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A1 preposition 15 min read

przez

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips przez in 30 Seconds

Explanation przez in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most basic physical and temporal meanings of 'przez'. Think of it as 'through' a physical space or 'for' a period of time. You will use it to describe simple actions like walking through a park ('idę przez park') or looking through a window ('patrzę przez okno'). It is also used for simple durations, like 'przez godzinę' (for an hour) or 'przez tydzień' (for a week). The most important thing to remember at this stage is that the noun following 'przez' must be in the Accusative case. For masculine inanimate nouns like 'park' or 'most', the word doesn't change. For feminine nouns like 'ulica' or 'godzina', the ending changes to '-ę'. Learning these basic patterns will allow you to describe your daily movements and schedules with ease. You might also encounter it in simple math, like '6 przez 2'. Keep your sentences short and focus on these literal passages.

As an A2 learner, you start using 'przez' to express causality and agency in simple sentences. You will learn to say 'To przez ciebie!' (It's because of you!) or 'To przez deszcz' (It's because of the rain). This 'blame' aspect of 'przez' is very common in spoken Polish. You will also use it more frequently with communication devices, such as 'rozmawiać przez telefon' (to talk on the phone) or 'wysłać przez internet' (to send via the internet). Your understanding of duration will expand to include phrases like 'przez cały dzień' (all day long) or 'przez całe życie' (all life long). You should also begin to recognize 'przez' in the context of travel routes, such as 'pociąg przez Warszawę' (a train via Warsaw). At this level, you are moving from simple physical descriptions to explaining reasons and methods of communication.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable with the passive voice uses of 'przez'. In Polish, the person who performs an action in a passive sentence is introduced by 'przez'. For example, 'Książka została napisana przez znanego autora' (The book was written by a famous author). You will also start using 'przez' in more abstract and idiomatic ways. Phrases like 'przejść przez trudny okres' (to go through a difficult period) or 'widzieć coś przez różowe okulary' (to see something through rose-colored glasses) become part of your active vocabulary. You will also distinguish 'przez' from more formal alternatives like 'poprzez' or 'z powodu'. You'll notice that 'przez' often carries a tone of direct responsibility or immediate physical passage, whereas other prepositions might be more detached or formal. Your ability to use 'przez' for both literal and metaphorical 'channels' will significantly improve your narrative skills.

By B2, you are expected to understand the subtle nuances of 'przez' in professional and literary contexts. You will encounter the word in complex sentence structures, such as 'przez wzgląd na...' (out of consideration for...) or 'przez pryzmat...' (through the prism of...). You should be able to use it to describe complex causal chains in arguments. You will also recognize the stylistic difference between 'przez' and its more formal cousin 'poprzez'. In business Polish, you'll use 'przez' to describe the flow of information or goods through various departments or channels. You will also be familiar with many more idioms, such as 'patrzeć na coś przez palce' (to turn a blind eye to something). Your usage should be precise, correctly applying the Accusative case even in complex noun phrases involving adjectives and numbers.

At the C1 level, 'przez' is used with high stylistic precision. You will use it to create sophisticated metaphors in essays and speeches. You'll understand its role in historical linguistic development and how it functions in legal or highly technical texts (e.g., 'dziedziczenie przez reprezentację' - inheritance by representation). You will be able to distinguish between 'przez' and 'za pośrednictwem' in formal correspondence, choosing the latter for a more professional tone. You will also master the use of 'przez' in expressing fine-grained causal relationships where 'przez' might imply a direct, perhaps unintentional cause, as opposed to 'wskutek' which sounds more clinical. Your mastery of the word will allow you to play with its meanings in wordplay or advanced rhetoric, moving seamlessly between its spatial, temporal, and causal functions.

At the C2 level, your use of 'przez' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You have a complete grasp of all archaic and rare idiomatic uses. You can analyze the use of 'przez' in classical Polish literature (like Sienkiewicz or Mickiewicz) where it might appear in slightly different syntactic environments. You understand the rhythmic and phonetic qualities of the word in poetry and can use it to maintain specific meters or resonances. You are also aware of regional variations or dialectal influences on prepositional usage. In academic discourse, you use 'przez' to define complex philosophical frameworks (e.g., 'byt postrzegany przez pryzmat nicości'). Your understanding is not just about grammar or vocabulary, but about the deep conceptual role 'przez' plays in the Polish worldview—as a constant reminder of the paths, causes, and durations that define human experience.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

przez in 30 Seconds

Przez means 'through' for space, 'for' for time, and 'because of' for blame.
It always requires the Accusative case (Biernik) for the noun following it.
It is used in passive voice to show who did the action (e.g., written by).
Commonly heard in travel (via), math (division), and communication (on the phone).

The Polish preposition przez is one of the most versatile and essential building blocks of the Polish language, functioning as a primary bridge for spatial, temporal, and causal relationships. At its most fundamental level, it translates to the English word through, but its utility extends far beyond mere physical passage. In the Polish linguistic landscape, przez acts as a directional vector, guiding the listener through physical spaces, durations of time, and even the complex web of human causality. Whether you are walking through a dense forest, waiting for a friend through the long hours of the afternoon, or explaining that a mistake happened because of someone's negligence, przez is the word you will reach for. It is a preposition that always governs the Accusative case (Biernik), which simplifies its usage compared to prepositions that shift cases based on movement or state.

Spatial Passage: This is the primary use of the word, indicating movement from one side of an object or area to the other. It implies a transition. For example, walking przez park (through the park) or looking przez okno (through the window). It suggests a medium being traversed.
Temporal Duration: When applied to time, przez denotes the entire duration of an event. It is equivalent to saying 'for the duration of' or 'throughout'. If you study przez całą noc, you have studied through the entire night without interruption.
Causality and Blame: A unique and frequent use of przez is to indicate the cause of an event, often with a negative connotation of blame. 'To przez ciebie!' means 'It is because of you!' or 'It is your fault!'. It links a result directly to an agent or circumstance.

Idę przez las, aby skrócić sobie drogę do domu.
— Meaning: I am walking through the forest to shorten my way home.

The nuances of przez also cover the concept of agency in passive constructions. While English uses 'by' (e.g., written by), Polish often employs przez to denote the person who performed the action. For instance, 'Książka napisana przez Adama' (A book written by Adam). This highlights the preposition's role in identifying the source or the 'channel' through which an action was realized. Understanding this word requires recognizing it as a conduit. Whether it is a physical window, a period of seven days, or a person responsible for a mistake, przez is the linguistic tunnel that connects the start of the thought to its destination. It is ubiquitous in daily conversation, appearing in everything from weather reports ('przez Polskę przechodzi front') to emotional outbursts ('To wszystko przez moją nieuwagę').

Czekałem na ciebie przez dwie godziny na mrozie.
— Meaning: I waited for you for two hours in the cold.

In more advanced contexts, przez is used in mathematical operations to denote division: 'dziesięć podzielić przez dwa' (ten divided by two). This mathematical application reinforces the idea of 'going through' or 'breaking through' a quantity. Furthermore, it appears in many phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions that describe the manner in which someone lives or experiences life, such as 'iść przez życie' (to go through life). This metaphorical usage elevates the word from a simple spatial marker to a philosophical one, describing the journey of existence itself.

Agency in Passive Voice: Used to identify the 'doer' of an action. Example: 'Obraz namalowany przez mistrza' (A painting painted by a master).
Multiplication/Division: Used in arithmetic. Example: 'Sześć przez trzy równa się dwa' (Six [divided] by three equals two).

Using przez correctly requires a firm grasp of the Accusative case and an understanding of the relationship between the subject and the object of the preposition. Because przez is so flexible, its meaning shifts based on the noun that follows it. When the noun is a physical object like a bridge, a tunnel, or a window, the meaning is strictly spatial. When the noun is a unit of time, like a day, a month, or a year, the meaning shifts to duration. When the noun is a person or a reason, the meaning shifts to causality or agency. This section will explore these varied applications through detailed examples and structural analysis.

Przeszedłem przez most, żeby dostać się do centrum miasta.
— Meaning: I crossed (walked through/across) the bridge to get to the city center.

In the sentence above, przez most illustrates the most literal use of the word. The bridge is the medium. Note that most is a masculine inanimate noun, so its Accusative form is identical to the Nominative. However, if we were to say 'through the street' (przez ulicę), the feminine noun ulica changes its ending to -ę. This grammatical precision is vital for sounding natural in Polish. Learners often forget to change the ending of feminine nouns, which is one of the most common errors at the A1 and A2 levels.

The 'Because of' Nuance: When you use przez with a person, it often implies that the person is the reason for something—frequently something negative. 'Spóźniłem się przez korki' (I was late because of traffic jams). If you say 'przez ciebie', you are pointing a finger. It is a very direct way of assigning responsibility.

Another frequent use of przez is in the context of communication channels. In modern Polish, we say 'rozmawiać przez telefon' (to talk over/through the phone) or 'wysłać wiadomość przez Messenger' (to send a message via Messenger). Here, the technology is viewed as the 'medium' through which the communication flows. This aligns perfectly with the core spatial meaning of 'through'. It is also used for physical parts of the body used in an action, such as 'mówić przez nos' (to speak through the nose) or 'patrzeć przez okulary' (to look through glasses).

Nie mogłem spać przez całą noc, bo sąsiedzi robili imprezę.
— Meaning: I couldn't sleep through the whole night because the neighbors were having a party.

In formal and academic writing, przez is used to describe processes and methods. For example, 'przez pryzmat' (through the prism of) is a common way to say 'from the perspective of'. This metaphorical use is very popular in literary criticism and social sciences. 'Analizujemy ten problem przez pryzmat historii' (We analyze this problem through the prism of history). It allows the speaker to frame their argument by indicating the 'filter' through which they are looking at a subject.

Mathematical Division: In school, children learn 'podzielić przez'. For example, '12 : 4' is 'dwanaście podzielić przez cztery'. This is a foundational use of the word that every speaker knows.
Physical Interaction: Grabbing someone 'przez ramię' (by/over the shoulder) or looking 'przez ramię' (over the shoulder). It describes the physical path of the action or gaze.

Ta wiadomość została przekazana przez rzecznika prasowego.
— Meaning: This message was conveyed by the press spokesperson.

In Poland, przez is inescapable. You will hear it from the moment you step onto a train until you are arguing with a friend at a café. In the context of public transport, the voice announcements frequently use przez to describe the route of a train or bus. 'Pociąg relacji Warszawa - Kraków przez Częstochowę' (The train from Warsaw to Krakow via Częstochowa). Here, przez functions exactly like the English 'via', indicating the intermediate stops on a journey. It is the word that tells you where you are going to pass through before reaching your final destination.

Jedziemy do Gdańska przez Toruń, żeby zobaczyć starówkę.
— Meaning: We are going to Gdańsk via Toruń to see the old town.

In casual social settings, przez is the go-to word for expressing frustration or assigning blame. If a group of friends is lost, someone might say, 'To przez ciebie poszliśmy w złą stronę!' (It's because of you that we went the wrong way!). This causal use is deeply ingrained in Polish emotional expression. Conversely, it can be used for positive reasons, though less frequently: 'Dostałem tę pracę przez polecenie znajomego' (I got this job through a friend's recommendation). In this sense, it describes the 'channel' of opportunity.

Weather and News: Meteorologists use it to describe weather fronts moving 'przez kraj' (through the country). News anchors use it to describe laws being passed 'przez parlament' (by parliament) or events occurring 'przez przypadek' (by accident).

In the workplace, przez is used to discuss timelines and responsibilities. A manager might ask, 'Czy zdążysz to zrobić przez tydzień?' (Will you manage to do it within/throughout a week?). Or they might note that a project was approved 'przez zarząd' (by the board). It is a vital word for navigating the professional hierarchy and deadlines. Even in technology, you 'scroll through' pages (przewijać przez strony) or 'click through' links.

Rozmawiałem z mamą przez Skype'a ponad godzinę.
— Meaning: I talked with my mom over Skype for over an hour.

Finally, you will hear it in the kitchen and at the dinner table. There is a famous Polish proverb: 'Przez żołądek do serca' (Through the stomach to the heart), meaning the best way to win someone's love is through good food. This idiom is used by grandmothers and romantic partners alike. You might also hear instructions like 'przecedzić przez sitko' (strain through a sieve) while cooking. Whether it is the path to love or the path to a clear broth, przez is the indispensable guide.

Physical Sensations: You can feel something 'przez ubranie' (through the clothes) or hear music 'przez ścianę' (through the wall). It describes the permeability of our surroundings.
Media and Art: Watching a movie 'przez internet' or reading a story 'przez pryzmat własnych doświadczeń'. It frames how we consume culture.

On patrzy na świat przez różowe okulary.
— Meaning: He looks at the world through rose-colored glasses.

Mastering przez involves avoiding several common pitfalls that trap English speakers and other language learners. The most frequent error is related to case government. While many Polish prepositions change the case they require based on whether there is movement or a static state (like w or na), przez is consistent: it always takes the Accusative. Beginners often mistakenly use the Genitive or Locative case, especially when they are trying to express duration or location. For example, saying 'przez tygodnia' (Genitive) instead of 'przez tydzień' (Accusative) is a hallmark of an early learner.

Incorrect: Czekałem przez godziny.
Correct: Czekałem przez godzinę.
— Explanation: You must use the Accusative singular 'godzinę' for one hour.

Another major area of confusion is the distinction between przez and dla (for). In English, 'for' can mean 'for the duration of' (I lived there for a year) or 'intended for' (This is for you). In Polish, these are strictly separated. Przez is used for duration, while dla is used for the recipient. If you say 'Mieszkam tu dla roku', it sounds like you are living there as a favor to the year itself, which makes no sense. You must say 'Mieszkam tu przez rok'.

Confusion with 'Za': Sometimes learners use 'za' when they mean 'przez'. 'Za' can mean 'in' (time), like 'za godzinę' (in an hour). 'Przez godzinę' means 'for an hour'. Confusing these two can lead to significant misunderstandings regarding appointments and deadlines.

A more subtle mistake involves the causal use of przez. While it can mean 'because of', it is usually used for the immediate cause or blame. If you want to say 'because of' in a more neutral or positive sense (like 'due to'), Poles often use dzięki (thanks to) or z powodu (by reason of). Using przez in a positive context like 'Przez twoją pomoc wygrałem' (Because of your help I won) can sound slightly awkward or even sarcastic to a native speaker, as przez typically introduces a problem. It's better to say 'Dzięki twojej pomocy wygrałem'.

To przez deszcz nie poszliśmy na spacer.
— Meaning: It's because of the rain that we didn't go for a walk. (Correct causal usage for a negative result).

Finally, there's the issue of 'via' in travel. English speakers might try to use 'przez' for every instance of 'by'. However, if you are talking about the mode of transport (by bus, by car), you use the Instrumental case alone (autobusem, samochodem) or pociągiem. You only use przez if you are describing the route or the cities you pass through. Saying 'Jadę przez pociąg' would imply you are physically walking through the interior of a train while it's moving, rather than traveling by train.

Accusative Endings: Remember: Fem. '-ę', Masc. Inanimate 'no change', Neut. 'no change', Plural 'no change' (except for male persons).
Omission of 'przez': In some time expressions, learners omit 'przez'. While 'Czekam godzinę' is acceptable, 'Czekam przez godzinę' is more emphatic about the duration.

While przez is the dominant word for 'through', the Polish language offers several alternatives and related prepositions that cover nearby semantic territory. Understanding these distinctions is key to achieving a B1 or B2 level of fluency. The most common alternatives include poprzez, wskutek, z powodu, and dzięki. Each carries a slightly different weight or register.

Poprzez vs. Przez: Poprzez is a more formal, slightly more emphatic version of przez. It is often used in literary or official contexts to describe a method or a medium. For example, 'Poprzez ciężką pracę osiągnął sukces' (Through hard work, he achieved success). While przez could also be used here, poprzez adds a layer of 'by means of'.
Z powodu vs. Przez: Z powodu means 'because of' or 'due to' and is more neutral than przez. If you want to state a reason without necessarily pointing blame, z powodu is safer. 'Spóźnienie z powodu awarii' (Delay due to a breakdown) sounds more like an official announcement, whereas 'Spóźnienie przez awarię' sounds like a personal explanation.

Osiągnął to dzięki wytrwałości, a nie przez szczęście.
— Meaning: He achieved it thanks to perseverance, not through luck.

In terms of spatial movement, wzdłuż (along) and w poprzek (across/athwart) are related. While przez implies going from one side to the other or through the middle, wzdłuż implies moving parallel to something (like a river) and w poprzek specifically means crossing something at a right angle. For example, 'iść przez ulicę' is the general way to say 'cross the street', but 'iść w poprzek ulicy' emphasizes the perpendicular movement. Another spatial relative is wewnątrz (inside), which describes the state of being within, whereas przez describes the act of moving from outside to inside and out again.

When it comes to time, podczas (during) is the primary competitor. While przez emphasizes the whole duration ('przez cały film' - through the whole movie), podczas emphasizes that something happened at some point within that time frame ('podczas filmu' - during the movie). If you slept przez film, you missed the whole thing. If you coughed podczas filmu, it was just a moment within the duration. Choosing between these two allows for greater precision in storytelling.

Wskutek: Meaning 'as a result of'. This is very formal and often used in legal or medical contexts. 'Wskutek wypadku' (As a result of the accident).
Dzięki: Meaning 'thanks to'. Always positive or neutral. It requires the Dative case, unlike 'przez' which requires Accusative.

Szliśmy wzdłuż rzeki, a potem przez las.
— Meaning: We walked along the river, and then through the forest.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The 'rz' in 'przez' actually evolved from a palatalized 'r' sound. In many other Slavic languages, like Russian, the equivalent word is 'cherez' (через), which sounds quite different but shares the same root.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /pʂɛs/

US /pʂɛs/

Monosyllabic, so the stress is on the only vowel 'e'.

Rhymes With

kres dres bierz mierz wierz jesz miesz biesz

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'rz' as a hard English 'r'.
Pronouncing the final 'z' as a voiced 'z' instead of the devoiced 's' sound.
Confusing 'rz' with 'r' and 'z' separately.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text as its meaning is usually clear from context.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the Accusative case endings for feminine nouns.

Speaking 2/5

Pronunciation of 'rz' can be tricky, but the word is short.

Listening 2/5

Can sometimes be confused with 'przy' or 'przed' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

idę okno park dzień ty

Learn Next

poprzez wzdłuż podczas z powodu dzięki

Advanced

za pośrednictwem wskutek przezorność przezroczystość

Grammar to Know

Accusative Case Government

Przez + Biernik (ulica -> ulicę)

Passive Voice Agency

Przez + Agent (przez autora)

Temporal Duration

Przez + Time Period (przez rok)

Mathematical Division

Liczba + przez + Liczba

Devoicing of Final Consonants

Przez is pronounced as 'pʂɛs'

Examples by Level

Idę przez park.

I am walking through the park.

'Park' is masculine inanimate, so it stays the same in Accusative.

Patrzę przez okno.

I am looking through the window.

'Okno' is neuter, so it stays the same in Accusative.

Czekam przez godzinę.

I have been waiting for an hour.

'Godzina' becomes 'godzinę' in Accusative.

Przejedź przez most.

Drive across the bridge.

'Most' is masculine inanimate.

Czytamy przez cały dzień.

We read through the whole day.

'Cały dzień' is the Accusative phrase for duration.

On idzie przez ulicę.

He is crossing the street.

'Ulica' becomes 'ulicę'.

Piję wodę przez słomkę.

I am drinking water through a straw.

'Słomka' becomes 'słomkę'.

Osiem przez dwa to cztery.

Eight divided by two is four.

Mathematical use for division.

To wszystko przez ciebie!

This is all because of you!

'Ciebie' is the Accusative form of 'ty'.

Rozmawiam przez telefon.

I am talking on the phone.

The phone is the medium of communication.

Spóźniłem się przez korki.

I was late because of traffic jams.

'Korki' is plural, stays the same in Accusative.

Pracuję przez całe lato.

I am working through the whole summer.

Temporal duration over a season.

Pociąg jedzie przez Poznań.

The train goes via Poznań.

Indicating a route.

Kupiłem to przez internet.

I bought it via the internet.

'Internet' is masculine inanimate.

Słyszę cię przez ścianę.

I can hear you through the wall.

'Ściana' becomes 'ścianę'.

Idziemy przez las do jeziora.

We are going through the forest to the lake.

Spatial movement.

Ten dom został zbudowany przez mojego dziadka.

This house was built by my grandfather.

Agency in the passive voice.

Przeszliśmy przez wiele trudności.

We went through many difficulties.

Metaphorical use of spatial passage.

Mówię to przez grzeczność.

I am saying this out of politeness.

Causal reason for an action.

On patrzy na świat przez różowe okulary.

He looks at the world through rose-colored glasses.

Common idiom for optimism.

Wiadomość została wysłana przez pomyłkę.

The message was sent by mistake.

'Pomyłka' becomes 'pomyłkę'.

Będę tam podróżować przez miesiąc.

I will be traveling there for a month.

Duration of a future event.

Możesz przejść przez tę bramę.

You can go through this gate.

'Brama' becomes 'bramę'.

Oni żyją przez ścianę ze mną.

They live next door to me (literally: through the wall).

Idiomatic way to say neighbors.

Przez wzgląd na dzieci, postanowili spróbować jeszcze raz.

Out of consideration for the children, they decided to try once more.

Formal causal expression.

Analizujemy tekst przez pryzmat epoki.

We analyze the text through the prism of the era.

Academic metaphor for perspective.

Nie powinieneś patrzeć na to przez palce.

You shouldn't turn a blind eye to this.

Idiom meaning to ignore a problem.

Projekt został odrzucony przez zarząd.

The project was rejected by the board.

Agency in a professional context.

Przez lata gromadził te dokumenty.

He had been collecting these documents for years.

'Przez lata' indicates a long, recurring duration.

Prześwituje przez to słońce.

The sun is shining through it.

Describing light passing through a medium.

To jest podyktowane przez konieczność.

This is dictated by necessity.

Abstract agency.

Woda przesiąka przez grunt.

Water is soaking through the ground.

Scientific/physical process.

Przez pryzmat własnych doświadczeń oceniamy innych.

We judge others through the prism of our own experiences.

Sophisticated psychological observation.

Ustawa przeszła przez parlament bez poprawek.

The bill passed through parliament without amendments.

Political/legal process.

On przemawia przez usta swoich zwolenników.

He speaks through the mouths of his supporters.

Metaphorical agency.

Przez nieuwagę można stracić dorobek całego życia.

Through carelessness, one can lose the achievements of a lifetime.

Formal warning regarding causality.

To uczucie przenikało go przez wskroś.

This feeling permeated him through and through.

'Przez wskroś' is a strong adverbial phrase.

Dziedziczenie następuje przez reprezentację.

Inheritance occurs by representation.

Legal terminology.

Widzimy galaktykę przez soczewkę grawitacyjną.

We see the galaxy through a gravitational lens.

Scientific context.

Przez swe czyny stał się legendą.

Through his deeds, he became a legend.

Literary causal expression.

Jego myśl filozoficzna przebijała przez mrok epoki.

His philosophical thought pierced through the darkness of the era.

High literary metaphor.

Zostało to usankcjonowane przez wielowiekową tradycję.

This was sanctioned by centuries-old tradition.

Formal historical agency.

Przez pryzmat dekonstrukcji tekst nabiera nowych znaczeń.

Through the prism of deconstruction, the text takes on new meanings.

Advanced literary theory.

To jest świat widziany przez kalejdoskop sprzecznych emocji.

This is a world seen through a kaleidoscope of conflicting emotions.

Poetic descriptive phrase.

Przez pryzmat transcendencji śmierć nie jest końcem.

Through the prism of transcendence, death is not the end.

Philosophical/theological discourse.

Władza sprawowana przez lud jest fundamentem demokracji.

Power exercised by the people is the foundation of democracy.

Political theory.

Przez pryzmat statystyki problem wydaje się marginalny.

Through the prism of statistics, the problem seems marginal.

Scientific/analytical register.

Jego losy splotły się z historią kraju przez przypadek.

His fate became intertwined with the country's history by chance.

Narrative causal phrase.

Common Collocations

przez telefon

przez internet

przez pomyłkę

przez przypadek

przez cały dzień

przez okno

przez las

przez most

przez sen

podzielić przez

Common Phrases

To przez ciebie!

— It's your fault! Used to blame someone for a mistake.

Spóźniliśmy się! To wszystko przez ciebie!

Przez całe życie

— Throughout one's whole life. Indicates a lifelong state or habit.

Mieszkałem tu przez całe życie.

Przez chwilę

— For a moment. Indicates a very short duration.

Zatrzymaj się na przez chwilę.

Przez tydzień

— For a week. Common expression for a weekly duration.

Będę na urlopie przez tydzień.

Przez ramię

— Over the shoulder. Describes a physical movement or gaze.

Spojrzał przez ramię.

Przez nos

— Through the nose. Usually describes a way of speaking or breathing.

Mówisz przez nos, masz katar?

Przez usta

— Through the mouth. Used in medical or metaphorical contexts.

Oddychaj przez usta.

Przez pryzmat

— Through the prism (of). Used to describe a perspective.

Patrzę na to przez pryzmat nauki.

Przez środek

— Through the middle. Indicates passing through the center.

Droga prowadzi przez środek wsi.

Przez ręce

— Through the hands. Often used for money or documents being handled.

Wiele pieniędzy przeszło przez jego ręce.

Often Confused With

przez vs przy

Means 'at' or 'by' (location). Do not confuse with 'przez' (through).

przez vs przed

Means 'before' or 'in front of'. 'Przed domem' vs 'Przez dom'.

przez vs po

Means 'after'. 'Po godzinie' (after an hour) vs 'Przez godzinę' (for an hour).

Idioms & Expressions

"Przez żołądek do serca"

— The way to a person's heart is through their stomach.

Ugotuj mu coś pysznego, wiesz przecież: przez żołądek do serca.

informal/proverb

"Patrzeć przez różowe okulary"

— To look at the world through rose-colored glasses (to be overly optimistic).

Ona zawsze patrzy na świat przez różowe okulary.

informal/metaphorical

"Patrzeć przez palce"

— To turn a blind eye to something; to ignore a fault.

Szef patrzy przez palce na jego spóźnienia.

informal

"Przejść przez piekło"

— To go through hell (to experience extreme suffering).

Podczas wojny ci ludzie przeszli przez piekło.

literary/emphatic

"Przecedzić przez zęby"

— To say something through clenched teeth (with anger or reluctance).

Odpowiedział coś, przecedzając słowa przez zęby.

neutral

"Przez wskroś"

— Through and through; completely.

Znam go przez wskroś.

neutral/literary

"Iść przez życie"

— To go through life; to live one's life in a certain way.

Idą przez życie ramię w ramię.

poetic

"Przez moje ręce"

— Passing through my hands (I handled it/managed it).

Wiele projektów przeszło przez moje ręce.

professional

"Przez litość"

— Out of pity.

Pomógł mu tylko przez litość.

neutral

"Przez grzeczność"

— Out of politeness.

Uśmiechnął się tylko przez grzeczność.

neutral

Easily Confused

przez vs dla

Both can translate to 'for' in English.

'Dla' is for a recipient (This is for you), 'przez' is for duration (I was here for a week).

To jest dla ciebie (For you) vs Czekałem przez godzinę (For an hour).

przez vs z powodu

Both mean 'because of'.

'Z powodu' is neutral/formal, 'przez' is direct and often implies blame.

Z powodu choroby (Due to illness) vs Przez ciebie (Because of you).

przez vs poprzez

Almost identical meaning.

'Poprzez' is more literary and formal, emphasizing the 'means' or 'channel'.

Poprzez edukację (Through education) vs Przez las (Through the forest).

przez vs wzdłuż

Both describe movement in space.

'Wzdłuż' is parallel (along), 'przez' is across or through.

Idę wzdłuż rzeki (Along the river) vs Idę przez rzekę (Through/across the river).

przez vs za

Confusion in time expressions.

'Za godzinę' means 'in an hour', 'przez godzinę' means 'for an hour'.

Będę za godzinę (I'll be there in an hour) vs Czytałem przez godzinę (I read for an hour).

Sentence Patterns

Idę przez [miejsce].

Idę przez las.

Czekam przez [czas].

Czekam przez godzinę.

To przez [osobę/rzecz]!

To przez deszcz!

Rozmawiam przez [urządzenie].

Rozmawiam przez telefon.

[Coś] zostało zrobione przez [kogoś].

Obiad został zrobiony przez mamę.

Patrzeć przez [metafora].

Patrzeć przez różowe okulary.

Przez wzgląd na [rzecz]...

Przez wzgląd na bezpieczeństwo...

Postrzegać przez pryzmat [pojęcie].

Postrzegać przez pryzmat metafizyki.

Word Family

Verbs

przejść (to pass through)

przebić (to pierce through)

przeczytać (to read through)

przelać (to pour through/transfer)

przewieźć (to transport through)

przejście (passage)

przepustka (pass)

przepustowość (capacity/throughput)

przezroczysty (transparent)

przeszkoda (obstacle)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high; one of the top 50 most used words in Polish.

Common Mistakes

Czekam dla godziny. → Czekam przez godzinę.
Learners often use 'dla' (for/intended for) instead of 'przez' (duration). Duration must always use 'przez'.
Idę przez parku. → Idę przez park.
The Genitive case 'parku' is incorrect. 'Przez' requires the Accusative, which for masculine inanimate nouns is the same as the Nominative.
To przez ciebie wygrałem! → Dzięki tobie wygrałem!
Using 'przez' for a positive result sounds like you are blaming someone for your success. 'Dzięki' is used for positive outcomes.
Będę tam za godzinę. → Będę tam przez godzinę.
If you mean you will stay there for the duration of an hour, use 'przez'. 'Za godzinę' means you will arrive in one hour.
Patrzę przez okna. → Patrzę przez okno.
Unless you are looking through multiple windows at once, use the singular 'okno'. Learners sometimes pluralize nouns unnecessarily.

Tips

Accusative Focus

Always pair 'przez' with the Accusative case. For feminine nouns, change the ending to '-ę'. For masculine inanimate nouns, the word remains the same as the Nominative.

Blame vs. Thanks

Use 'przez' for negative reasons or blame, and 'dzięki' for positive reasons or gratitude. This distinction will make you sound much more like a native speaker.

Travel Routes

When traveling, 'przez' is your best friend. It means 'via'. Use it to describe stops on your journey: 'Jadę do Krakowa przez Warszawę'.

Love and Food

Memorize 'Przez żołądek do serca'. It's a classic Polish proverb that perfectly illustrates the spatial/causal meaning of 'przez'.

Formal Writing

In formal letters or academic papers, use 'poprzez' to sound more professional when describing methods or media of action.

Devoicing

The 'z' at the end of 'przez' is almost always pronounced as 's' because it's at the end of the word. Practice saying 'p-sh-e-s'.

Division

If you're studying or working in Poland, remember 'podzielić przez' for division. It's used in every classroom and office.

Don't use 'dla' for time

English speakers often say 'dla' when they mean 'for a period of time'. In Polish, duration is always 'przez'. 'Przez rok', not 'dla roku'.

Media Channels

For any communication channel (phone, internet, radio), 'przez' is the standard preposition. It treats the technology as a medium you pass through.

Prisms and Perspectives

To sound advanced, use 'przez pryzmat' (through the prism of) to describe how you are looking at a topic or problem.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'PRZEZ' as a 'PRESS' through a crowd. You have to PRESS through (przez) the people to get to the other side.

Visual Association

Imagine a needle going 'przez' (through) the eye of a needle. The needle is the action, the eye is the medium.

Word Web

Accusative Through Duration Because of Via Blame Agent Medium

Challenge

Try to write three sentences using 'przez': one about walking somewhere, one about how long you did something, and one blaming the weather for something.

Word Origin

Derived from the Proto-Slavic *per- or *perz- meaning 'across' or 'through'. It is related to the English prefix 'per-' and the Latin 'per'.

Original meaning: Moving across a boundary or through a medium.

Indo-European > Balto-Slavic > Slavic > West Slavic > Polish

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'przez' to blame others; it can be very direct and confrontational.

English uses 'through', 'for', and 'by' where Polish often uses just 'przez'.

The proverb 'Przez żołądek do serca'. The movie title 'Przez ciemne zwierciadło' (A Scanner Darkly). Common travel announcements at PKP stations.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Travel and Navigation

Przez miasto
Przez most
Przez granicę
Przez tunel

Time Management

Przez godzinę
Przez miesiąc
Przez weekend
Przez całą dobę

Assigning Responsibility

To przez deszcz
To przez korki
To przez ciebie
Przez przypadek

Technology/Communication

Przez telefon
Przez internet
Przez radio
Przez aplikację

Mathematics

Dzielenie przez
Przez dwa
Przez zero
Przez sto

Conversation Starters

"Czy często podróżujesz przez Polskę pociągiem?"

"Co lubisz robić przez cały wolny dzień?"

"Czy kiedykolwiek kupiłeś coś drogiego przez internet?"

"Czy uważasz, że 'przez żołądek do serca' to prawda?"

"Jakie trudności przeszedłeś w tym roku?"

Journal Prompts

Opisz swoją drogę do pracy. Przez jakie miejsca przechodzisz?

Napisz o sytuacji, w której coś poszło nie tak przez przypadek.

Co robisz, kiedy musisz pracować przez wiele godzin bez przerwy?

Opisz swoją ulubioną książkę napisaną przez polskiego autora.

Zastanów się, czy patrzysz na świat przez różowe okulary, czy jesteś realistą.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, 'przez' is one of the prepositions that consistently requires the Accusative case (Biernik) regardless of whether there is motion or not. This makes it easier to use than prepositions like 'na' or 'w' which can take different cases. Always check if your feminine noun ends in '-ę' after 'przez'.

While 'przez' is often used for blame ('To przez ciebie'), it can be used for positive reasons, but it sounds more like a neutral 'via' or 'channel'. For clearly positive reasons, native speakers prefer 'dzięki' (thanks to). For example, 'Dostałem pracę przez znajomego' is fine, but 'Dzięki tobie mam pracę' sounds warmer.

'Poprzez' is a more formal and slightly more emphatic version of 'przez'. It is commonly used in writing, speeches, and literature to describe a method or a medium. In daily conversation, 'przez' is much more common. You wouldn't say 'idę poprzez park' unless you were being very poetic; 'przez park' is the standard.

You use 'podzielić przez'. For example, 'Dziesięć podzielić przez pięć równa się dwa' (10 / 5 = 2). It's the standard mathematical term for division.

You say 'Jestem tu przez rok' or simply 'Jestem tu rok'. Using 'przez' emphasizes the duration. Never use 'dla' in this context, as 'dla roku' would be incorrect.

No. 'Rozmawiać przez telefon' means to have a conversation using a phone as the medium. 'Na telefonie' usually refers to being physically on the device (e.g., 'Mam nową grę na telefonie' - I have a new game on my phone).

It means 'while asleep' or 'in one's sleep'. For example, 'Mówić przez sen' means to talk in your sleep. It's a common idiomatic use of 'przez'.

Yes! It is the standard way to introduce the agent (the doer) in a passive sentence. 'Obraz namalowany przez Matejkę' (A painting painted by Matejko). It functions like 'by' in English passive constructions.

The 'rz' in 'przez' is pronounced like 'sh' in 'ship' but with the tongue curled back slightly (retroflex). Because it follows a voiceless 'p', it is also voiceless. The whole word sounds like 'p-sh-e-s'.

In this context, it means 'by' or 'via'. 'Przypadek' means 'chance' or 'accident'. So 'przez przypadek' literally means 'through chance', which translates to 'by accident' or 'accidentally'.