być — to be
być is the #2 most common word in Polish, a verb. It means “to be” and is pronounced /ˈbɘt͡ɕ/.
#2frequency rank
2.47%of everyday Polish text
Level 1Beginner 1
Forms of być
| Form | What it is | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bywać | indeterminate | |
| być | infinitive | to be |
| jestem | I · singular · present | I am |
| jesteśmy | we · plural · present | we are |
| jesteś | you · singular · present | you are |
| jesteście | you (pl.) · plural · present | you (pl.) are |
| jest | he/she · singular · present | he/she is |
| są | they · plural · present | they are |
| byłem | I · singular · past | I was |
| byłam | I · singular · past | I was |
| byłom | I · singular · past | I was |
| byliśmy | we · plural · past | we were |
| byłyśmy | we · plural · past | we were |
| byłeś | you · singular · past | you were |
| byłaś | you · singular · past | you were |
| byłoś | you · singular · past | you were |
| byliście | you (pl.) · plural · past | you (pl.) were |
| byłyście | you (pl.) · plural · past | you (pl.) were |
| był | he/she · singular · past | he/she was |
| była | he/she · singular · past | he/she was |
| było | he/she · singular · past | he/she was |
| byli | they · plural · past | they were |
| były | they · plural · past | they were |
| będę | I · singular · future | I will be |
| będziemy | we · plural · future | we will be |
| będziesz | you · singular · future | you will be |
| będziecie | you (pl.) · plural · future | you (pl.) will be |
| będzie | he/she · singular · future | he/she will be |
| będą | they · plural · future | they will be |
| byłbym | I · singular · conditional | I would be |
| byłabym | I · singular · conditional | I would be |
| byłobym | I · singular · conditional | I would be |
| bylibyśmy | we · plural · conditional | we would be |
| byłybyśmy | we · plural · conditional | we would be |
| byłbyś | you · singular · conditional | you would be |
| byłabyś | you · singular · conditional | you would be |
| byłobyś | you · singular · conditional | you would be |
| bylibyście | you (pl.) · plural · conditional | you (pl.) would be |
| byłybyście | you (pl.) · plural · conditional | you (pl.) would be |
| byłby | he/she · singular · conditional | he/she would be |
| byłaby | he/she · singular · conditional | he/she would be |
| byłoby | he/she · singular · conditional | he/she would be |
| byliby | they · plural · conditional | they would be |
| byłyby | they · plural · conditional | they would be |
| bądźmy | we · plural · command | let's be |
| bądź | you · singular · command | be! |
| bądźcie | you (pl.) · plural · command | be! (to several) |
| będący | singular · past participle | been |