The Polish Alphabet - Vowels, Consonants, Special Characters & more

Q: How many letters are in the Polish alphabet?

The Polish alphabet consists of 32 letters , including 23 basic Latin letters and 9 special accented characters (ą, ć, ę, ł, ń, ó, ś, ź, ż).

Q: What are those special Polish letters and how do you pronounce them?

Polish has some super cool special letters ! Here's how they work: Nasal vowels: • ą - sounds like "on" in French (nasal "a") • ę - sounds like "en" in French (nasal "e") Special consonants: • ć, ń, ś, ź - soft versions of c, n, s, z • ł - sounds like English "w" (not "l"!) • ż - sounds like "zh" in "pleasure" These aren't just decorations - they completely change how words sound and mean !

Q: Where is Polish spoken and by how many people?

Polish is spoken by about 45 million people around the world: • Poland - about 38 million native speakers • United States - large Polish-American communities • United Kingdom - significant Polish immigration • Germany, Lithuania, Belarus - neighboring countries with Polish speakers • Canada, Australia - Polish diaspora communities It's the second most spoken Slavic language after Russian!

Q: Is Polish really as hard to learn as people say?

Polish has a reputation for being tough , but here's the real deal: The challenging parts: • 7 different cases - words change endings based on their role • Complex consonant clusters - lots of consonants together • Special letters - 9 unique characters to learn The easier parts: • Phonetic spelling - you read exactly what's written • Logical stress - usually on the second-to-last syllable • No articles - no "a", "an", or "the" to worry about! With consistent practice , Polish is totally learnable!

Q: How do you type Polish letters on a keyboard?

Great question! There are several ways to type Polish letters: Polish keyboard layout: • Switch your computer to Polish QWERTY • Use Right Alt + letter for special characters Alt codes (Windows): • Hold Alt and type numbers on numpad • Example: Alt + 0185 = ą Mobile devices: • Hold and press base letters to see Polish options • Add Polish keyboard in settings Pro tip: Polish programmers keyboards make it super easy!

Polish Alphabet at a Glance

32 letters: 9 vowels (including ą, ę, ó) and 23 consonants from Latin script
Spoken by approximately 45 million people worldwide, primarily in Poland ^[2]
West Slavic language closely related to Czech and Slovak
Features unique diacritics: ogonek (ą, ę), kreska (ć, ń, ó, ś, ź), crossed l (ł), and dotted z (ż)
Complex consonant clusters characteristic of Slavic languages
Official language of Poland and European Union, with minority status in neighboring countries ^[3]
Phonetic spelling system where letters correspond consistently to sounds

Polish Vowels (Uppercase)

[AH]

[AWN]

[EH]

[EHN]

[EE]

[OH]

[OO]

[IH]

[AH]

Uppercase "A" pronounced as "ah", like in "Auto" (Car).

[AWN]

Uppercase nasal vowel "Ą" pronounced as "on".

[EH]

Uppercase "E" pronounced as "eh", like in "Europa" (Europe).

[EHN]

Uppercase nasal vowel "Ę" pronounced as "en".

[EE]

Uppercase "I" pronounced as "ee", like in "Italia" (Italy).

[OH]

Uppercase "O" pronounced as "oh", like in "Oko" (Eye).

[OO]

Uppercase accented vowel "Ó" pronounced as "u".

[OO]

Uppercase "U" pronounced as "oo", like in "Ukraina" (Ukraine).

[IH]

Uppercase "Y" pronounced as "i", like in "Yacht" (Yacht).

Polish Vowels (Lowercase)

[ah]

[awn]

[eh]

[ehn]

[ee]

[oh]

[oo]

[ih]

[ah]

The letter "a" pronounced as "ah", like in "auto" (car).

[awn]

Nasal vowel "ą" pronounced as "on", like in "są" (they are).

[eh]

The letter "e" pronounced as "eh", like in "jeść" (to eat).

[ehn]

Nasal vowel "ę" pronounced as "en", like in "język" (language).

[ee]

The letter "i" pronounced as "ee", like in "imię" (name).

[oh]

The letter "o" pronounced as "oh", like in "oko" (eye).

[oo]

Accented vowel "ó" pronounced as "u", like in "góra" (mountain).

[oo]

The letter "u" pronounced as "oo", like in "uczę" (I learn).

[ih]

The letter "y" pronounced as "i", like in "ty" (you).

Polish Consonants (Uppercase)

[BEH]

[TSEH]

[CHIEH]

[DEH]

[FEH]

[GEH]

[HAH]

[YOH]

[KAH]

[LEH]

[WUEH]

[MEH]

[NEH]

[NYEH]

[PEH]

[REH]

[SEH]

[SHIEH]

[TEH]

[VEH]

[ZEH]

[ZHIEH]

[ZHEH]

[BEH]

Uppercase "B" pronounced as "b", like in "Brat" (Brother).

[TSEH]

Uppercase "C" pronounced as "ts", like in "Co" (What).

[CHIEH]

Uppercase soft "Ć" pronounced as "ch".

[DEH]

Uppercase "D" pronounced as "d", like in "Dom" (House).

[FEH]

Uppercase "F" pronounced as "f", like in "Film" (Film).

[GEH]

Uppercase "G" pronounced as "g", like in "Głos" (Voice).

[HAH]

Uppercase "H" pronounced as "h", like in "Historia" (History).

[YOH]

Uppercase "J" pronounced as "y", like in "Ja" (I).

[KAH]

Uppercase "K" pronounced as "k", like in "Kot" (Cat).

[LEH]

Uppercase "L" pronounced as "l", like in "Lubić" (To like).

[WUEH]

Uppercase crossed "Ł" pronounced as "w", like in "Łódź" (Boat).

[MEH]

Uppercase "M" pronounced as "m", like in "Mama" (Mum).

[NEH]

Uppercase "N" pronounced as "n", like in "Nie" (No).

[NYEH]

Uppercase soft "Ń" pronounced as "ny", like in "Koń" (Horse).

[PEH]

Uppercase "P" pronounced as "p", like in "Pies" (Dog).

[REH]

Uppercase "R" pronounced as rolled "r", like in "Rok" (Year).

[SEH]

Uppercase "S" pronounced as "s", like in "Syn" (Son).

[SHIEH]

Uppercase soft "Ś" pronounced as soft "sh", like in "Śnieg" (Snow).

[TEH]

Uppercase "T" pronounced as "t", like in "Tak" (Yes).

[VEH]

Uppercase "W" pronounced as "v", like in "Woda" (Water).

[ZEH]

Uppercase "Z" pronounced as "z", like in "Zero" (Zero).

[ZHIEH]

Uppercase soft "Ź" pronounced as soft "zh".

[ZHEH]

Uppercase dotted "Ż" pronounced as "zh", like in "Żaba" (Frog).

Polish Consonants (Lowercase)

[beh]

[tseh]

[cheh]

[deh]

[feh]

[geh]

[hah]

[yoh]

[kah]

[leh]

[weh]

[meh]

[neh]

[nyeh]

[peh]

[reh]

[seh]

[sheh]

[teh]

[veh]

[zeh]

[zheh]

[beh]

The letter "b" pronounced as "b", like in "brat" (brother).

[tseh]

The letter "c" pronounced as "ts", like in "co" (what).

[cheh]

Soft "ć" pronounced as "ch", like in "ćwiczenie" (exercise).

[deh]

The letter "d" pronounced as "d", like in "dom" (house).

[feh]

The letter "f" pronounced as "f", like in "film" (film).

[geh]

The letter "g" pronounced as "g", like in "głos" (voice).

[hah]

The letter "h" pronounced as "h", like in "historia" (history).

[yoh]

The letter "j" pronounced as "y", like in "ja" (I).

[kah]

The letter "k" pronounced as "k", like in "kot" (cat).

[leh]

The letter "l" pronounced as "l", like in "lubić" (to like).

[weh]

Crossed "ł" pronounced as "w", like in "łódź" (boat).

[meh]

The letter "m" pronounced as "m", like in "mama" (mum).

[neh]

The letter "n" pronounced as "n", like in "nie" (no).

[nyeh]

Soft "ń" pronounced as "ny", like in "koń" (horse).

[peh]

The letter "p" pronounced as "p", like in "pies" (dog).

[reh]

The letter "r" pronounced as rolled "r", like in "rok" (year).

[seh]

The letter "s" pronounced as "s", like in "syn" (son).

[sheh]

Soft "ś" pronounced as soft "sh", like in "śnieg" (snow).

[teh]

The letter "t" pronounced as "t", like in "tak" (yes).

[veh]

The letter "w" pronounced as "v", like in "woda" (water).

[zeh]

The letter "z" pronounced as "z", like in "zero" (zero).

[zheh]

Soft "ź" pronounced as soft "zh", like in "źrebię" (foal).

[zheh]

Dotted "ż" pronounced as "zh", like in "żaba" (frog).

A a

[AH/ah]

Ą ą

[AWN/awn]

B b

[BEH/beh]

C c

[TSEH/tseh]

Ć ć

[CHIEH/chieh]

D d

[DEH/deh]

E e

[EH/eh]

Ę ę

[EHN/ehn]

F f

[FEH/feh]

G g

[GEH/geh]

H h

[HAH/hah]

I i

[EE/ee]

J j

[YOH/yoh]

K k

[KAH/kah]

L l

[LEH/leh]

Ł ł

[WUEH/wueh]

M m

[MEH/meh]

N n

[NEH/neh]

Ń ń

[NYEH/nyeh]

O o

[OH/oh]

Ó ó

[OO/oo]

P p

[PEH/peh]

R r

[REH/reh]

S s

[SEH/seh]

Ś ś

[SHIEH/shieh]

T t

[TEH/teh]

U u

[OO/oo]

W w

[VEH/veh]

Y y

[IH/ih]

Z z

[ZEH/zeh]

Ź ź

[ZHIEH/zhieh]

Ż ż

[ZHEH/zheh]

A a

[AH/ah]

Letter A (A) pronounced as "ah", like in "auto" (car). It can be uppercase (A) or lowercase (a).

Ą ą

[AWN/awn]

Nasal vowel Ą (A ogonek) pronounced as "on", like in "są" (they are). It can be uppercase (Ą) or lowercase (ą).

B b

[BEH/beh]

Letter B (Be) pronounced as "b", like in "brat" (brother). It can be uppercase (B) or lowercase (b).

C c

[TSEH/tseh]

Letter C (Ce) pronounced as "ts", like in "co" (what). It can be uppercase (C) or lowercase (c).

Ć ć

[CHIEH/chieh]

Soft C (Cie) pronounced as "ch", like in "ćwiczenie" (exercise). It can be uppercase (Ć) or lowercase (ć).

D d

[DEH/deh]

Letter D (De) pronounced as "d", like in "dom" (house). It can be uppercase (D) or lowercase (d).

E e

[EH/eh]

Letter E (E) pronounced as "eh", like in "jeść" (to eat). It can be uppercase (E) or lowercase (e).

Ę ę

[EHN/ehn]

Nasal vowel Ę (E ogonek) pronounced as "en", like in "język" (language). It can be uppercase (Ę) or lowercase (ę).

F f

[FEH/feh]

Letter F (Ef) pronounced as "f", like in "film" (film). It can be uppercase (F) or lowercase (f).

G g

[GEH/geh]

Letter G (Gie) pronounced as "g", like in "głos" (voice). It can be uppercase (G) or lowercase (g).

H h

[HAH/hah]

Letter H (Ha) pronounced as "h", like in "historia" (history). It can be uppercase (H) or lowercase (h).

I i

[EE/ee]

Letter I (I) pronounced as "ee", like in "imię" (name). It can be uppercase (I) or lowercase (i).

J j

[YOH/yoh]

Letter J (Jot) pronounced as "y", like in "ja" (I). It can be uppercase (J) or lowercase (j).

K k

[KAH/kah]

Letter K (Ka) pronounced as "k", like in "kot" (cat). It can be uppercase (K) or lowercase (k).

L l

[LEH/leh]

Letter L (El) pronounced as "l", like in "lubić" (to like). It can be uppercase (L) or lowercase (l).

Ł ł

[WUEH/wueh]

Crossed L (Eł) pronounced as "w", like in "łódź" (boat). It can be uppercase (Ł) or lowercase (ł).

M m

[MEH/meh]

Letter M (Em) pronounced as "m", like in "mama" (mum). It can be uppercase (M) or lowercase (m).

N n

[NEH/neh]

Letter N (En) pronounced as "n", like in "nie" (no). It can be uppercase (N) or lowercase (n).

Ń ń

[NYEH/nyeh]

Soft N (Eń) pronounced as "ny", like in "koń" (horse). It can be uppercase (Ń) or lowercase (ń).

O o

[OH/oh]

Letter O (O) pronounced as "oh", like in "oko" (eye). It can be uppercase (O) or lowercase (o).

Ó ó

[OO/oo]

Accented O (O acute) pronounced as "u", like in "góra" (mountain). It can be uppercase (Ó) or lowercase (ó).

P p

[PEH/peh]

Letter P (Pe) pronounced as "p", like in "pies" (dog). It can be uppercase (P) or lowercase (p).

R r

[REH/reh]

Letter R (Er) pronounced as rolled "r", like in "rok" (year). It can be uppercase (R) or lowercase (r).

S s

[SEH/seh]

Letter S (Es) pronounced as "s", like in "syn" (son). It can be uppercase (S) or lowercase (s).

Ś ś

[SHIEH/shieh]

Soft S (Eś) pronounced as soft "sh", like in "śnieg" (snow). It can be uppercase (Ś) or lowercase (ś).

T t

[TEH/teh]

Letter T (Te) pronounced as "t", like in "tak" (yes). It can be uppercase (T) or lowercase (t).

U u

[OO/oo]

Letter U (U) pronounced as "oo", like in "uczę" (I learn). It can be uppercase (U) or lowercase (u).

W w

[VEH/veh]

Letter W (Wu) pronounced as "v", like in "woda" (water). It can be uppercase (W) or lowercase (w).

Y y

[IH/ih]

Letter Y (Y) pronounced as "i", like in "ty" (you). It can be uppercase (Y) or lowercase (y).

Z z

[ZEH/zeh]

Letter Z (Zet) pronounced as "z", like in "zero" (zero). It can be uppercase (Z) or lowercase (z).

Ź ź

[ZHIEH/zhieh]

Soft Z (Źet) pronounced as soft "zh", like in "źrebię" (foal). It can be uppercase (Ź) or lowercase (ź).

Ż ż

[ZHEH/zheh]

Dotted Z (Żet) pronounced as "zh", like in "żaba" (frog). It can be uppercase (Ż) or lowercase (ż).

[zeh-roh]

[yeh-den]

[dvah]

[tshih]

[chte-rih]

[pyehnch]

[sheshch]

[sheh-dem]

[oh-shem]

[djeh-vyehnch]

[pzheh-cinek]

[zeh-roh]

Digit 0 (zero) pronounced "zeh-roh" in Polish.

[yeh-den]

Digit 1 (one) pronounced "yeh-den" in Polish.

[dvah]

Digit 2 (two) pronounced "dvah" in Polish.

[tshih]

Digit 3 (three) pronounced "tshih" in Polish.

[chte-rih]

Digit 4 (four) pronounced "chte-rih" in Polish.

[pyehnch]

Digit 5 (five) pronounced "pyehnch" in Polish.

[sheshch]

Digit 6 (six) pronounced "sheshch" in Polish.

[sheh-dem]

Digit 7 (seven) pronounced "sheh-dem" in Polish.

[oh-shem]

Digit 8 (eight) pronounced "oh-shem" in Polish.

[djeh-vyehnch]

Digit 9 (nine) pronounced "djeh-vyehnch" in Polish.

[pzheh-cinek]

Comma punctuation mark used for decimal separator in Polish.

Polish Accented Vowels (Lowercase)

[awn]

[ehn]

[oo]

Polish Accented Vowels (Uppercase)

[awn]

[ehn]

[oo]

;

–

—

(

)

[

]

{

}

€

zł

Expand All Collapse All

How many letters are in the Polish alphabet?

What are those special Polish letters and how do you pronounce them?

Where is Polish spoken and by how many people?

Is Polish really as hard to learn as people say?

How do you type Polish letters on a keyboard?

References:

[1] Unicode Consortium. "Latin Extended-B Block". Retrieved from Unicode Latin Extended-B
[2] Statistics Poland (GUS). "Official demographic and linguistic statistics". Retrieved from Poland Statistics
[3] Polish Government Act of 6 January 2005. "National and ethnic minorities and regional languages". Official law on language minorities and regional languages