Bedeutung
Used to forgive a small mistake.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Poles often use 'nie szkodzi' with a slight wave of the hand to physically signal that the problem is being dismissed. It's part of a culture that values 'skromność' (modesty). In a professional setting, 'nie szkodzi' is used to maintain a friendly atmosphere after a minor error, but it's often followed by a solution-oriented sentence. Younger generations are increasingly using 'spoko' or 'no problem' (as a loanword), but 'nie szkodzi' remains the most respected and universally understood version. In some parts of Silesia or Greater Poland, you might hear slightly different intonations, but the phrase 'nie szkodzi' is standard across all of Poland.
The Smile Factor
In Poland, 'nie szkodzi' is much more effective when accompanied by a small smile or a nod. It shows genuine forgiveness.
Not for 'Thank You'
Never use this to respond to 'Dziękuję'. It's the #1 mistake for English speakers!
Bedeutung
Used to forgive a small mistake.
The Smile Factor
In Poland, 'nie szkodzi' is much more effective when accompanied by a small smile or a nod. It shows genuine forgiveness.
Not for 'Thank You'
Never use this to respond to 'Dziękuję'. It's the #1 mistake for English speakers!
Add 'Nic'
Using 'Nic nie szkodzi' makes you sound much more like a native speaker than just 'Nie szkodzi'.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the most natural response to the following situation.
Someone accidentally steps on your foot in a bus and says: 'Ojej, przepraszam pana bardzo!'
'Nie szkodzi' is the standard way to accept an apology for a minor accident.
Fill in the blank to complete the dialogue.
A: Przepraszam, zapomniałem twojego numeru telefonu. B: Nic ____ szkodzi, już ci podaję.
The full emphatic form is 'Nic nie szkodzi'.
Match the phrase to the correct context.
When should you use 'nie szkodzi'?
'Nie szkodzi' is used for forgiving small mistakes like lateness.
Complete the dialogue in a shop.
Sprzedawca: Przykro mi, ale nie mamy już świeżego chleba. Klient: ________, kupię bułki.
The customer is dismissing the inconvenience of no bread.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Common Situations
Social
- • Lateness
- • Bumping
- • Forgetting names
Accidents
- • Spilling water
- • Dropping a pen
- • Typo
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenSomeone accidentally steps on your foot in a bus and says: 'Ojej, przepraszam pana bardzo!'
'Nie szkodzi' is the standard way to accept an apology for a minor accident.
A: Przepraszam, zapomniałem twojego numeru telefonu. B: Nic ____ szkodzi, już ci podaję.
The full emphatic form is 'Nic nie szkodzi'.
When should you use 'nie szkodzi'?
'Nie szkodzi' is used for forgiving small mistakes like lateness.
Sprzedawca: Przykro mi, ale nie mamy już świeżego chleba. Klient: ________, kupię bułki.
The customer is dismissing the inconvenience of no bread.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or a stranger on the street.
You can, but your tone will make it sound sarcastic. If you're really mad, it's better to say nothing or explain why it's a problem.
'Nie ma sprawy' is slightly more casual, similar to 'no worries'. 'Nie szkodzi' is more traditional.
No, it is an impersonal phrase and stays the same regardless of gender.
Yes, it's very common for parents to say 'nie szkodzi' to children when they make a mess.
Yes, in emails and texts it is very common to dismiss small errors.
It literally means 'it does not harm'.
Yes, adding 'to' (that) is grammatically correct but less common in short responses.
Yes, it's perfectly polite for service staff.
If the mistake is big, 'nie szkodzi' might sound too casual. Use 'Wybaczam ci' (I forgive you) or 'Rozumiem' (I understand) instead.
Verwandte Redewendungen
nic nie szkodzi
specialized formIt doesn't matter at all
nie ma sprawy
synonymNo problem / No matter
nic się nie stało
similarNothing happened
to nic
synonymIt's nothing
nie ma za co
contrastYou're welcome
szkoda
builds onWhat a pity
