Krócej

Krócej is a Polish adverb meaning “in a shorter way” or “more briefly.” It is the comparative form of the adverb krótko (briefly), which itself comes from the adjective krótki (short). Krócej is used to indicate that an action is performed in less time or with fewer words, and it typically modifies the verb or the manner of an action.

Common uses include requests or instructions to shorten something: Mów krócej. Napisz to krócej. Zrób to krócej niż planowano. It can also appear in comparisons of duration: Krócej niż przewidywano. In everyday language, krócej complements verbs of speaking, writing, presenting, or performing tasks, signaling a more concise or faster execution.

Krócej is a neutral, standard word suitable for both spoken and written Polish. It should be distinguished from krótszy, an adjective meaning “shorter” that inflects with nouns (na przykład krótszy czas = a shorter time). While krócej expresses how an action is carried out (in a shorter or briefer manner), krótszy describes a property of objects or durations.

Etymology: the comparative adverb krócej is formed from the base krótko (briefly) with the suffix -ej, yielding the sense of “shorter/in a shorter way.” See also related forms such as krótko and krótszy for broader discussion of brevity and length in Polish.