to

Definitions

1. 1.
   [with nominative] be (used to attribute to the known object a characteristic that helps one know more about the topic; may optionally be followed by jest)

   • Janek to mój brat.

     Janek is my brother.

   • Górnicy to jest takie specyficzne społeczeństwo.

     Miners are such a peculiar society.

2. 2.
   used to juxtapose elements that are equivalent

   • Chcieć to móc.

     Where there's a will there's a way.

   • Ciekawość to pierwszy stopień do piekła.

     Curiosity killed the cat.

3. 3.
   used to indicate that the subject of the conversation has peculiarities which are familiar to the interlocutors, so that nothing else needs to be said about it in order to understand the topic

   • Nasze straty są minimalne, ale bez śmierci się nie obejdzie. Wojna to wojna.

     Our losses are minimal but some casualties are inevitable. War is war.

   • No, ale rozkaz to rozkaz. Nie mnie podważać.

     Well, but an order is an order. Not for me to question.

4. 4.
   in that case, then

   • „Wiem, co chcę zrobić.” „To to zrób”.

     “I know what I want to do.” “Then do it.”

   • Jeśli to zrobisz, to daj mi znać.

     If you do this, then let me know.

   • „Jeżeli zbuduję sobie kiedyś własny dom, to właśnie taki” – myślałam.

     “If I ever build my own house one day, this is the one,” I thought.

5. 5.
   used to indicate what one is talking about

   • Parę razy mi się udało. Z jedną to nawet bardzo.

     I have succeeded a couple of times. With one it was even very successful.

6. 6.
   used to indicate what can be said about the topic, in contrast to all that cannot be said about it

   • W tych ścianach to ona była królową i musiała mieć królewskie wejście.

     Within these walls, it was her who was the queen and had to have a royal entrance.

7. 7.
   so (used after a pause for thought to introduce a new topic, question, or story, or a new thought or question in continuation of an existing topic)

   • No to kiedy zaczynamy?

     So when are we starting?

   • OK, to do zobaczenia.

     OK, see you then.

8. 8.
   used to indicate that the topic in the relevant question refers to a known set of elements from which a choice has to be made

   • Od kiedy to morderstwo jest takim ewenementem?

     Since when is murder such a rarity?

   • Komu to przypadło dzisiaj kucharzowanie?

     Who is cooking today?

9. 9.
   used to express surprise that something is indeed like that as the speaker did not think it could really be so

   • A to zdolniacha z wuja!

     Uncle really is gifted!

   • No, tośmy wczoraj mieli niezły bal!

     Well, we had quite a party yesterday!

10. 10.
    literaryused to indicate that the topic refers to a known object, mentioned in the preceding statement

    • O Czechosłowacji po roku 1968 dochodziły do nas ponure wiadomości, dlatego to starałem się przejechać ten kraj jak najszybciej mimo zmęczenia.

      There was grim news about Czechoslovakia after 1968, which is why I tried to cross the country as quickly as possible despite my fatigue.

11. 11.
    colloquialused to indicate that what someone has said about the topic is a fait accompli and should no longer be discussed

    • Spróbuj zaakceptować jego wady. Nikt nie jest kryształowy. Pali to pali, widziały gały co brały.

      Try to accept his flaws. No one is perfect. OK, he smokes, so what? Big deal, you should've thought about it earlier.

12. 12.
    this (nearby, neuter)

    • Inna rzecz, że nikt nie zwracał na niego szczególnej uwagi; to go dziwiło.

      The other thing was that no one paid any particular attention to him; this surprised him.

13. 13.
    used to point to the object to which the sentence refers

    • Ewa, to Andrzej.

      Ewa, this is Andrzej.

Synonyms & related words