When discussing a headstone, an epitaph means a text commemorating the deceased. The word also has literary and artistic meanings. Check the personal details, wording and layout with the maker of the particular stone.
An epitaph commemorates someone who has died. In practical questions about a funeral or headstone, it usually means a short memorial text on a stone or plaque. The word also has wider meanings: it can describe a literary work and, in art history, a decorative memorial tablet. You do not need to write a poem or find a formal saying for a loved one. Words you genuinely wish to preserve are enough.
What is an epitaph? Meaning of the word
The Polish Academy of Sciences' Great Dictionary of Polish (WSJP PAN) distinguishes two meanings. The first is a verse text dedicated to the deceased, placed on a headstone or existing separately. The second is a decorative plaque with a commemorative inscription. An epitaph seen in a historic church and a short inscription chosen for a modern stone therefore need not have the same form.
Tell the maker exactly what you need: a headstone inscription, text for a plaque closing an urn niche, or a separate memorial plaque. This helps establish dimensions and workmanship rather than relying on a name alone. A dictionary does not set installation rules or determine available cemetery space.
Epitaphs, death notices and wreath-ribbon inscriptions
These texts can contain similar words of farewell but serve different purposes. An epitaph commemorates the deceased. Death notices, including the Polish nekrolog and klepsydra, announce a death and may give ceremony details. A ribbon is part of a floral tribute. You do not have to copy the same text everywhere.
| Text | Main purpose | What to agree before preparing it |
|---|---|---|
| Epitaph | Commemorating the deceased | Location, available space and inscription layout |
| Death notice (nekrolog or klepsydra) | Announcing the death and ceremony | Personal details, ceremony date and location |
| Wreath-ribbon inscription | A short farewell with flowers | Text length and the names of those saying farewell |
For more about announcements, see our information on death notices. When choosing wording for flowers, see our separate guide on what to write on a funeral ribbon (in Polish).
What to write on a headstone: original examples
We prepared these short suggestions as original editorial examples. They are not quotations from famous authors or the only correct wording. You can adapt them or use them as a starting point. Being true to the family's memories and the deceased's beliefs matters more than ornate language.
Short inscriptions without religious references
- “You stay with us in our happy memories.”
- “Your kindness lives on in our memory.”
- “Thank you for the journey we shared.”
Personal words for a mother or father
- “Mum, we remember your smile and care.”
- “Dad, we remember your words and your everyday presence.”
- “We remember you with gratitude for the warmth of our home.”
Suggestions with a religious meaning
- “In prayer, we entrust you to God.”
- “With gratitude for your life, we pray for peace.”
If you choose a prayer, scripture or poem, check the exact wording in a specific edition. Do not attribute an online saying to a well-known author without a source. Longer quotations may require a separate copyright check; here we offer our own short suggestions rather than reproducing other people's poems.
Writing an epitaph step by step
- Start with a memory. Write down one quality, event or relationship you want to preserve. It need not describe an entire life.
- Choose the tone. Decide whether a personal, simple, poetic or religious text feels right for your family. Formal language does not automatically make a memory more valuable.
- Prepare two versions. Make one very short and another slightly longer. The maker can show how they fit on the stone at a readable letter size.
- Read it aloud. Remove words that feel unfamiliar or exaggerated. The sentence should remain clear without further explanation.
- Check personal details separately. The name, dates and inscription each need a separate check. It is easy to omit a character or transpose a digit when copying.
- Confirm the design with the family and maker. Save the final wording and line breaks. Do not place the order based only on a spoken agreement.
There is no need to rush this choice simply because other funeral arrangements have been made. Discuss the completion date and whether an inscription can be added later with the maker. We do not give a universal number of days because this depends on the specific order and location.
Checking the inscription before it is made
Ask for a design showing the whole stone: personal details, dates, inscription and any symbols. Read each part separately rather than judging only the overall appearance. It is helpful for a second family member to check the same design independently.
Check Polish characters, apostrophes, punctuation and any required inflection of the surname. Make sure line breaks do not change the meaning. Agree on legibility, spacing and how the text will be accommodated if further details are added later. These are questions for the maker, not a universal specification for every headstone.
For an urn niche, ask the administration about plaque and inscription rules. Dimensions, installation and permitted features may vary by columbarium. Our guide explains the basics: what a columbarium is. Do not order a plaque solely from dimensions found online.
Choosing the words together as a family
If relatives suggest different inscriptions, first agree on the shared meaning you want the text to express. Sometimes shortening a sentence or leaving out one saying is enough. You do not need to decide whose way of grieving is more appropriate. A personal text can be just as dignified as a traditional phrase.
You might ask: “Which words remind us most of this person?” or “Will this inscription still make sense to us in a few years?” These are prompts, not a fixed conversation script. More guidance on farewells is in our article on saying farewell to the deceased.
If you need to discuss elements of the ceremony or wreaths and flowers, you can speak to Terra Levis on 660 950 600. Technical work on an inscription and its cost must be confirmed with the maker of the specific plaque or headstone. This guide is not an offer of stonemasonry services.
Dictionary sources
The word's meanings and Polish grammatical forms were checked in WSJP PAN on 30 September 2026: epitaph as a literary work and epitaph as a memorial plaque. The sample inscriptions and checklist are editorial material, not quotations or a technical standard.
Where can you use a longer farewell text?
If a memory does not fit into a short inscription, you can prepare a separate text to read aloud. Our guide to writing a family's farewell helps organise your own words without attributing them to the deceased.
Prepare information about the death and ceremony date separately from the headstone inscription. Our article on death notices and how to prepare them (in Polish) contains examples and a checklist to review before publication.