Przygotowawczy

Przygotowawczy is an adjective in Polish that denotes something intended to prepare for something else. It derives from the verb przygotować (“to prepare”) and is used in many contexts to describe preparatory stages, programs, or activities.

In education, przygotowawczy is commonly attached to nouns such as rok, kurs, klasa, or program. A rok przygotowawczy (preparatory year) is a bridging year designed to help students adapt to a new level of education, often with increased focus on language skills, study habits, or subject matter. A kurs przygotowawczy (preparatory course) may prepare students for university admission, for studying in Polish, or for specific fields, and is frequently offered to foreigners or first-year entrants. A klasa przygotowawcza (preparatory class) or program preparacyjny can function as an entry stage before regular schooling, including language or study-skills components. Przygotowawczy can also modify phrases such as egzamin przygotowawczy (preparatory exam) or test designed to assess readiness for subsequent studies.

Outside formal education, the term appears in phrases like szkolenie przygotowawcze or zajęcia przygotowawcze, referring to training or activities aimed at preparing participants for a task, job, or upcoming project. The word emphasizes the transitional, preparatory nature of the activity rather than its culmination.

Etymology and usage notes: przygotowawczy agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (przygotowawcza, przygotowawcze, etc.). It is a neutral, descriptive term rather than a value judgment and is widely understood in Polish educational and professional contexts.