Innym

Innym is a declined form of the Polish adjective inny, meaning "other" or "different." It is specifically the instrumental singular form used with masculine and neuter nouns, and also the locative singular form in the same gender. Feminine forms are different (for example, inną is used in instrumental feminine). In practice, innym appears in phrases that require the instrumental or locative case, such as with or without prepositions.

Common examples include z innym człowiekiem (with another person) and o innym człowieku (about another person). The form is part of a broader inflection pattern for the adjective in and across numbers. Related plural forms include inni (nominative plural), innych (genitive and, in some contexts, locative plural), and innymi (instrumental plural). These forms change according to case and grammatical role in the sentence.

Usage and context: innym is widely used in everyday Polish, in writing and speech, to contrast or specify something as being different from a reference point. It appears in descriptive phrases, comparisons, and narratives where another item, person, or group is being distinguished from the one already mentioned.

Etymology: innym derives from the root of the Polish word inny, which denotes “other.” The form is cognate with similar Slavic roots found in neighboring languages and reflects the broader Slavic system of gender- and case-based adjective inflection.