Jednak

Jednak is a Polish word functioning as both an adverb and a coordinating conjunction. It expresses a contrast or concession and roughly corresponds to the English “nevertheless” or “however.” It can connect two clauses in a sentence or begin a new clause after an initial statement.

In typical usage, jednak introduces a counterpoint or qualification. Examples include: “Chciałem iść na spacer, jednak pada deszcz” (“I wanted to go for a walk, but it’s raining.”) and “To był trudny projekt; jednak udało się zakończyć go na czas” (“That was a difficult project; nevertheless we finished it on time”). Jednak can appear mid-sentence or at the start of a clause, often followed by a comma. The variant jednakże is more formal or literary.

Grammatical notes: jednak functions primarily as an adverbial conjunction, not as a inflected word. It is widely used in both spoken and written Polish, with slightly more formal tone when used as jednakże. It can be contrasted with other Polish conjunctions such as ale, lecz, or natomiast, each carrying similar but nuanced ways of expressing contrast.

Pronunciation and form: jednak is pronounced roughly as [ˈjɛd.nak], with the principal stress on the first syllable. There are no gender or number forms for this word, and its meaning remains stable across contexts.