Family Words in Polish — and mój, moja, moje
Family is the first thing Poles will ask you about and the last thing they'll stop feeding you over. Here are the people — and the little word "my" that changes shape to match them.
The Core Family
| Polish | English |
|---|---|
| rodzina | family |
| mama / tata | mum / dad |
| brat / siostra | brother / sister |
| syn / córka | son / daughter |
| dziecko | child |
To jest moja rodzina.
This is my family.
Note: rodzina is feminine (-a), so it takes moja.
Grandparents & Spouses
babcia (grandma) and dziadek (grandpa) — the twin pillars of Polish family life; Sunday dinner at babcia's is a national institution. Add żona (wife) and mąż (husband) and the table is set.
Mój dziadek ma osiemdziesiąt lat.
My grandpa is eighty years old.
Note: Age with mieć, as always: ma … lat.
My — Three Ways
"My" agrees with the gender of the person or thing owned — the same three-way split as ten/ta/to and dobry/dobra/dobre:
| Gender | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | mój | mój brat, mój tata |
| feminine | moja | moja siostra, moja mama |
| neuter | moje | moje dziecko |
Pointing People Out
To jest… introduces anyone: To jest mój brat. To jest moja siostra, Ola. At a Polish family gathering you'll say this a dozen times — and hear it back with names you'll forget instantly.
To jest moja babcia, a to mój brat Michał.
This is my grandma, and this is my brother Michał.
Miło mi! Jestem Tom.
Nice to meet you! I'm Tom.
Miło mi. Jesteś głodny?
Nice to meet you. Are you hungry?
Common Mistakes
- One “my” for everything. mój siostra is a classic slip — siostra needs moja.
- Mixing brat and tata genders. tata ends in -a but is masculine (he's dad!): mój tata.
- Forgetting the babcia rules. You will be fed. Twice. Refusing entirely is not grammatically possible.
What You Can Do Now
You can name everyone at the table, say whose they are, and introduce your own people with to jest — the heart of every first Polish conversation.