Bedeutung
Being in a hurry.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In cities like Warsaw, 'nie ma czasu' is often used as a polite way to end a conversation that is going on too long. It is socially acceptable to be 'busy'. Punctuality is highly valued in Polish business. Saying 'nie ma czasu' regarding a deadline is a serious warning that the window for input is closing. The phrase is a common motif in Polish rock and pop, often symbolizing the 'stolen time' of the communist era or the 'lost time' of the modern era. Poles have many proverbs about time, often contrasting 'nie ma czasu' with the need for patience.
The 'U' Rule
Always remember the 'u' at the end of 'czasu'. It's the most common mistake for beginners!
Don't be too blunt
Adding 'przepraszam' (sorry) before 'nie ma czasu' makes you sound much more polite.
Bedeutung
Being in a hurry.
The 'U' Rule
Always remember the 'u' at the end of 'czasu'. It's the most common mistake for beginners!
Don't be too blunt
Adding 'przepraszam' (sorry) before 'nie ma czasu' makes you sound much more polite.
Use 'już'
Adding 'już' (already) to get 'nie ma już czasu' adds a lot of native-like urgency to your speech.
The Polish Sigh
Poles often say this with a slight exhale or sigh to show they are overwhelmed by their duties.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the word 'czas'.
Przepraszam, teraz nie ma ______.
After 'nie ma', we must use the genitive case. The genitive of 'czas' is 'czasu'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I'm in a hurry'?
Szybciej! ______!
'Nie ma czasu' is the standard way to express urgency.
Match the Polish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are all common time-related expressions in Polish.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Czy chcesz iść na kawę? B: Niestety, nie ma ______ na kawę, muszę pracować.
The context requires the genitive case after 'nie ma'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Personal vs. Impersonal
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenPrzepraszam, teraz nie ma ______.
After 'nie ma', we must use the genitive case. The genitive of 'czas' is 'czasu'.
Szybciej! ______!
'Nie ma czasu' is the standard way to express urgency.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are all common time-related expressions in Polish.
A: Czy chcesz iść na kawę? B: Niestety, nie ma ______ na kawę, muszę pracować.
The context requires the genitive case after 'nie ma'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 Fragen'Nie ma czasu' is impersonal (There is no time), while 'nie mam czasu' is personal (I don't have time). They are often interchangeable in casual speech.
Because 'nie ma' is a negation of existence, which requires the genitive case in Polish.
Yes, but it's better to say 'Niestety, nie ma już czasu na...' to sound more professional.
It can be if said sharply. Adding 'przepraszam' or 'przykro mi' softens it.
You say 'Mam mnóstwo czasu' or 'Jest dużo czasu'.
Not necessarily. It can refer to a situation, a deadline, or a group of people.
A common slang way to say you're overwhelmed is 'Nie ogarniam' or 'Nie wyrabiam'.
Yes, that is a very common idiom meaning 'there is no time to lose'.
Yes, very often. It's a classic theme in Polish rock music.
No, 'nie ma czasu' only refers to time. For objects, you'd say 'nie ma [noun in genitive]'.
You say 'nie było czasu'.
You say 'nie będzie czasu'.
Yes, often abbreviated or used as a quick reply when someone asks to meet.
The opposite is 'jest czas' or 'mamy czas'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
brak czasu
synonymlack of time
śpieszyć się
similarto be in a hurry
szkoda czasu
similara waste of time
mieć czas
contrastto have time
gonić terminy
specialized formto chase deadlines
