dobrym

Dobrym is the instrumental singular form of the Polish adjective dobry, meaning "good." It is used when the adjective modifies a noun in contexts that require the instrumental case, and it appears in many fixed phrases with prepositions that govern instrumental usage, such as z dobrym człowiekiem ("with a good person"). The form also occurs in locative contexts, for example in the common expression w dobrym stanie ("in good condition").

In standard Polish, dobrym agrees with the noun in gender and number and is part of the broader system of adjective inflection. The feminine instrumental singular form is dobrą, while other gender and case forms follow the regular Polish adjective declension. Examples include z dobrym człowiekiem and w dobrym stanie, illustrating its role in describing quality, state, or manner in relation to a noun.

Etymology and cognates: dobry derives from the Proto-Slavic root *dobrъ, meaning "good," and has cognates in other Slavic languages. The word has a long-standing productive role in Polish grammar, producing multiple inflected forms to align with case, number, and gender.

Usage notes: Dobrym is primarily a descriptive adjective form used in formal and informal Polish. It contrasts with other degrees of comparison, such as lepszy ("better"), and with other adjectives meaning “good” in specific contexts. As with other Polish adjectives, its exact ending is determined by the noun it modifies and the syntactic role in the sentence.

See also: dobry, Polish adjective declension, Polish grammar.