PRZ

Prz is a three-letter sequence in Polish orthography formed by the letters p, r and z. It appears at the beginning of many Polish words and also within inflected forms. It is not a single digraph; rather it represents three consecutive consonants in the standard pronunciation of the language. In careful speech, the cluster is spoken as three distinct consonants in rapid succession, though in rapid or casual speech the sequence can sound like a single, tighter articulation depending on surrounding sounds.

The cluster occurs in a wide range of common words. Examples include przeciętność (averageness), przypadek (case), przedszkole (kindergarten), przestępca (criminal), przynajmniej (at least), przystanek (bus stop). It is also found in the base of many adjectives and verbs, such as przemyśleć (to think over) and przyjaciel (friend), though the exact forms vary with grammar. The presence of prz is a regular feature of Polish syllable structure and often interacts with morpheme boundaries, such as prefixes or inflected endings.

Phonologically, prz is treated as a cluster of three consonants rather than a single unit, and its articulation can be influenced by the following vowel or consonant, leading to slight allophonic variation among speakers and dialects. The cluster is a characteristic example of Polish consonant complexity and illustrates how multiple consonants can combine into common word-initial sequences.

See also: Polish phonology, Polish orthography, Polish morphology.