How To Say Happy New Year In Polish [15+ Useful Words]

Poland hosts some of Europe’s finest Christmas markets. Cities like Wrocław, Kraków, and Gdańsk transform into winter wonderlands each December, drawing visitors who often stay through New Year’s Eve to experience authentic Polish celebrations.

If you're planning to ring in the new year there, knowing how to properly greet locals makes the experience infinitely better. In this guide, we'll cover how to say happy new year in Polish, common New Year's greetings and toasts, and vocabulary for resolutions and party conversations. Let's begin, shall we?

How To Wish Someone A Happy New Year In Polish

The standard way to say happy new year in Polish is Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku (pronounced: shchen-shlee-VEH-go no-VEH-go RO-koo). Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku is formal enough for acquaintances but warm enough for friends. You can use it with pretty much anyone from December 31st through early January.

Want something shorter? Try Szczęśliwego Nowego (shchen-shlee-VEH-go no-VEH-go). It's like saying "Happy New" in English. Technically incomplete, but everyone knows what you mean.

For texting or when you're feeling extra casual with friends, SZNR works. It's the Polish equivalent of "HNY." You'll see it all over social media once the clock strikes midnight.

Other Ways To Say Happy New Year In Polish

Polish people love wishing each other health. Like, they're obsessed with it. So throwing zdrowia (health) into your New Year's greeting will earn you serious points.

New Year’s Resolutions In Polish

If you're celebrating New Year's Eve in Poland, someone's going to ask about your resolutions. Poles take their postanowienia noworoczne (po-sta-no-VYEN-ya no-vo-ROCH-neh) seriously.

Here's how to talk about them.

Moje postanowienie na Nowy Rok to... (MO-yeh po-sta-no-VYEN-yeh na NO-vi rok to...) means "My New Year's resolution is to..." Common resolutions you might hear:

If you want to be honest about how resolutions usually go, try Pewnie znowu nic z tego nie wyjdzie (PEV-nyeh ZNO-voo neets z TEH-go nyeh VUY-djeh). It means "Probably nothing will come of this again." Very Polish energy.

What Poles Actually Eat On New Year’s Eve

Polish Sylwester parties aren't complete without specific foods. You'll see these at pretty much every celebration.

• Sałatka jarzynowa (sa-WAT-ka ya-zhi-NO-va) - Mayo-based vegetable salad with potatoes, carrots, peas, pickles, and eggs that shows up at every single party.
• Śledź (shledj) - Herring, usually served in cream sauce or with onions, and someone's grandmother definitely made it.
• Bigos (BEE-gos) - Hunter's stew with sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, and various meats slow-cooked for hours.
• Pierogi (pyeh-RO-gee) - Dumplings filled with meat, cheese, potatoes, or sauerkraut and mushrooms.

For dessert, expect sernik (SER-neek) - Polish cheesecake that's denser and less sweet than American versions. Or makowiec (ma-KO-vyets), a poppy seed roll cake that's traditional for winter holidays.

And champagne. Lots of champagne. Szampan (SHAM-pan) at midnight is non-negotiable.

Polish Words And Phrases For The New Year

New Year's Eve in Poland is called Sylwester (sil-VES-ter). Yes, like the cartoon cat. No, nobody thinks about that. It's named after Pope Sylvester I, whose feast day falls on December 31st.

Essential New Year Vocabulary

Classic New Year Toasts

When glasses start clinking at midnight, you'll hear Na zdrowie (na ZDRO-vyeh). It means "to health" and works for any occasion, not just New Year's.

But for something more festive, try:

• Za nowy rok! (za NO-vi rok) - "To the new year!"
• Za nowy początek! (za NO-vi po-CHON-tek) - "To new beginnings!"
• Sto lat! (sto lat) - "A hundred years!" (This one's technically for birthdays, but Poles use it everywhere)

Party Phrases You'll Actually Use

That last one is important. Polish parties go late. Like, really late. You'll need an exit strategy.

Other Useful Polish Phrases

While you're in Poland for the New Year, these phrases will come in handy beyond just the celebration.

Want To Go Beyond Polish Greetings?

Learning how to say 'Happy New Year' in Polish is great for your trip. Learning actual Polish? That's how you make the most of living in or frequently visiting Poland.

If you've ever watched a Polish movie, listened to Polish music, or tried following a Polish cooking show, you know the language moves fast. Textbooks can teach you Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku, but they won't prepare you for actual conversations at a Sylwester party.

That's where Lingopie comes in. Instead of memorizing vocabulary lists, you learn Polish through the shows and movies Poles actually watch. Every episode comes with interactive dual subtitles where you can:

• Click any word to see what it means
• Turn clicked words into flashcards
• Review with spaced repetition to actually remember them
• Slow down playback when the dialogue gets too fast
• ...and more!

You'll pick up how Poles actually speak, not how textbooks think they should speak. And when you're back in Kraków for next year's New Year's Eve, you might just understand what everyone's laughing about.

Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!