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  What it means

  Literally “with other words,” this phrase means “in other words,” a phrase used to restate or clarify what was just said. It shows that the speaker will say an idea more simply, more precisely, or from another angle. Poles use it in conversation, academic writing, and public speaking when they want to make sure their point is clear: “To jest bardzo skomplikowane; innymi słowy, potrzebujemy więcej czasu.” (This is very complicated; in other words, we need more time.)

  Vocabulary

  • innymi — other (instrumental plural of 'inny')
  • słowy — words (instrumental plural of 'słowo')
  • słowo — word (base form)

  Grammar note

  Both 'innymi' and 'słowy' are in the instrumental plural, the case used after prepositions like 'z' (with), and in many fixed adverbial expressions without a preposition. The full implied phrase is 'z innymi słowami,' but the preposition is dropped in this fixed idiom. Note that 'słowy' is an archaic-sounding instrumental form; the modern standard is 'słowami,' but 'innymi słowami' and 'innymi słowy' are both accepted.

  Cultural context

  Entirely neutral and flexible in style, used in a university lecture, a parliamentary speech, or a WhatsApp message. As a clear calque of the Latin 'aliis verbis,' it has a slightly intellectual tone, but is now common enough to sound natural in casual speech today.

  Beginner

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