Polish · Przychodnia / lekarz rodzinny
You ask for a sick note for work: what to say in Polish
You ask for a sick note for work.
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How it's done. A sick note (zwolnienie lekarskie, L4) is issued electronically by the doctor (e-ZLA): it goes itself to ZUS and the employer, paper isn't needed. You tell the doctor who you work for.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Potrzebuję zwolnienia lekarskiego do pracy.
Pot-sheh-BOO-eh zvol-NYEH-nyuh leh-kuhrs-KYEH-goh doh PRAH-tsih.
I need a sick note for work.
Or say:Czy może mi pan wystawić zwolnienie do pracy?
Chih MOH-zheh mee pahn vis-TAH-veetsy zvol-NYEH-nyeh doh PRAH-tsih?
THEY SAY
Tak, wystawię do piątku.Tahk, vis-TAH-vyeh doh PYOHNT-koo.
Yes, I'll issue it until Friday.
They might also say:
Oczywiście. Na jak długo?
Oh-CHIH-veesy-tsyeh. Nuh yahk DVOO-goh?
Of course. For how long?
2
YOU FINISH
Czy zwolnienie trafi do pracodawcy elektronicznie?
Chih zvol-NYEH-nyeh TRAH-fee doh pruh-tsoh-DAHF-tsih eh-lek-troh-NEECH-nyeh?
Will the sick note go to the employer electronically?
THEY SAY
Tak, wysyłamy e-ZLA do ZUS i pracodawcy.Tahk, vih-sih-VAH-mih eh-zet-el-uh doh Zoos ee pruh-tsoh-DAHF-tsih.
Yes, we send the e-ZLA to ZUS and the employer.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Polish for life in Poland”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Potrzebuję
Pot-sheh-BOO-eh
verb
I need
zwolnienia
zvol-NYEH-nyuh
noun
sick note (genitive)
lekarskiego
leh-kuhrs-KYEH-goh
adjective
medical (genitive)
pracy
PRAH-tsih
noun
work (genitive)
Tak
Tahk
adverb
yes
wystawię
vis-TAH-vyeh
verb
I will issue
11 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Proszę powtórzyć.
PROH-sheh pof-TOO-zhitsy.
Please repeat that.
Proszę mówić wolniej.
PROH-sheh MOO-veetsy VOL-nyay.
Please speak more slowly.
Co to znaczy?
Tsoh toh ZNAH-chih?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
The doctor writes a prescription and you ask how to get itPrzychodnia / lekarz rodzinny · A2 in the app
→You want a flu jabPrzychodnia / lekarz rodzinny · A2 in the app
→The doctor examines you and gives simple instructionsPrzychodnia / lekarz rodzinny · A2 in the app
→You phone the clinic and ask about your blood test resultsPrzychodnia / lekarz rodzinny · A2 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report