iść / chodzić
Iść and Chodzić
Polish uses two different verbs for 'to go' on foot: iść (determinate) and chodzić (indeterminate). The choice depends on whether the movement is a specific one-way trip or a repeated/general action.
How It Works
In Polish, verbs of motion come in pairs. Both iść and chodzić are imperfective, but they differ in determinacy.
1. Iść (Determinate)
Use this when the movement is directed toward a specific goal in a single instance:
- Current action: 'Idę do domu' (I am walking home right now).
- Specific future plan: 'Jutro idę do kina' (Tomorrow I am going to the cinema).
2. Chodzić (Indeterminate)
Use this for movement that isn't a single, one-way trip:
- Habits/Frequency: 'Codziennie chodzę do pracy' (I walk to work every day).
- Round trips: 'Chodziłem do sklepu' (I went to the store and came back).
- Attendance: 'Chodzić na lekcje' (To attend classes).
- Aimless movement: 'Chodzić po parku' (To walk around the park).
3. Conjugation Notes
The conjugation of iść is highly irregular, especially in the past tense (szedłem, szła, szli). Chodzić follows the standard -ę, -isz pattern.
Examples (5)
- Gdzie teraz idziesz?
Where are you going (right now)?
Word by Word: Where now you-go?
Uses 'iść' because it refers to a specific movement happening at this moment.
- Codziennie chodzę do szkoły pieszo.
I walk to school every day.
Word by Word: Every-day I-walk to school on-foot.
Uses 'chodzić' because it describes a habitual, repeated action.
- Jutro idziemy do restauracji.
Tomorrow we are going to a restaurant.
Word by Word: Tomorrow we-go to restaurant.
Uses 'iść' for a specific, planned trip in the near future.
- Dziecko już chodzi.
The baby is already walking.
Word by Word: Child already walks.
Uses 'chodzić' to describe the general ability to walk, rather than a specific destination.
- Chodziliśmy po lesie przez dwie godziny.
We walked around the forest for two hours.
Word by Word: We-walked around forest through two hours.
Uses 'chodzić' because the movement was non-directional (wandering around).
Common Mistakes
Using 'iść' for any type of 'going', including vehicles.
Idę do Londynu samolotem.Lecę do Londynu samolotem.In Polish, 'iść' and 'chodzić' are strictly for walking. If you use a vehicle, you must use 'jechać' (by land) or 'lecieć' (by air).
Believing 'zawsze' always forces 'chodzić'.
Different MeaningZawsze idę do pracy o ósmej.Zawsze chodzę do pracy o ósmej.'Zawsze idę do pracy o ósmej' is correct. 'Idę' names the trip itself (I always set off at eight). 'Chodzę do pracy' stresses the regular habit of going there. Choose the one that fits what you want to say.
Using the non-standard past tense form 'szłem'.
Wczoraj szłem do kina.Wczoraj szedłem do kina.The masculine first-person past tense of 'iść' is 'szedłem'. 'Szłem' is a common error even among some native speakers but is considered incorrect in standard Polish.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Learn Verb Aspect before Iść And Chodzić.
Related Patterns
- jechać / jeździćJechać and Jeździć
This is the equivalent motion pair for traveling by vehicle instead of on foot.
Level 3 - iśćThe Verb Iść
Detailed conjugation tables for the irregular present and past stems of 'iść'.
Level 3 - Prefixed Motion Verbs
Shows how adding prefixes (like 'do-', 'wy-', 'przy-') changes the meaning of these base motion verbs.
Level 4 - Past Tense
Provides the context for the irregular past tense forms used by 'iść' (szedł, szła).
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice iść / chodzić in Bubblegum
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