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Do You Really Need to Learn Polish – or Is Moving to Poland Enough?
Is moving to Poland enough to learn Polish? The answer isn’t quite so straightforward. Let’s take a closer look.
First of all, there’s a long-standing myth that learning Polish isn’t really necessary — especially for Ukrainians — because the languages are similar. You might have heard advice like: just add “prze”, copy what Poles say, or simply speak Ukrainian — they’ll understand you anyway.
But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Polish, like any language, has its own history, structure and rules. Yes, it’s a Slavic language, but its grammar is considered one of the more challenging in the world. That means that even if you’re surrounded by the language every day, speaking it correctly won’t just happen on its own.
And this isn’t about picking up bits of slang at work or on the street. That kind of everyday, informal language has its place — but it often has very little to do with correct, structured Polish.
So it’s worth asking yourself: what do you actually need the language for? And will casual, colloquial Polish really be enough?
Secondly, we often — without even realising it — gravitate towards people who are in a very similar situation to us. People who are just as lost in a new country as we are.
We adapt to their lifestyle, become part of their environment, and naturally choose what feels easier. Even while living in Poland, we continue speaking Ukrainian. We work with other Ukrainians. Some of us even send our children to Ukrainian schools in Polish cities.
So, does moving to Poland guarantee that you’ll learn Polish?
Not at all.
If you don’t actively study, if you never open a book, and if you don’t ask native speakers to correct your mistakes, you simply won’t reach a high level.
I say this from experience. After ten years of living in Poland, I’ve met many people who have been here for years but still struggle with basic things — like using numbers correctly, pronouncing certain sounds, or speaking fluently.
But I’ve also met people who speak Polish confidently, without a noticeable accent, with a strong grasp of grammar, and who use the language every single day.