Chwilowo

Chwilowo is an adverb in Polish that denotes a short period of time or a temporary state. It can be translated as “for a moment,” “for a while,” or “temporarily.” The word is commonly used in both spoken and written language to indicate that a situation is not permanent and is expected to change soon.

Etymology and nuance: Chwilowo is formed from the noun chwila (moment) with the suffix -owo. It emphasizes brevity and temporariness rather than the length of time, which distinguishes it from synonyms such as tymczasowo (more formal and often referring to a longer duration) and na chwilę (colloquial for a brief actual moment). The term is versatile and can modify verbs and clauses as well as whole statements.

Usage and examples: It is used in everyday communication, customer notices, and news reports. Examples include: “Chwilowo nie mogę przyjść” (I can’t come for the moment/for now), “Ta usługa jest chwilowo niedostępna” (This service is temporarily unavailable), and “Chwilowo nie mam czasu” (I don’t have time for the moment). In formal contexts, it may appear as a temporary qualifier while a more precise timeline is not yet known.

Related terms and alternatives: Tymczasowo (more formal, often used for longer temporary arrangements) and na chwilę (informal, means “for a short while” or “for a moment”). Chwilowo remains a common, neutral choice for indicating a temporary state in a broad range of contexts.