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  What it means

  Literally “to have an appetite/desire,” this phrase means to feel like doing or want to do something. It expresses a wish or craving, whether for food, an activity, or an experience. Poles use it often in everyday conversation to express desire politely without sounding demanding. It can be followed by an infinitive (mieć ochotę + verb) or a noun in the genitive case (mieć ochotę na coś).

  Vocabulary

  • mieć — to have
  • ochota — desire, appetite, willingness (noun, f.)
  • ochotę — desire (accusative singular of ochota)

  Grammar note

  The noun 'ochota' is feminine and appears here in the accusative case as the direct object of 'mieć.' When specifying what you want, use 'na' + accusative: 'Mam ochotę na kawę' (I feel like coffee). When followed by a verb, use the infinitive: 'Mam ochotę pójść do kina' (I feel like going to the cinema).

  Cultural context

  This is a common, polite way to express a wish in Polish, softer than 'chcę' (I want). It is neutral in register and works in almost any social setting, from casual chat to slightly formal contexts. English equivalents are 'I feel like...' and 'I'd like to...'

  Beginner

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