Signification
Not sure/depends on circumstances.
Contexte culturel
Poles are often very literal and honest. If you ask 'How are you?', they might give a long answer. Similarly, 'Zależy' is an honest way to avoid a fake 'yes'. In Polish business, 'To zależy' is often the start of a negotiation. It signals that the speaker is open to options but needs more details. There are many memes in Poland about the 'Zależy' response, often depicting a person trying to avoid making a decision on a Friday night. In Polish universities, professors love this word. It shows that a student understands that most things in science and humanities are not black and white.
The Shrug
When you say 'Zależy' as a standalone, a small shoulder shrug makes you look 100% more like a native speaker.
The 'Od' Rule
Never use 'na' after 'zależy' if you mean 'it depends'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Signification
Not sure/depends on circumstances.
The Shrug
When you say 'Zależy' as a standalone, a small shoulder shrug makes you look 100% more like a native speaker.
The 'Od' Rule
Never use 'na' after 'zależy' if you mean 'it depends'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Nuance is Key
Don't be afraid to use it! It shows you are thinking about the question rather than giving a robotic answer.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing preposition and noun in the correct case.
Czy pójdziesz na spacer? To zależy ______ (pogoda).
We use 'od' + Genitive. 'Pogoda' in Genitive is 'pogody'.
Which sentence is the most natural standalone response?
— Chcesz kawę czy herbatę?
'Zależy' is the natural way to say 'it depends'. 'Zależy mi' means 'I care'.
Match the Polish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the most common variations of the root word.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form.
A: Czy film był dobry? B: ______, co lubisz.
We use the 3rd person singular 'zależy' to start the conditional clause.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesCzy pójdziesz na spacer? To zależy ______ (pogoda).
We use 'od' + Genitive. 'Pogoda' in Genitive is 'pogody'.
— Chcesz kawę czy herbatę?
'Zależy' is the natural way to say 'it depends'. 'Zależy mi' means 'I care'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the most common variations of the root word.
A: Czy film był dobry? B: ______, co lubisz.
We use the 3rd person singular 'zależy' to start the conditional clause.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it's very common in casual conversation as a complete answer.
There is no real difference in meaning. 'To zależy' is slightly more complete, while 'Zależy' is more clipped and casual.
You say 'To zależy ode mnie'. Note that 'od' becomes 'ode' before 'mnie' for easier pronunciation.
Yes, but usually you would follow it with a specific condition, e.g., 'To zależy od Państwa decyzji'.
Because the preposition 'od' always requires the Genitive case in Polish.
Yes, 'To zależy od Marka' means 'It depends on Marek'.
Use 'Zależy, czy...'. For example: 'Zależy, czy będę miał pieniądze'.
Yes, it is the 3rd person singular form of the verb 'zależeć'.
Say 'Wszystko zależy'.
Only if the subject is plural and explicit, e.g., 'Moje plany zależą od ciebie' (My plans depend on you). But as 'it depends', it's always 'zależy'.
Expressions liées
zależeć komuś na czymś
similarto care about something
w zależności od
builds ondepending on
niezależnie od
contrastregardless of
polegać na
similarto rely on
