Cały or wszystko - which word to choose

In Polish, the words "cały" and "wszystko" have different uses and are not synonymous, even though both can refer to something in its entirety. Learners of the Polish language often struggle with choosing the appropriate word in context. Below, we explain how to distinguish between the two words. It turns out that the difference is significant enough that knowing a few rules can help us avoid unnecessary mistakes.

When do we use "cały"?

"Cały" refers to one specific thing or person that is complete or whole. It is an adjective, so it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Examples:

• I read the whole book. (refers to one book)
• I spent the whole day at the beach. (refers to one day)
• The movie lasted a whole two hours.

When do we use "wszystko"?

"Wszystko" refers to a collection of different things and means that we are talking about every element in that collection. It is an unchangeable pronoun.

Examples:

• I did everything I could. (refers to different actions)
• I ate everything on the plate. (different food items)
• Everything is ready.

Summary:

We use "cały" when talking about something singular and complete.
We use "wszystko" when referring to a collection of various elements or things.