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  What it means

  Literally, “one behind another.” Used to describe events, people, or things arriving or occurring in quick succession, without pause between them: “Niepowodzenie za niepowodzeniem” or “jedno za drugim” — one after another. It conveys a sense of relentless sequence, often with an implication of either impressive momentum or exhausting repetition.

  Vocabulary

  • jeden — one (masculine numeral, nominative singular)
  • za — behind, after (preposition; takes instrumental case in this meaning)
  • drugi — second, another (masculine ordinal adjective; za drugim = instrumental)
  • jedno za drugim — one after another (neuter form, used with neuter or mixed nouns)

  Grammar note

  The preposition 'za' in the sense of 'following behind' takes the instrumental case: 'za drugim' is the instrumental form of 'drugi.' The gender of 'jeden' and 'drugi' must match the noun being described: 'jeden za drugim' (masculine), 'jedna za drugą' (feminine), 'jedno za drugim' (neuter). This agreement pattern is a useful example of Polish adjectival declension in context.

  Cultural context

  Neutral register, used in spoken and written Polish alike. Common in narrative and descriptive contexts — news reports, storytelling, and complaints. Equivalent to English 'one by one,' 'one after another,' or 'in quick succession.' Often used with nouns describing misfortunes, achievements, or arrivals.

  Beginner

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