Greetings
Dzień dobry
jane DOH-bry
Good day. The default with anyone you have not been introduced to, including shopkeepers, neighbours and officials. Skipping it reads as brusque.
Social
Pan / Pani
pan / PAH-nee
Sir / madam, used in place of 'you' with a third-person verb. Polish encodes formality grammatically, so there is no neutral option — you are choosing every time you speak.
Daily life
PESEL
PEH-sel
Your eleven-digit national identification number. Tax filing, NFZ healthcare, the e-government portal and most banking sit behind it.
Meldunek
mel-DOO-nek
Registration of your address with the city, legally required within 30 days. Needs the property owner's signature — ask about it before you sign a lease, not after.
Czynsz administracyjny
chinsh ad-mi-ni-stra-TSIY-ny
The building's monthly administration charge, paid on top of the rent in the listing. Commonly PLN 600–1,000 and the reason advertised rents are misleading.
Karta pobytu
KAR-ta po-BY-too
The plastic residence card. In Małopolska it currently arrives eight to fourteen months after you file — the stamp in your passport is what keeps you legal meanwhile.
Smog / alarm smogowy
smog / A-larm smo-GO-vy
Winter air pollution and the alert issued when it spikes. A November-to-February fact of Kraków life and a genuine factor in choosing a flat.
Culture
Hejnał
HAY-now
The trumpet call played from St Mary's tower on the hour, every hour, cut off mid-note. Locals set their watch by it; it is broadcast nationally at noon.
Food
Obwarzanek krakowski
ob-va-ZHA-nek kra-KOV-ski
The braided ring bread sold from blue carts. It has EU protected-designation status and may legally be called that only if made in and around Kraków.
Zapiekanka
za-pyeh-KAN-ka
An open-faced baguette with mushrooms and cheese, the late-night staple. The Okrąglak rotunda on Plac Nowy in Kazimierz is where the city eats it.
Emergency
112 / 986
—
112 for any emergency. 986 reaches the Straż Miejska, which is who you call about illegal burning when the smog alarm goes off.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.