• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “in one word.” This phrase means “in short,” “in a word,” “to sum up,” or “in brief.” It often comes before a short summary of what was just said in a clear, short form. For example: “Był zmęczony, niezadowolony i sfrustrowany, jednym słowem, zrezygnowany.” (He was tired, dissatisfied, and frustrated, in a word, resigned.) It tells the listener that a brief, defining statement follows, so it is useful in spoken and written Polish.

  Vocabulary

  • jeden / jedno — one (masculine / neuter)
  • słowo — word
  • jednym — one (instrumental singular neuter)
  • słowem — word (instrumental singular)

  Grammar note

  The instrumental case shows manner, meaning 'in/with one word.' 'Jedno słowo' (nominative) becomes 'jednym słowem' (instrumental). This is the common Polish 'instrumental of manner' pattern. Compare 'tytułem wstępu' (by way of introduction) and 'krótko mówiąc' (briefly speaking). The phrase is fixed: you cannot change the number or case of either word.

  Cultural context

  This neutral connector works in formal writing and everyday speech. Academic and news writing often use it to introduce a final label after a longer list of details for most speakers today. It works like French 'en un mot' or Italian 'in una parola.' In casual speech, Poles also use the shorter 'słowem' with the same meaning: 'Słowem, katastrofa.' (In a word, a disaster.)

  Beginner

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