silny
silny 30秒で
- Used for physical power in people and animals.
- Describes intense natural phenomena like wind and storms.
- Refers to mental resilience and a strong character.
- Applies to influential abstract concepts like the economy or arguments.
The Polish adjective silny is a fundamental word used to describe strength, power, and intensity across a wide spectrum of contexts. At its most basic level, it refers to physical prowess—the kind of strength one might observe in an athlete, a heavy lifter, or a sturdy animal. However, its utility in the Polish language extends far beyond the gymnasium. It is the primary descriptor for natural forces, such as a silny wiatr (strong wind) or a silna burza (strong storm), where it conveys the sheer magnitude and impact of the elements. In the realm of human character, silny describes individuals with resilience and fortitude, those who possess a silna wola (strong will) or a silny charakter (strong character). It is also frequently employed to describe sensory experiences and physiological states, such as a silny ból (strong pain) or a silny zapach (strong smell). Understanding silny requires recognizing its dual nature: it is both a tangible measure of physical force and an abstract measure of influence and endurance. Whether you are discussing the strength of a nation's economy, the intensity of a medicinal dose, or the robustness of a structural pillar, silny is your go-to adjective. It is distinguished from its close relative mocny by a subtle preference for innate, natural, or physical power, whereas mocny often leans toward durability, concentration (like coffee), or structural integrity, though the two are frequently used interchangeably in colloquial speech.
- Physical Power
- Used for people, animals, and machines capable of exerting great force. Example: silny silnik (a strong engine).
Mój brat jest bardzo silny, ponieważ trenuje codziennie na siłowni.
- Natural Forces
- Describes the intensity of weather phenomena. Example: silny mróz (strong frost).
Wczoraj w nocy wiał wyjątkowo silny wiatr, który łamał gałęzie drzew.
- Abstract Influence
- Refers to political, economic, or social power. Example: silna gospodarka (strong economy).
Polska ma coraz silniejszą pozycję na arenie międzynarodowej.
Ta kobieta ma bardzo silną osobowość i nikt nie może jej zdominować.
Potrzebujemy silnych dowodów, aby wygrać tę sprawę w sądzie.
Using silny correctly requires a basic grasp of Polish declension. As an adjective, it changes its ending based on the noun it modifies. In the nominative singular, we see silny (masculine), silna (feminine), and silne (neuter). For example, silny mężczyzna (a strong man), silna kobieta (a strong woman), and silne zwierzę (a strong animal). When you move into the plural, you must distinguish between masculine personal nouns (silni ludzie - strong people) and all other nouns (silne wiatry - strong winds). This grammatical agreement is vital for sounding natural. Beyond grammar, the word follows patterns of intensity. You can modify it with adverbs like bardzo (very), niesamowicie (incredibly), or dość (quite). For instance, On jest dość silny (He is quite strong). In comparative forms, silny becomes silniejszy (stronger) and najsilniejszy (strongest). This is used frequently when comparing athletes or the severity of symptoms. Ten lek jest silniejszy od tamtego (This medicine is stronger than that one). Another key usage is in the instrumental case, often used after the verb być (to be) in certain contexts or to describe a state. On urodził się silnym dzieckiem (He was born a strong child). You will also see it in the genitive case when expressing negation or possession: Nie widzę tu silnego przeciwnika (I don't see a strong opponent here). The versatility of silny means it can appear in almost any sentence structure, from simple descriptive statements to complex metaphorical comparisons.
- Masculine Nominative
- Standard form for masculine nouns. Example: silny uścisk dłoni (a strong handshake).
Prezydent wygłosił silny komunikat do narodu.
- Feminine Accusative
- Used when the strong feminine noun is the direct object. Example: Mam silną wolę (I have a strong will).
Musisz mieć silną motywację, żeby ukończyć ten maraton.
- Neuter Plural
- Used for plural neuter nouns or non-masculine personal groups. Example: silne emocje (strong emotions).
Film wywołał u widzów bardzo silne uczucia.
Ci sportowcy są niesamowicie silni.
Po wypadku odczuwał silny ból w kręgosłupie.
In daily Polish life, silny is ubiquitous. You will hear it every evening during the weather forecast on channels like TVP or TVN. Meteorologists frequently warn of silne opady deszczu (strong rainfall) or silne porywy wiatru (strong gusts of wind). In the gym culture of Poland—which is quite vibrant—you'll hear people discussing who is najsilniejszy na siłowni (the strongest in the gym) or how to build silne mięśnie (strong muscles). In a medical context, a doctor might ask if you are experiencing silny ból or prescribe a silny antybiotyk (strong antibiotic). Politically, the word is a staple in rhetoric. Leaders speak of a silna Polska (strong Poland) or a silna armia (strong army) to evoke a sense of security and pride. In business, it appears in discussions about silna konkurencja (strong competition) or a silna marka (strong brand). Even in literature and cinema, silny is used to describe the 'strong, silent type' or the protagonist's inner journey. It is a word that bridges the gap between the mundane (a strong smell of onions) and the monumental (a strong earthquake). If you listen to Polish podcasts or radio news, pay attention to how silny is used to emphasize the degree of something—it acts as a powerful qualifier that adds weight to any noun it precedes. From the playground, where children compare who is silniejszy, to the boardroom, where executives analyze silne strony (strengths) of a project, this word is an essential tool for expressing intensity and capability.
- Weather Reports
- Constant use to describe wind, rain, and storms. Example: silne wyładowania atmosferyczne (strong atmospheric discharges/lightning).
Uwaga! Prognozowany jest silny wiatr w porywach do stu kilometrów na godzinę.
- Medical Settings
- Describing symptoms and medications. Example: silna reakcja alergiczna (strong allergic reaction).
Pacjent skarży się na silne zawroty głowy.
- Sports and Fitness
- Describing physical ability. Example: silny zawodnik (a strong player/competitor).
Robert Lewandowski ma bardzo silne uderzenie z prawej nogi.
Mamy silne podstawy, by sądzić, że projekt odniesie sukces.
One of the most frequent errors for English speakers learning Polish is the confusion between silny and mocny. While both can translate to 'strong', they have different 'preferred' nouns. For example, in English, you have a 'strong coffee', but in Polish, you almost always say mocna kawa, not silna kawa. Using silna here sounds like the coffee has muscles or is physically pushing you! Similarly, 'strong alcohol' is mocny alkohol. Another common mistake involves gender agreement. Because silny ends in '-y', learners often forget to change it to silna for feminine nouns like kobieta or wola. Saying silny wola is a glaring grammatical error. Furthermore, the plural forms often trip people up. Remember that silni is strictly for 'men' (or groups containing at least one man), while silne is for everything else. If you are talking about strong women, you must say silne kobiety, not silni kobiety. Additionally, learners sometimes confuse silny with ciężki (heavy). While a strong person can lift heavy things, the words are not synonyms. Finally, pay attention to the comparative form. It is silniejszy, not bardziej silny (though the latter is becoming more common in informal speech, the former is the standard correct form). Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Polish sound much more sophisticated and natural.
- Silny vs. Mocny
- Coffee/Tea/Alcohol = mocny. Physical force/Weather = silny.
Błąd: Piję silną kawę. Poprawnie: Piję mocną kawę.
- Gender Agreement
- Always match the ending to the noun's gender. Silna (f), Silny (m), Silne (n).
Błąd: Silny osobowość. Poprawnie: Silna osobowość.
- Plural Personal vs. Non-Personal
- Silni (men), Silne (women/objects/animals).
Błąd: Silni wiatry. Poprawnie: Silne wiatry.
While silny is the general word for 'strong', Polish offers a rich palette of alternatives depending on the specific type of strength you wish to convey. If you want to emphasize massive, overwhelming power, use potężny (mighty/powerful). This is often used for giant buildings, empires, or huge waves. For someone who is physically robust and healthy, krzepki (sturdy/robust) is a great choice, often applied to older people who remain in good shape. If the strength refers to durability or resistance to wear and tear, wytrzymały (durable/resilient) is the correct term. For emotional or mental resilience, you might use odporny (resistant/resilient). When describing a strong smell or taste, intensywny (intensive) or ostry (sharp/pungent) are often more precise. In the context of light or sound, jaskrawy (bright) or głośny (loud) might be what you actually mean. If you are talking about a strong argument, przekonujący (convincing) or solidny (solid) can be excellent substitutes. Understanding these nuances allows you to move from basic A2 Polish to more advanced levels of expression. Comparing silny with mocny remains the most important distinction; remember that mocny is about the 'bond' or 'concentration', while silny is about the 'output' or 'force'.
- Potężny vs. Silny
- Potężny is much larger in scale. A 'silny człowiek' is strong; a 'potężny człowiek' is a giant or a very influential person.
- Wytrzymały vs. Silny
- Wytrzymały refers to how long something can last under pressure (stamina/durability).
- Intensywny vs. Silny
- Intensywny is better for colors, smells, and academic study sessions.
To jest potężna maszyna, która może kruszyć skały.
Mój dziadek jest jeszcze bardzo krzepki mimo swojego wieku.
レベル別の例文
Mój tata jest bardzo silny.
My dad is very strong.
Masculine nominative singular adjective.
To jest silny koń.
This is a strong horse.
Adjective modifying a masculine noun.
Czy on jest silny?
Is he strong?
Question form using 'jest'.
On ma silne ręce.
He has strong hands/arms.
Non-masculine personal plural (hands are non-personal).
Dzisiaj jest silny wiatr.
There is a strong wind today.
Weather description.
Ten lew jest silny.
This lion is strong.
Simple subject-adjective sentence.
Mój brat nie jest silny.
My brother is not strong.
Negation with 'nie'.
Ona widzi silnego psa.
She sees a strong dog.
Accusative masculine singular (animate).
Ona jest silna i zdrowa.
She is strong and healthy.
Feminine nominative singular.
Mamy silną wolę walki.
We have a strong will to fight.
Accusative feminine singular.
To zwierzę jest silniejsze od tamtego.
This animal is stronger than that one.
Comparative degree 'silniejsze'.
Czuję silny ból w nodze.
I feel a strong pain in my leg.
Accusative masculine singular (inanimate).
Oni są bardzo silni.
They (men) are very strong.
Masculine personal plural.
To są silne kobiety.
These are strong women.
Non-masculine personal plural.
Nie lubię silnego mrozu.
I don't like strong frost.
Genitive masculine singular.
Kto jest najsilniejszy w klasie?
Who is the strongest in the class?
Superlative degree 'najsilniejszy'.
Prezydent ma silny wpływ na ludzi.
The president has a strong influence on people.
Abstract usage of 'silny'.
To był silny argument w dyskusji.
That was a strong argument in the discussion.
Intellectual usage.
Mamy silne dowody na jego winę.
We have strong evidence of his guilt.
Plural non-masculine personal.
Ona ma silny charakter i nie poddaje się.
She has a strong character and doesn't give up.
Describing personality.
Wystąpiły silne opady śniegu.
Strong snowfall occurred.
Weather context.
Potrzebujemy silnej gospodarki.
We need a strong economy.
Genitive feminine singular.
To jest lek o silnym działaniu.
This is a medicine with a strong effect.
Locative masculine singular after 'o'.
Widzę silną więź między nimi.
I see a strong bond between them.
Relational usage.
Silna konkurencja zmusza nas do zmian.
Strong competition forces us to make changes.
Business context.
Odczuwam silną potrzebę odpoczynku.
I feel a strong need for rest.
Psychological state.
Jego słowa wywarły silne wrażenie na komisji.
His words made a strong impression on the committee.
Impact/Effect usage.
To miasto ma silne tradycje rzemieślnicze.
This city has strong craft traditions.
Cultural usage.
Silny popyt na mieszkania podnosi ceny.
Strong demand for apartments raises prices.
Economic usage.
Mimo silnego oporu, projekt został przyjęty.
Despite strong resistance, the project was accepted.
Genitive masculine singular after 'mimo'.
Musimy zbudować silne fundamenty dla firmy.
We must build strong foundations for the company.
Metaphorical usage.
Ona silnie wierzy w swoje ideały.
She strongly believes in her ideals.
Adverbial form 'silnie'.
Autor używa silnych metafor w swojej poezji.
The author uses strong metaphors in his poetry.
Literary analysis.
Istnieje silna korelacja między tymi zjawiskami.
There is a strong correlation between these phenomena.
Academic/Scientific usage.
Silny akcent regionalny utrudniał zrozumienie.
A strong regional accent made understanding difficult.
Linguistic usage.
To był silny bodziec do dalszego rozwoju.
It was a strong stimulus for further development.
Psychological/Developmental usage.
Jego silna osobowość dominuje w każdym towarzystwie.
His strong personality dominates in every company.
Social dynamics.
Silne powiązania rodzinne są tu normą.
Strong family ties are the norm here.
Sociological usage.
Wystąpiła silna reakcja chemiczna.
A strong chemical reaction occurred.
Technical usage.
Mamy silne podstawy prawne do tego działania.
We have strong legal grounds for this action.
Legal usage.
To silny imperatyw moralny, którym się kieruje.
It is a strong moral imperative that guides him.
Philosophical usage.
Silna ręka państwa jest tu aż nadto widoczna.
The strong hand of the state is all too visible here.
Political metaphor.
W tekście pobrzmiewają silne echa romantyzmu.
Strong echoes of Romanticism resonate in the text.
Literary criticism.
To silny kontrapunkt dla głównego nurtu myślowego.
It is a strong counterpoint to the mainstream thought.
Intellectual discourse.
Silna polaryzacja społeczeństwa jest faktem.
Strong polarization of society is a fact.
Sociopolitical analysis.
Jego argumentacja była silnie osadzona w tradycji.
His argumentation was strongly rooted in tradition.
Advanced adverbial usage.
Silny determinizm biologiczny budzi kontrowersje.
Strong biological determinism sparks controversy.
Scientific/Philosophical debate.
To silny atut w negocjacjach dyplomatycznych.
It is a strong asset in diplomatic negotiations.
High-level professional usage.
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
— The 'strong sex' (traditionally referring to men).
Mówi się, że mężczyźni to silna płeć.
慣用句と表現
— To be able to drink a lot of alcohol without getting drunk.
Marek ma silną głowę do wódki.
informal— Strong as an oak; very healthy and physically powerful.
Dziadek jest silny jak dąb.
neutral— To use a powerful advantage or argument.
W negocjacjach zagrał silną kartą.
metaphorical— Good at talking but not necessarily good at doing (big mouth).
On jest tylko silny w gębie.
informal/pejorative— The law of the jungle; the strongest wins.
W tej firmie panuje prawo silniejszego.
neutral— A particular talent or asset.
Summary
The word 'silny' is the versatile Polish equivalent of 'strong', covering physical, natural, and abstract power. Example: 'Silny wiatr zniszczył silne ogrodzenie' (A strong wind destroyed a strong fence).
- Used for physical power in people and animals.
- Describes intense natural phenomena like wind and storms.
- Refers to mental resilience and a strong character.
- Applies to influential abstract concepts like the economy or arguments.
関連コンテンツ
generalの関連語
a
A1and/but
adaptacja
B2the process of adjusting to new conditions
adekwatny
C1Satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity.
akceptowalny
C1Able to be agreed on; satisfactory.
akceptować
B1To accept or agree to something
albo
A1or
ale
A1but
alternatywa
C1オルタナティブ(代替案)とは、2つ以上の利用可能な可能性のうちの1つです。
angielski
A1English
atrakcyjny
B1この仕事のオファーは非常に魅力的です。