Powodzenie

Powodzenie is a Polish noun that denotes success or a favorable outcome. It is used to describe the achievement of an intended result, the proper functioning of a plan or process, or the overall success of an action, project, or mission. The term can refer to personal success as well as to the success of programs, experiments, or events, and it often appears in both everyday and formal language.

Etymology and sense: Powodzenie is formed from a verb meaning to prosper or to be successful, combined with a noun-forming suffix. The word carries a sense of moving toward a desirable end and is closely linked with the notion of effectiveness and good results.

Usage and phrases: Common collocations include z powodzeniem (with success), bez powodzenia (without success; unsuccessfully), and odnieść powodzenie (to achieve success). It can describe outcomes across domains such as business, science, culture, or public administration. For example, "Misja zakończyła się powodzeniem" (The mission ended in success) or "Projekt realizowany z powodzeniem" (The project is progressing successfully). The antonym is niepowodzenie, meaning failure.

Related terms: Sukces is a near synonym and often used interchangeably in everyday speech, though powodzenie emphasizes the process and outcome rather than the event of success alone. Phrases like z powodzeniem and bez powodzenia are standard idioms in Polish.

See also: Sukces, Niepowodzenie, Z powodzeniem. Powodzenie remains a common, formal option for describing favorable results in both spoken and written Polish.