The Polish donut you’re thinking of is spelled “pączki” in Polish and usually written “paczki” in English.

Quick Scoop

  • Correct Polish spelling: pączki (with the little tail under the “a,” called an ogonek).
  • Common English spelling: paczki (people often drop the accent/ogonek).
  • Pronunciation: roughly “pohnch-kee ” or “ponch-kee ,” not “patch-key” or “pack-ski.”
  • Singular form: one pastry is a pączek , pronounced “pohnch-ek.”

So if you’re just writing it casually in English, “paczki” is totally accepted, but the fully correct Polish form is “pączki.”

TL;DR: You spell it “pączki” in Polish, often “paczki” in English, and say it like “ponch-kee.”

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