bańka
a thousand zloty; a million (context-dependent)
Pronunciation
/ˈbaɲka/
Cultural Note
'Bańka' literally means 'bubble' but in money slang it's one of the trickiest words because its value depends on context. For everyday purchases, 'bańka' = 1,000 złotych. When talking about real estate or salaries in larger sums, 'bańka' can mean a million złotych. You have to read the context to know which. This ambiguity is well-known and occasionally causes confusion, which Poles find amusing. 'Pół bańki' (half a bubble) for an apartment clearly means 500,000 zł, not 500 zł. It's one of those slang words where understanding requires cultural fluency, not just vocabulary.
📝 Example Sentences
Nowy iPhone kosztuje ponad cztery bańki.
A new iPhone costs over four thousand.
Za to mieszkanie chcą pół bańki.
They want half a million for that apartment.