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  What it means

  Literally: “the change is not needed.” This everyday phrase is used when paying for something and telling the other person to keep the change. It is said to taxi drivers, waiters, or shop assistants when you are rounding up or tipping. For example, if a taxi ride costs 18 złoty and you hand over a 20-złoty note, you say “Reszty nie trzeba” to indicate the driver should keep the two złoty. It is the standard, polite Polish way of saying “keep the change.”

  Vocabulary

  • reszty — change, remainder (genitive singular of reszta)
  • reszta — change (coins returned after payment), the rest, remainder
  • nie — not
  • trzeba — it is necessary, it is needed (impersonal)

  Grammar note

  „Trzeba" is an impersonal predicate. When negated with „nie," its complement takes the genitive case rather than the nominative — a standard feature of Polish negation with impersonal constructions. Hence „reszta" (nominative) becomes „reszty" (genitive). There is no subject; the construction is fully impersonal.

  Cultural context

  Very common, neutral register — used in any transaction context across Poland. The direct English equivalent is "keep the change." It is considered polite and natural; alternatives like "proszę zatrzymać resztę" (please keep the change) are more formal but less commonly heard in casual settings.

  Beginner

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