Question
3 Dec 2018
- English (US)
-
Polish
Closed question
Question about Polish
What is the difference between czy (when meaning or) and albo (when meaning or) ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between czy (when meaning or) and albo (when meaning or) ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
Answers
4 Dec 2018
Featured answer
- Polish
Hi.
If you only mean the use of these conjunctions in sentences pointing to some alternative, then we can bring the issue to the three following examples:
1. Depending on a sentence CZY and ALBO can be used interchangeably or not. I am afraid the only way to master this skill is to learn through practice, e.g:
a) chciałbyś kawę, CZY herbatę?=Would you like coffee or tea? Here, when asking in general about sth to drink, only suggesting a choice between coffee and tea, we can use ALBO as well.
b) Zostajesz tutaj CZY nie? Zdecyduj się w końcu.=Are you staying here or not? Make up your mind.
c) Chomiki są zazwyczaj brązowawe ALBO szare.=Hamsters are usually brownish or grey.
2. Used as an alternative to "otherwise". In this case we exclusively use the "ALBO/LUB" conjuctions.
a) Ucz się dalej kodeksu drogowego ALBO nie zdasz egzaminu=Keep studying traffic rules or you will fail the exam.
b) Wynoś się stąd natychmiast ALBO będę musiał wezwać policję!=Get out of here now or I will have to call the police!
3. In the "ALBO......ALBO....../ALBO.....LUB....." construction being an equivalent to the "either......or......" expression.
Highly-rated answerer
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Deleted user
"czy" is usually using in questions (when you want someone to do something for you) but not always, I will tell you why ⬇️
"albo" and "czy" can also be using when you want someone to choose one thing from two.
examples:
"czy" (in questions - when you want someone to do something for you)
-czy możesz podać mi tą koszulę?
-czy możesz powiedzieć mi która jest godzina?
"albo" and "czy" (it's like "or" in english - when you want someone to choose one thing from two)
with "albo"
- mam dwa pieski do oddania, mogę ci jednego dać, masz do wyboru tego białego z brązową łatą na plecach albo tego czarnego, którego wybierasz?
and with "czy"
- mam dwa pieski do oddania mogę ci jednego dać, chcesz tego białego z brązową łatą na plecach czy tego czarnego?
word "czy" always has a form like from question but it also can be using like a form of choosing in the same time (like "or" in english)
- Polish Near fluent
Czy = we use when you ask something
like Did you bought butter ? have you ever
We always use in the questions ,,Czy’’
Albo= or
To be or not to be :)
- Polish
It's quite complicated question.
Czy and albo might change meaning of question:
Idziemy do kina, czy do teatru?
Idziemy do kina albo do teatru?
In first question you are asking where do you go, because you are en route already but you don't know where or you didn't decided yet. In second question you are proposing to go to theater or cinema.
Chcesz niebieski długopis, czy czerwony?
Chcesz niebieski długopis albo czerwony?
First question is about choice. Asked person already asked you about a pen and you give colour choice. Second question is about does he/she want a pen you have and what colour.
Highly-rated answerer

Deleted user
answering on your edited question first:
yes "czy" and "albo" mean "or" in form of choice but "czy...?" in questions means "does he/she...?"
and I think @TenebrosuS is more right🙂
- Polish
Hi.
If you only mean the use of these conjunctions in sentences pointing to some alternative, then we can bring the issue to the three following examples:
1. Depending on a sentence CZY and ALBO can be used interchangeably or not. I am afraid the only way to master this skill is to learn through practice, e.g:
a) chciałbyś kawę, CZY herbatę?=Would you like coffee or tea? Here, when asking in general about sth to drink, only suggesting a choice between coffee and tea, we can use ALBO as well.
b) Zostajesz tutaj CZY nie? Zdecyduj się w końcu.=Are you staying here or not? Make up your mind.
c) Chomiki są zazwyczaj brązowawe ALBO szare.=Hamsters are usually brownish or grey.
2. Used as an alternative to "otherwise". In this case we exclusively use the "ALBO/LUB" conjuctions.
a) Ucz się dalej kodeksu drogowego ALBO nie zdasz egzaminu=Keep studying traffic rules or you will fail the exam.
b) Wynoś się stąd natychmiast ALBO będę musiał wezwać policję!=Get out of here now or I will have to call the police!
3. In the "ALBO......ALBO....../ALBO.....LUB....." construction being an equivalent to the "either......or......" expression.
Highly-rated answerer
- Polish
@mattwin1 and what about this post. have you seen my answer before? ☺. You simply have to enter your own profile here and look through your questions.
More to the point, I have to agree searching for users at Italki is very inconvenient. This is the main and I think the only serious shortcoming of this app. We can neither look for specific partner nor put names into alphabetical order. Anyway, do not give up. Try to do the following - click on "my contacts" (the second icon from right at the bottom ), next on "+" (right upper corner) - Find Language Partner - Filter. See the enlosed screenshot of my profile. If you however fail to find me, you may set up your own acct. and I will then try to look for you from my side. BR, Mark

Highly-rated answerer
- English (US)
@Mark1975 I'm now paying for my decision to ask too many questions. yes I know how to view them under my account but I swear it wasn't displaying all of them. I'll try finding you that way.
- Polish
@mattwin1 good luck in your searching and I hope to meet you there soon, either by accepting your request by me or my invitation by you. regards
Highly-rated answerer
- English (US)
@Mark1975 I was able to sort by male and native speaker, but nothing beyond that. After scrolling through a couple hundred names I could not find you. Poddaję się lol.

- Polish
@mattwin1 right, this app is a dead loss in this regard. I will do my best to look for you from my side.
I am in fact starting preparing for Christmas, so to be frank will not have much free time in coming days but will surely try to find you there in the nearest time.
Highly-rated answerer
- Polish
@mattwin1 fine, the inviation has been sent ☺. Accept me when you are there again
Highly-rated answerer

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