• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “without a remainder,” borrowed from mathematics where reszta means the leftover after division. Figuratively it means completely, wholly, or entirely — leaving nothing behind. Poles use it to describe total absorption or dedication: someone who gives themselves over to a cause, a passion, or an emotion bez reszty has held nothing back. It often carries a slightly dramatic or poetic tone, suggesting that something has consumed a person fully.

  Vocabulary

  • bez — without (preposition governing the genitive case)
  • reszta — remainder, rest, change (as in coins)
  • reszty — genitive singular of reszta, required after bez

  Grammar note

  The preposition bez always governs the genitive case, so reszta becomes reszty. This is a fixed prepositional phrase used adverbially — it modifies a verb directly without any additional agreement: oddał się pracy bez reszty (he gave himself to work completely). No article or gender agreement is needed.

  Cultural context

  This phrase sits at a neutral-to-literary register and appears frequently in Polish poetry, song lyrics, and romantic speech. It is understood by all age groups and carries a sense of passionate totality — similar in feel to the English 'heart and soul' or 'without reservation.'

  Beginner

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!