Use on only for a masculine third‑person singular referent; choose ona for feminine and ono for neuter.
Use on only for a masculine third‑person singular referent; choose ona for feminine and ono for neuter.
Using on for a feminine referent, as in On jest piękna, is incorrect.
From Old Polish on, which continues Proto‑Slavic onъ, meaning ‘he’.
What does on mean?
On is the Polish masculine third‑person singular pronoun, equivalent to he in English.
How is on used in Polish sentences?
On is placed where English would use he or it for a masculine noun, e.g., On jest lekarzem.
Can on refer to objects?
On can refer to a masculine‑gendered object, such as a masculine noun like stół (table).
What is the English equivalent of on?
On translates to he for people and it for masculine nouns.
Is on used for feminine nouns?
On is not used for feminine nouns; the correct pronoun is ona.
What is the plural form of on?
On has no plural; Polish uses the plural pronoun oni for groups of males.
What common mistakes should I avoid with on?
Avoid using on for feminine or neuter references and be careful with gender agreement, e.g., say On jest piękny, not On jest piękna.