Liczebny

Liczebny is a Polish adjective derived from the noun liczba (“number”) and the suffix –ny, which forms adjectives. In its basic sense it denotes something that can be expressed by a number, i.e., that is quantifiable or countable. The term is used across several fields, most notably in linguistics, mathematics and everyday language.

In Polish grammar, liczebny describes adjectives that modify nouns by indicating quantity, such as „trzy” (three), „kilka” (several) or „wiele” (many). These numeral adjectives belong to the broader class of liczebniki, which are divided into cardinal, ordinal, collective and fractional forms. The adjective liczebny therefore characterises nouns that can be counted, contrasting with nie‑liczebny, which refers to mass nouns that lack a discrete count.

In mathematics, liczebny is employed in the phrase „zbiór liczebny” to mean a countable set, i.e., a set whose elements can be put into one‑to‑one correspondence with the natural numbers. The concept is central to set theory, distinguishing countable infinity (ℵ₀) from uncountable cardinalities such as the continuum.

In everyday usage, liczebny conveys the idea of “numerous” or “abundant,” as in „liczne problemy” (numerous problems) or „liczna liczba osób” (a large number of people). The word thus bridges linguistic description, mathematical terminology, and common speech, always retaining the core notion of being expressible by a number.