biec

Polish

Alternative forms

• biegnąć (uncommon)

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish biec, from Proto-Slavic *běťi (stem *běg-), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *bḗˀgtei, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰégʷ-e-ti, thematic root present of *bʰegʷ- (“to flee, run”). Cognate with Lithuanian bė́gti (“to run”) and Ancient Greek φέβομαι (phébomai, “to flee”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bjɛt͡s/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛt͡s
• Syllabification: biec

Verb

biec impf (determinate, perfective pobiec, indeterminate biegać)

1. (intransitive) to run (of living things: to move quickly on foot)

   biec chodnikiem ― to run down the sidewalk

   biec korytarzem ― to run down the hall

   biec do mety ― to run to the finish line

   biec do drzwi ― to run to the door

   biec do łazienki ― to run to the bathroom

   biec po schodach ― to run to run upstairs/downstairs

   biec boso ― to run barefoot

   biec prosto przed siebie ― to run straight ahead

   biec ile sił w nogach ― to run as fast as one can

   biec kłusem ― to trot

   biec truchtem ― to trot/jog

   biec i krzyczeć ― to run and yell

   tupot biegnących ― the stomping of people running

   Pies biegnie do swojego pana. ― The dog runs to his master.

2. (intransitive) to run, to rush (to rush somewhere in order to accomplish a specific task) or ,

   biec do banku ― to run to the bank

   biec do domu ― to run home

   biec do kiosku ― to run to a kiosk

   biec do pracy ― to run to work

   biec do sklepu ― to run to the store

   biec do szkoły ― to run to school

   biec do telefonu ― to run to the phone

   biec po pomoc ― to run for help

   biec kupić ― to run to buy (something)

   biec sprawdzić ― to run to check (something)

   biec szukać ― to run to look for (something)

3. (intransitive, of objects) to run, to race, to roll (to move across a surface in a particular direction)

   Pociąg biegnie co dwadzieścia minut. ― The train runs every ten minutes.

   Chmury biegną po niebie. ― Clouds move across/in the sky.

4. (intransitive) to run, to go, to lead (to form a route)

   Droga biegnie wzdłuż kanionu. ― The road runs along the canyon.

   Te tory kolejowe biegną do starego portu. ― These railway tracks run to the old port.

5. (intransitive, of objects in time) to fly, to race (to pass by very quickly; to proceed very fast)

   biec nieubłaganie ― to pass inexorably

   Czas biegnie. ― Time flies.

   życie biegnie ― Life flies by.

   lata biegną ― The years run by.

6. (intransitive, of objects in time) to progress (to develop or change with time)

   Akcja biegnie. ― The action progresses.

   Historia biegnie. ― The story unfolds.

7. (intransitive, law) to begin, to run (to begin and continue)

   Przedawnienie biegnie od... ― The statute of limitations runs from...

Conjugation

Archaic conjugation:

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

• biec in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• biec in Polish dictionaries at PWN