Zawodach

Zawodach is a Polish word that functions as the locative plural form of two different nouns: zawód (profession) and zawody (competitions). Because these nouns share the same plural form, zawodach can be interpreted from context as referring to either the world of professions or to events known as competitions.

In practice, zawodach is most commonly encountered in phrases describing organized events, especially sports competitions. After prepositions like na or w, it denotes being at or within such events: na zawodach means at the competitions, w zawodach sportowych means in sports competitions. The form also appears in constructions with during or throughout events, as in during competitions (podczas zawodów), where the genitive case is used for some prepositions.

Distinguishing between the two meanings relies on surrounding words. When the discussion concerns occupations or the professional field, the intended sense will be clear from context or from accompanying terms that specify the profession. In most everyday usage, the sense related to competitions is far more frequent than the sense related to professions.

Examples:

- Na zawodach lekkoatletycznych w Warszawie rywalizowało tysiąc zawodników.

- W zawodach sportowych padły rekordy.

See also:

Zawód, Zawody.