Asking for Directions in Polish
Ninety percent of every route is three words: prosto, w lewo, w prawo. Add the polite ask and a couple of landmark prepositions, and no old town can hold you.
The Three Directions
| Polish | English |
|---|---|
| prosto | straight ahead |
| w lewo | (to the) left |
| w prawo | (to the) right |
Polite Instructions
Directions arrive as proszę + infinitive — the gentle command: Proszę iść prosto (please go straight), Proszę skręcić w lewo (please turn left). You don't need to produce these yet — you need to catch them at street speed.
Przepraszam, gdzie jest rynek?
Excuse me, where's the market square?
Proszę iść prosto, potem skręcić w prawo.
Go straight, then turn right.
Daleko?
Far?
Nie, blisko — pięć minut.
No, close — five minutes.
Next To, Near, Opposite
Three landmark words, all pulling the genitive you know: obok banku (next to the bank), koło rynku (near the square), naprzeciwko dworca (opposite the station).
Apteka jest obok banku, naprzeciwko poczty.
The pharmacy is next to the bank, opposite the post office.
Note: Two genitives place one pharmacy: banku, poczty.
Far or Near
daleko — far; blisko — near. The full answer you're hoping for: To jest blisko, pięć minut prosto. The one you're not: To daleko, proszę jechać autobusem — take the bus (next lesson has you covered).
Common Mistakes
- na lewo vs w lewo. Both exist; turning is skręcić w lewo.
- obok + nominative. Landmarks take the genitive: obok banku, not obok bank.
- Nodding while lost. Jeszcze raz, proszę — once more, please — costs nothing and saves kilometers.
What You Can Do Now
You can ask where anything is, follow street directions delivered at native speed, and give simple ones back — the city grid is now readable.