Polish · Pralnia
You use a self-service laundrette for the first time: what to say in Polish
You use a self-service laundry for the first time.
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How it's done. In a pralnia samoobsługowa (self-service laundry) you pay with tokens or a card at a machine: pick a washer, add detergent, load the clothes and start the programme; the dryer is paid separately.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
Przepraszam, jak działa ta pralnia? Jestem tu po raz pierwszy.
Psheh-PRAH-shuhm, yahk DZYAH-vuh tah PRAHL-nyuh? YEHS-tem too poh rahs PYEHRF-shih.
Excuse me, how does this laundry work? I'm here for the first time.
Or say:Przepraszam, jak mam zapłacić za pranie?
Psheh-PRAH-shuhm, yahk mahm zuh-PVAH-tseetsy zah PRAH-nyeh?
THEY SAY
Wybiera pan pralkę, wsypuje proszek i płaci w automacie.Vih-BYEH-ruh pahn PRAHL-keh, fsih-POO-eh PROH-shek ee PVAH-tsee v ow-toh-MAH-tsyeh.
You choose a washer, put in the detergent and pay at the machine.
2
YOU REPLY
Ile kosztuje jedno pranie?
EE-leh kosh-TOO-eh YEHD-noh PRAH-nyeh?
How much does one wash cost?
THEY SAY
Pranie kosztuje dwanaście złotych, suszenie osiem złotych.PRAH-nyeh kosh-TOO-eh DVAH-nuhsy-tsyeh ZVOH-tikh, soo-SHEH-nyeh OH-syehm ZVOH-tikh.
A wash costs twelve zloty, drying eight zloty.
They might also say:
Pralka to dwanaście złotych, suszarka osiem złotych.
PRAHL-kuh toh DVAH-nuhsy-tsyeh ZVOH-tikh, soo-SHAHR-kuh OH-syehm ZVOH-tikh.
The washer is twelve zloty, the dryer eight zloty.
3
YOU REPLY
Czy mogę zapłacić kartą?
Chih MOH-geh zuh-PVAH-tseetsy KAHR-tom?
Can I pay by card?
THEY SAY
Tak, automat przyjmuje karty i żetony.Tahk, ow-TOH-muht pshihy-MOO-eh KAHR-tih ee zheh-TOH-nih.
Yes, the machine accepts cards and tokens.
4
YOU REPLY
A proszek kupię tutaj?
Uh PROH-shek KOO-pyeh TOO-tigh?
And will I buy the detergent here?
THEY SAY
Tak, jest w automacie przy drzwiach.Tahk, yehst v ow-toh-MAH-tsyeh pshih dzhvyahkh.
Yes, it is in the machine by the door.
5
YOU FINISH
Dziękuję za pomoc!
Dzyayn-KOO-eh zah POH-mots!
Thank you for the help!
THEY SAY
Proszę bardzo.PROH-sheh BAHRD-zoh.
You're welcome.
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
Przepraszam
Psheh-PRAH-shuhm
verb
excuse me, sorry
jak
yahk
adverb
how
działa
DZYAH-vuh
verb
works
pralnia
PRAHL-nyuh
noun
laundry
Jestem
YEHS-tem
verb
I am
tu
too
adverb
here
41 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
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→You make copies of documents at a copy shopKsero / druk · A1 in the app
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