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  What it means

  Meaning ‘as a result of’ or ‘due to,’ this prepositional phrase introduces a cause that produced an outcome. It is more formal than ‘przez’ (because of) and implies a direct, often documented cause-and-effect relationship. ‘Na skutek wypadku droga była zamknięta’ means ‘As a result of the accident, the road was closed.’ It is ubiquitous in news reporting, legal texts, and formal speech.

  Vocabulary

  • skutek — effect, result, consequence (masculine noun)
  • na skutek — as a result of, due to
  • na skutek czego — as a result of which (relative clause connector)

  Grammar note

  'Na skutek' is a compound preposition governing the genitive case. Whatever follows must be in the genitive: 'na skutek wypadku' (gen. of 'wypadek'). It introduces a causal subordinate relationship and is typically followed by a noun phrase, not a full clause — for clauses, Poles use 'ponieważ' or 'dlatego że.'

  Cultural context

  This phrase belongs firmly to formal and written registers — newspapers, official reports, and legal documents. In casual conversation, Poles prefer 'przez' or 'bo.' Using 'na skutek' in everyday speech can sound stiff or ironic. It is a reliable marker of formal written Polish and is standard throughout the country.

  Intermediate

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