English is widely spoken in private clinics (LuxMed, Medicover) and in major cities, but less reliably in public hospitals. Knowing key Polish terms helps you navigate the system, understand paperwork, and advocate clearly for what you need — especially the three-site STI testing that many public doctors won't offer without being asked.
The Health System
| Purpose | Phonetic | Polish Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Health Fund | EN-EF-ZET | NFZ | Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia. Poland's public health insurance system. Covers Polish residents for most medical care. |
| National identification number | PEH-sel | PESEL | Required for NFZ-funded care. Equivalent to a social security number. |
| Primary care doctor / GP | LEH-kahzh pyerv-SHEH-go kon-TAK-too | Lekarz pierwszego kontaktu (LPK) | The first point of contact in the NFZ system. |
| Infectious disease specialist | zah-KAZH-neek / LEH-kahzh HOH-roob zah-KAZH-nihch | Zakaźnik / Lekarz chorób zakaźnych | Who prescribes PrEP and manages HIV treatment. |
| Referral | skyeh-roh-VAH-nyeh | Skierowanie | Required in the NFZ system to see a specialist. Not required for private care. |
| Prescription | reh-TSEP-tah | Recepta | |
| Private prescription | prih-VAHT-nah reh-TSEP-tah | Prywatna recepta | Not linked to NFZ. Used for PrEP and other medications not covered by NFZ. |
| Hospital Emergency Department | SOR | SOR | Szpitalny Oddział Ratunkowy. Where to go for PEP. |
| Infectious disease hospital | SHPEE-tahl zah-KAZH-nih | Szpital zakaźny | The most reliable PEP access point. |
| Pharmacy | ahp-TEH-kah | Apteka | |
| Privately / Private clinic | prih-VAHT-nyeh / prih-VAHT-nah klee-NEE-kah | Prywatnie / Prywatna klinika | You pay directly; no NFZ involvement. |
| Doctor-booking platform | ZNAH-nih LEH-kahzh | ZnanyLekarz | Poland's main doctor-booking platform (znanylekarz.pl). |
Appointments
| Purpose | Phonetic | Polish Term |
|---|---|---|
| To book an appointment | oo-MOO-veech vee-ZIH-teh | Umówić wizytę |
| Clinic room / office | gah-BEE-net | Gabinet |
| Waiting room | poh-cheh-KAHL-nyah | Poczekalnia |
| Referral | skyeh-roh-VAH-nyeh | Skierowanie |
| Prescription | reh-TSEP-tah | Recepta |
| Test result | VIH-neek bah-DAH-nyah | Wynik badania |
Sexual Health and Testing
| Purpose | Phonetic | Polish Term |
|---|---|---|
| Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) | hoh-ROH-bih veh-neh-RIH-chneh / in-FEK-tsyeh psheh-noh-SHOH-neh DROH-gom P-WCHEE-oh-vom | Choroby weneryczne / Infekcje przenoszone drogą płciową |
| HIV test | test HIV / bah-DAH-nyeh nah HIV | Test HIV / Badanie na HIV |
| Anonymous | ah-noh-nee-MOH-vih | Anonimowy |
| Swab | VIH-mahs | Wymaz |
| Throat swab | VIH-mahs z GAHR-dwah | Wymaz z gardła |
| Rectal/anal swab | VIH-mahs z od-BIH-too / od-bit-NEE-tsih | Wymaz z odbytu / odbytnicy |
| Urethral swab | VIH-mahs z TSEV-kee moh-CHOH-vey | Wymaz z cewki moczowej |
| Blood test | bah-DAH-nyeh k-RVEE | Badanie krwi |
| Urine test | bah-DAH-nyeh MOH-choo | Badanie moczu |
| Result | VIH-neek | Wynik |
| Positive / Negative | poh-zih-TIHV-nih / neh-gah-TIHV-nih | Pozytywny / Negatywny |
| Anonymous HIV/STI testing point | poonkt kon-sool-tah-TSIY-noh dee-yahg-noh-STIH-chnih | Punkt Konsultacyjno-Diagnostyczny (PKD) |
HIV, PrEP, and PEP
| Purpose | Phonetic | Polish Term |
|---|---|---|
| PrEP | PrEP (proh-fee-LAHK-tih-kah pshed-eks-poh-zih-TSIY-nah) | PrEP (Profilaktyka przedekspozycyjna) |
| PEP | PEP (proh-fee-LAHK-tih-kah poh-eks-poh-zih-TSIY-nah) | PEP (Profilaktyka poekspozycyjna) |
| HIV positive / negative | HIV poh-zih-TIHV-nih / neh-gah-TIHV-nih | HIV pozytywny / negatywny |
| Undetectable | nyeh-vih-krih-VAHL-nih | Niewykrywalny |
| Viral load | MYAH-noh vee-ROO-sah / vee-REH-myah | Miano wirusa / Wiremia |
| CD4 count | leem-foh-TSIH-tih tseh-deh ch-TEH-rih | Limfocyty CD4 |
| Antiretroviral therapy | leh-CHEH-nyeh ahn-tih-reh-troh-vee-roo-SOH-veh | Leczenie antyretrowirusowe (ART) |
| Infectious diseases | hoh-ROH-bih zah-KAZH-neh | Choroby zakaźne |
Key Phrases
| Purpose | Phonetic | Polish Term |
|---|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | CHIH MOO-vee Pan/Pah-nee poh ahn-GYEL-skoo | Czy mówi Pan/Pani po angielsku? |
| Full STI panel — throat, rectal, urethral swabs + blood | HTSAY ZROH-bitch kom-PLET-neh bah-DAH-nyah v kyeh-ROON-koo choh-ROOB veh-neh-RIHCH-nihch | Chcę zrobić kompletne badania w kierunku chorób wenerycznych — wymaz z gardła, odbytu i cewki moczowej, a także badanie krwi. |
| Anonymous HIV test | HTSAY ah-noh-nee-MOH-vih test nah HIV | Chcę anonimowy test na HIV. |
| I'm on PrEP — need my monitoring appointment | YES-tem nah PrEP. poh-TSHEH-boo-YAY kon-TROH-lee | Jestem na PrEP. Potrzebuję wizyty kontrolnej. |
| I want to start PrEP | HTSAY roz-poh-TSHEH mih PrEP | Chcę rozpocząć PrEP. |
| HIV exposure — I need PEP — within 72 hours | myah-WHEM rih-ZIH-koh-vneh zah-hoh-VAH-nyeh sek-soo-AHL-neh. poh-TSHEH-boo-YAY PEP | Miałem ryzykowne zachowanie seksualne. Potrzebuję profilaktyki poekspozycyjnej — PEP — na HIV. Jestem w ciągu 72 godzin. |
| I want a private appointment | HTSAY vih-ZIH-teh prih-VAHT-nom | Chcę wizytę prywatną. |
| I don't have a PESEL (as a foreigner) | NYEH mahm PEH-sel | Nie mam PESEL. |
| I have an EHIC card | mahm EHIC | Mam EHIC. |
| I need help | poh-TSHEH-boo-YAY poh-MOH-tsih | Potrzebuję pomocy! |
| Please call an ambulance | PROH-sheh VEZ-vahch poh-goh-TOH-vyeh | Proszę wezwać pogotowie! |
Emergency Numbers
Numbers
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| General emergency (ambulance, police, fire) | 112 |
| Ambulance only | 999 |
| Police | 997 |
| Fire | 998 |
Signs
| Purpose | Phonetic | Polish Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency department | SOR | SOR | Szpitalny Oddział Ratunkowy |
| Emergency reception / admission | EEZ-bah PSHIH-yench | Izba przyjęć | |
| Entrance | VEY-shcheh | Wejście | |
| "Potrzebuję pomocy." — I need help. | |||
| "Proszę wezwać pogotowie." — Please call an ambulance. |