How to write pozdrowienia in Polish: a holiday postcard for the exam
Published 29 October 2026
Pozdrowienia (greetings from a trip) have four parts: a greeting, where you are writing from, two or three sentences on what you are doing and what it is like, and a sign-off with your name. It is a postcard or a short message, so you write simply and in the present tense. The tone follows the reader: to a colleague "Cześć!" and "Ściskam", to a teacher "Szanowna Pani Profesor!" and "Z wyrazami szacunku".
In short
- Four parts: greeting, the place, what you do and what it is like, sign-off with your name.
- The brief says who you write to and from where — a colleague, a teacher, friends — and that sets the tone.
- In the state exam: at B1 — on 9 of the 14 papers in the library, as the short text, 25–40 words; at B2 — on 3 of the 9 papers in the library, as the short text, 30–50 words.
When does this form come up in the exam?
- At B1 — on 9 of the 14 papers in the library, as the short text, 25–40 words
- At B2 — on 3 of the 9 papers in the library, as the short text, 30–50 words
In the state exam's writing part you write two texts — a short one and a long one — from one of three sets to choose from, so you never have to pick this form. The paper prints three criteria for the whole part: task, range and accuracy — 30 points at B1 and 40 at B2 for both texts together. How that splits between the texts, the Commission does not publish. The whole writing part is described on writing.
How do you write pozdrowienia, step by step?
- Greeting: "Kochana Aniu!", "Drogi Marku!", to a teacher "Szanowna Pani Profesor!".
- Where you are: "Pozdrowienia z Zakopanego!", "Jestem w Gdańsku od tygodnia".
- What you do and what it is like: two or three sentences on the weather, sights, food, people.
- One sentence to the reader: "Szkoda, że nie ma Cię tu ze mną", "Wracam w sobotę".
- Sign-off and name: "Ściskam mocno", "Pozdrawiam serdecznie", "Z wyrazami szacunku".
Phrases for pozdrowienia
| Opening and content | To the reader and sign-off |
|---|---|
| Pozdrowienia z…! / Serdeczne pozdrowienia z… | Kochana Aniu! / Drogi Marku! / Szanowna Pani Profesor! |
| Jestem w… od tygodnia. | Pogoda jest piękna / niestety pada. |
| Codziennie chodzę… / zwiedzam… / odpoczywam… | Najbardziej podoba mi się… |
| Szkoda, że nie ma Cię tu ze mną. | Wracam w sobotę. |
| Do zobaczenia! / Ściskam mocno | Pozdrawiam serdecznie / Z wyrazami szacunku |
A model postcard (36 words)
Kochana Basiu!
Serdeczne pozdrowienia z Zakopanego! Jestem tu od poniedziałku. Codziennie chodzę po górach, a wieczorem jem pyszne oscypki. Pogoda jest piękna. Szkoda, że nie ma Cię tu ze mną! Wracam w sobotę.
Ściskam mocno
Ola
Everything the brief wants: where, what you do, a word to the reader. In letters and cards "Cię" and "Ci" may take a capital, as a courtesy. The text is ours, not a paper's.