czlowieka

Człowiek, with diacritics, is a Polish noun meaning a human being or a person. The form czlowieka, without diacritics, is the genitive singular of człowiek and is commonly seen in plain-text contexts where diacritics are omitted. The word can refer to a single person or, more broadly, to human beings in general. In everyday language it is often contrasted with mężczyzna (man) or zwierzę (animal).

Etymology and cognates: The Polish człowiek derives from Proto-Slavic *člověkъ and has recognizable cognates in other Slavic languages, such as Czech člověk and Russian člověk. The root conveys the notion of a person capable of reason and social belonging. The modern Polish form developed from older spellings such as człowiek, with various phonetic adaptations over time.

Grammar and usage: Człowiek is a masculine animate noun. In singular it appears as człowiek (nominative) and człowieka (genitive). The standard plural subject form is ludzie, while other plural forms exist for different cases. The word denotes an individual person and can be used in philosophical, ethical, or everyday contexts to refer to a person without specifying gender. Related terms include człowieczeństwo (humanness, humanity) and człowiekowi (to a person).

Semantics and context: Człowiek often carries connotations of humanity, dignity, and social identity, distinguishing biological being from moral or rational agency in various discussions. It is commonly used in expressions about human nature, social life, and ethical considerations. In non-diacritic text, czlowieka is encountered as the genitive form or in contexts where Polish diacritics are omitted.