czyli

Czyli is a Polish conjunction used to introduce a clarification, restatement, or conclusion that follows from what has been said. In English, it is closest to "that is to say" or "in other words." The word is common in both spoken and written Polish, appearing in everyday conversation as well as in semi-formal prose.

Function and usage: Czyli links two parts of a sentence, where the second part rephrases or specifies the first. It often follows a comma, for example: "Zgubiłem klucze, czyli nie mogę wejść." It signals interpretation or clarification rather than cause and effect; for causal relations Polish typically uses words like "dlatego" or "więc." In explanatory or summarizing contexts, czyli helps to restate the idea more precisely.

Examples and nuance: "Mamy mało czasu, czyli musimy działać szybko." "On nie przygotował materiałów, czyli nie będzie prezentacji." These illustrate its role as a restatement rather than a simple connective. In more formal writing, alternatives such as "to znaczy" or the abbreviation "tj." (to jest) are common, but czy­li remains widely understood and natural in everyday Polish.

Etymology and style: The exact historical origin of czyli is not always specified in modern references; it is an established part of standard Polish, used across registers though it may feel slightly more colloquial than strictly formal. It is often preferred when a speaker or writer wants to sharpen the meaning by restating it in simpler terms.

See also: to znaczy, innymi słowy, tj.