córka

córka is a Polish noun meaning "daughter," referring to a female child or the female offspring of a person. The word derives from the Proto-Slavic *cъrtǫ, which originally denoted “female child” and is cognate with other Slavic words such as Russian дочь, Ukrainian сина, and Czech dcera. In modern Polish, córka is a feminine, singular noun used both in literal and figurative contexts. For example, one might say: „Mam dwoje córek” (I have two daughters) or „córka kraju” (daughter of the country) to denote citizenship or homeland.

Polish grammar treats córka as a regular feminine noun, inflecting it in the nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, and locative singular: córki, córki, córce, córkę, córką, córce. In plural, the form changes to córki (nominative/accusative), córką (instrumental), etc. The pronunciation is [ˈt͡soːɡka].

Córka is often paired with possessive pronouns or adjectives: „moja córka” (my daughter), „twoja córka” (your daughter). The word appears frequently in Polish literature, media, and everyday speech, reflecting family values and the importance of maternal lineage. In legal and social contexts, the term may intersect with discussions about inheritance, parental rights, and gender roles.

Because of its basic relevance in Polish culture, córka functions as a core term in discussions on family, society, and gender studies. The concept also parallels terms in other languages, such as daughter in English, which share a common Indo-European origin.