Stosunek

Stosunek is a Polish noun with several related meanings that depend on context. In mathematics and everyday use, it denotes a ratio or proportion between two quantities and is commonly written as a:b or a/b. For example, "Stosunek 3 do 5 wynosi 3:5." In broader language, stosunek can mean a relationship or connection between things or concepts, as in "stosunek między dwiema zmiennymi" or "stosunek teorii do praktyki."

The word also describes a person’s attitude or stance toward someone or something. Phrases such as "ma dobry stosunek do pracy" or "negatywny stosunek do zmian" illustrate this sense, highlighting evaluative or evaluative-oriented relations rather than numerical ties.

In sociopolitical and everyday usage, the plural stosunki is widely used to refer to interpersonal or international relations, for example "stosunki międzynarodowe" (international relations) or "dobre stosunki z sąsiadami" (good relations with neighbors). The expression can indicate formal relations between institutions or states as well as informal rapport among individuals.

In formal or older language, stosunek can also denote sexual intercourse, particularly in phrases like "stosunek płciowy" or "stosunek seksualny," though in everyday speech these terms are typically replaced by more explicit expressions.

Synonyms include relacja, proporcja, and zależność, depending on sense. The term is versatile across mathematics, linguistics, society, and everyday discourse.