Prosimy

Prosimy is a Polish verb form meaning “we ask” or “we kindly ask,” used to make polite requests. It is the first-person plural present tense of the verb prosić, which means to ask or to request. The root prosi- comes from the Proto-Slavic verb for asking or begging.

In usage, Prosimy is often followed by the preposition o and a noun in the genitive to indicate what is being requested, as in prosi o ciszę (“we ask for silence”) or prosi o kontakt (“please contact us” or “we kindly ask you to contact us”). It can also introduce a subordinate clause with aby or żeby, as in prosimy, abyście przyszli (“we ask that you come”). In formal notices, phrases like Uprzejmie prosimy o … (We would kindly ask you to …) are common to increase politeness.

Prosimy contrasts with Proszę, the singular form used when addressing one person or a single audience member. Prosimy is typically used by organizations, institutions, or groups addressing multiple recipients, such as customers or the general public. It often appears in signs, letters, official notices, and service counters.

Nuances include the tone, which can be adjusted with modifiers such as uprzejmie (polite) or serdecznie (sincerely) to soften or emphasize the request. While it conveys a request rather than an obligation, its polite form helps set a cooperative tone in formal and public communication.