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  What it means

  Literally “onto/for the thing,” this phrase means “in favour of,” “for the benefit of,” or “on behalf of.” It is used to indicate that something is done to benefit a particular person, group, or cause. For example, ‘Zrezygnował na rzecz kolegi’ means ‘He stepped down in favour of his colleague.’ It is a common, moderately formal expression found in both written and spoken Polish.

  Vocabulary

  • na — for, in favour of (preposition governing genitive)
  • rzecz — thing, matter, cause (noun, f.)

  Grammar note

  'Na rzecz' takes the genitive case for the noun that follows: 'na rzecz dziecka' (for the benefit of the child), 'na rzecz pokoju' (in the interest of peace). The word 'rzecz' here has an abstract meaning of 'cause' or 'interest,' rather than the literal 'thing.' This is a fixed prepositional phrase and does not change its form.

  Cultural context

  This phrase is used in legal, journalistic, and everyday contexts. It frequently appears in news reports (e.g. donations made 'na rzecz' a charity) and in business or legal writing. It is neutral in register — acceptable in both formal documents and casual conversation. English equivalents include 'in favour of,' 'for the sake of,' or 'on behalf of.'

  Intermediate

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