oni

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/ˈɔ.ni/
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A third‑person plural pronoun used for groups that contain at least one male, serving as the standard form of ‘they’ in Polish.

Examples

  • Oni idą do szkoły każdego ranka.
    They walk to school every morning.
  • Kiedy oni przyjadą?
    When will they arrive?
  • Czy oni już skończyli zadanie?
    Have they already finished the task?
  • W grupie oni są dwaj studenci i jedna studentka.
    In the group they are two male students and one female student.
  • Oni lubią grać w piłkę nożną.
    They like playing football.

Similar words

wszyscy
tamci
te osoby
ludzie
mężczyźni
te grupy
ci

Meanings

Usage

Use oni when referring to a mixed‑gender or all‑male group; choose one for an all‑female group.

Common mistakes

The pronoun oni is often used for all‑female groups, which should be one.

Etymology

FAQ

What does oni mean?

oni is the Polish masculine third‑person plural pronoun meaning they.

When should I use oni instead of one?

Use oni when the group includes at least one male; one is used for all‑female groups.

Is oni used for mixed‑gender groups?

Yes, oni covers mixed‑gender or all‑male groups.

Can oni refer to a single person?

No, oni is plural; the singular masculine pronoun is on.

What verb form goes with oni?

The verb takes the plural form, e.g., oni są.

Are there informal variants of oni?

In informal speech oni is still used; there is no shorter slang form.

How is oni declined?

oni changes with case: nominative oni, genitive ich, dative im, accusative ich, instrumental nimi, locative nich.

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