The Polish verb "być" means "to be" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "być" across all 5 tenses. New to Polish verbs? Start with the Polish verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "być" in the Present Tense
Czas teraźniejszy Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ja | I | jestem |
| ty | you (informal) | jesteś |
| on/ona/ono | he/she/it | jest |
| my | we | jesteśmy |
| wy | you all | jesteście |
| oni/one | they | są |
On jest w domu teraz.
He is at home now.
How to Conjugate "być" in the Past Tense
Czas przeszły Completed actions in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ja | I | byłem |
| ty | you (informal) | byłeś |
| on/ona/ono | he/she/it | był |
| my | we | byliśmy |
| wy | you all | byliście |
| oni/one | they | byli |
On był dzisiaj w pracy.
He was at work today.
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Czas przyszły Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ja | I | będę |
| ty | you (informal) | będziesz |
| on/ona/ono | he/she/it | będzie |
| my | we | będziemy |
| wy | you all | będziecie |
| oni/one | they | będą |
On będzie bardzo szczęśliwy.
He will be very happy.
How to Conjugate "być" in the Conditional Tense
Tryb warunkowy Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ja | I | byłbym |
| ty | you (informal) | byłbyś |
| on/ona/ono | he/she/it | byłby |
| my | we | bylibyśmy |
| wy | you all | bylibyście |
| oni/one | they | byliby |
On byłby dzisiaj w pracy.
He would be at work today.
How to Conjugate "być" in the Imperative Tense
Tryb rozkazujący Commands and requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ja | I | bądź |
| ty | you (informal) | bądź |
| on/ona/ono | he/she/it | niech będzie |
| my | we | bądźmy |
| wy | you all | bądźcie |
| oni/one | they | niech będą |
Niech on będzie gotowy na czas.
Let him be ready on time.
Frequently Asked Questions About "być"
Is "być" regular or irregular in Polish?
"Być" is an irregular Polish verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "być" mean in English?
The Polish verb "być" means "to be" in English.
How do you conjugate "być" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Czas teraźniejszy): ja → jestem, ty → jesteś, on/ona/ono → jest, my → jesteśmy, wy → jesteście, oni/one → są.
How many tenses does "być" have in Polish?
"Być" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Polish: Present, Past, Future, Conditional, Imperative.
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