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  What it means

  Literally “to have on the end of the tongue,” this is the Polish way of saying something is “on the tip of your tongue.” It describes that frustrating moment when you know a word or a name, but you can’t quite retrieve it from your memory. It is a very helpful phrase to use while learning Polish when you’re struggling to find a specific vocabulary word!

  Vocabulary

  • koniec — end / tip
  • język — tongue / language
  • pamiętać — to remember
  • słowo — word

  Grammar note

  'Na końcu' and 'języka' show two different cases: 'na końcu' is the locative (location), while 'języka' is the genitive singular, showing that the end "belongs" to the tongue.

  Cultural context

  Just like in English, this is a neutral and ubiquitous expression. Interestingly, the Polish word 'język' means both "tongue" (the organ) and "language," which makes this idiom feel very appropriate for students.

  Beginner

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