Polish Verbs of Motion
English gets by with one verb, "go." Polish makes you answer two questions first: how are you travelling (on foot or by vehicle?), and what kind of trip is it (this one journey now, or a repeated habit?). Those two questions give four everyday verbs.
Two Questions, Four Verbs
On Foot: iść vs chodzić
iść — one walk, right now or clearly planned:
Idę do pracy.
I'm walking to work / I'm on my way to work.
Note: One trip, happening now → iść.
chodzić — a repeated, habitual walk:
Chodzę do pracy pieszo codziennie.
I walk to work every day.
Note: A daily habit → chodzić. Signal words: codziennie (every day), często (often).
By Vehicle: jechać vs jeździć
The same split, on wheels. jechać for one ride now, jeździć for the habit.
Jedziemy do Warszawy pociągiem.
We're going to Warsaw by train.
Note: A trip in progress, by vehicle → jechać. jeździć would mean 'we regularly travel to Warsaw'.
Jeżdżę do Krakowa co tydzień.
I travel to Kraków every week.
Note: Repeated journeys by vehicle → jeździć.
Choosing in Real Time
Ask the two questions and the verb falls out:
Next, meet the system these destinations plug into: the Polish cases.