłata | pay, salary | vih-PWAH-tah |
| brutto / netto | gross / net (before / after tax) | BROOT-toh / NET-toh |
| zaliczka | advance payment | zah-LEECH-kah |
| premia | bonus | PREH-myah |
| podatek | tax | poh-DAH-tek |
| urlop | holiday, leave | OOR-lop |
| zwolnienie lekarskie (L4) | sick leave (L4) | zvohl-NYEH-nyeh leh-KAHRS-kyeh L4 |
| dzień wolny | day off | jen VOL-nih |
| grafik | rota, schedule | GRAH-feek |
| przerwa | break | PSHER-vah |
| akord | piece rate (pay per output) | AH-kord |
Health and safety
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| kask | hard hat | kahsk |
| rękawice | gloves | ren-kah-VEE-tseh |
| buty robocze | work boots | BOO-tih roh-BOH-cheh |
| kamizelka odblaskowa | high-visibility vest | kah-mee-ZEL-kah od-blahs-KOH-vah |
| okulary ochronne | safety glasses | oh-koo-LAH-rih oh-HRON-neh |
| Uwaga! | Caution! | oo-VAH-gah |
| zakaz palenia | no smoking | ZAH-kahz pah-LEH-nyah |
| wyjście ewakuacyjne | emergency exit | VIYSH-cheh eh-vah-koo-ah-TSIY-neh |
| apteczka | first-aid kit | ahp-TECH-kah |
| wypadek przy pracy | accident at work | vih-PAH-dek pshih PRAH-tsih |
Below are more words by workplace: building site, warehouse, production, paperwork and safety.
Building site (budowa)
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| rusztowanie | scaffolding | roosh-toh-VAH-nyeh |
| kamizelka | hi-vis vest | kah-mee-ZEL-kah |
| cegła | brick | TSEH-gwah |
| pustak | hollow block | POOS-tahk |
| zaprawa | mortar | zah-PRAH-vah |
| betoniarka | concrete mixer | beh-toh-NYAHR-kah |
| młotek | hammer | MWOH-tek |
| wiertarka | drill | vyer-TAHR-kah |
| szlifierka | angle grinder | shlee-FYER-kah |
| poziomica | spirit level | poh-zhoh-MEE-tsah |
| gwóźdź | nail | gvoozhj |
| śruba | screw | SHROO-bah |
| kołek | wall plug | KOH-wek |
| kierownik budowy | site manager | kyeh-ROV-nyeek boo-DOH-vih |
Warehouse (magazyn) — more words
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| półka | shelf | POOW-kah |
| paleciak | pallet jack | pah-LEH-chahk |
| załadunek / rozładunek | loading / unloading | zah-wah-DOO-nek / roh-zwah-DOO-nek |
| rampa | loading dock | RAHM-pah |
| folia stretch | stretch film | FOH-lyah streth |
| foliowanie | wrapping pallets | foh-lyoh-VAH-nyeh |
| uszkodzony towar | damaged goods | oosh-koh-DZOH-nih TOH-vahr |
Production (produkcja) — more words
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| operator maszyn | machine operator | oh-peh-RAH-tor MAH-shin |
| norma | output target | NOR-mah |
| wada | defect | VAH-dah |
| brak | reject | brahk |
| kontrola jakości | quality control | kon-TROH-lah yah-KOSH-chee |
| odpady | waste | od-PAH-dih |
| awaria | breakdown | ah-VAH-ryah |
For everyone: shifts and people — more words
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| brygadzista | team leader | brih-gah-JEES-tah |
| kierownik | manager | kyeh-ROV-nyeek |
| majster | foreman | MAHYS-ter |
| szatnia | changing room | SHAHT-nyah |
| szafka | locker | SHAHF-kah |
| odbić kartę | to clock in with your card | OD-beech KAHR-teh |
Paperwork at work — more words
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| umowa | contract | oo-MOH-vah |
| aneks | amendment | AH-neks |
| pasek | payslip | PAH-sek |
| urlop na żądanie | a holiday day "on demand" | OOR-lop nah zhon-DAH-nyeh |
| L4, zwolnienie lekarskie | sick leave | l4, zvol-NYEH-nyeh leh-KAHRS-kyeh |
| świadectwo pracy | employment certificate after leaving | shvyah-DETS-tvoh PRAH-tsih |
Safety: the words to learn first — more words
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Stop! / Stój! | Stop! | stop / stooy |
| zakaz wstępu | no entry | ZAH-kahz VSTEM-poo |
| wypadek | accident | vih-PAH-dek |
More everyday phrases
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Skończyłem / skończyłam, co dalej? | I'm done, what next? (man / woman) | skon-CHIH-wem / skon-CHIH-wahm, tsoh DAH-ley |
| Potrzebuję pomocy | I need help | pot-sheh-BOO-yeh poh-MOH-tsih |
| Powtórz, proszę, wolniej | Please say it again, slower | POV-toozh, PROH-sheh, VOL-nyey |
| Mogę iść na przerwę? | Can I take my break? | MOH-geh eeshch nah PSHER-veh |
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.
Talking to your supervisor
| Polish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Co mam teraz robić? | What should I do now? | tsoh mahm TEH-rahz ROH-beech |
| Gdzie mam to położyć? | Where should I put this? | gjeh mahm toh poh-WOH-zhich |
| Skończyłem / skończyłam | I've finished (man / woman) | skon-CHIH-wem / skon-CHIH-wahm |
| Mam pytanie | I have a question | mahm pih-TAH-nyeh |
| Kiedy jest przerwa? | When is the break? | KYEH-dih yest PSHER-vah |
| Kiedy będzie wypłata? | When will we get paid? | KYEH-dih BEN-jeh vih-PWAH-tah |
| Źle się czuję | I don't feel well | zhleh sheh CHOO-yeh |
| Maszyna się zepsuła | The machine has broken down | mah-SHIH-nah sheh zep-SOO-wah |
| Brakuje towaru | We're out of stock | brah-KOO-yeh toh-VAH-roo |
| Czy mogę wziąć dzień wolny? | Can I take a day off? | chih MOH-geh vzhonch jen VOL-nih |
| Jutro przyjdę później | I'll come in later tomorrow | YOO-troh PSHIY-deh POOZH-nyey |
| Dziękuję za pomoc | Thanks for your help | jen-KOO-yeh zah POH-mots |
