Polish · Automat biletowy
The machine does not give change: what to say in Polish
The machine gives no change.
💡
How it's done. Some machines in transport accept only coins or a card; check what exactly it accepts before the trip. Change (reszta) is sometimes not given.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, automat nie wydaje reszty. Co mam zrobić?
Psheh-PRAH-shuhm, ow-TOH-muht nyeh vih-DAH-eh RESH-tih. Tsoh mahm ZROH-beetsy?
Excuse me, the machine doesn't give change. What should I do?
Or say:Przepraszam, automat nie przyjmuje banknotów. Jak zapłacić?
Psheh-PRAH-shuhm, ow-TOH-muht nyeh pshihy-MOO-eh bahnk-NOH-toof. Yahk zuh-PVAH-tseetsy?
THEY SAY
Proszę zapłacić kartą albo drobnymi.PROH-sheh zuh-PVAH-tseetsy KAHR-tom AHL-boh drob-NIH-mee.
Please pay by card or with coins.
They might also say:
Może pan zapłacić kartą, jeśli nie ma pan monet.
MOH-zheh pahn zuh-PVAH-tseetsy KAHR-tom, YEHSY-lee nyeh mah pahn MOH-net.
You can pay by card if you don't have coins.
2
YOU FINISH
Dobrze, zapłacę kartą.
DOB-zheh, zuh-PVAH-tseh KAHR-tom.
All right, I'll pay by card.
THEY SAY
Proszę bardzo. Miłej podróży!PROH-sheh BAHRD-zoh. MEE-vay poh-DROO-zhih!
You're welcome. Have a good trip!
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
automat
ow-TOH-muht
noun
machine
wydaje
vih-DAH-eh
verb
issues, emits
reszty
RESH-tih
noun
change (genitive)
mam
mahm
verb
I have
zrobić
ZROH-beetsy
verb
to do, to make
12 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.
Proszę mi to pokazać.
PROH-sheh mee toh poh-KAH-zuhtsy.
Please show me.
Similar situations
The ticket machine does not work as you expectedAutomat biletowy · A1 in the app
→The train is late and you ask about your connectionOpóźnienie / awaria · A2 in the app
→The train is cancelled and a bus runs insteadOpóźnienie / awaria · A2 in the app
→You ask the driver whether the bus goes to the centreAutobus / tramwaj · A1 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report