drugim

Drugim is a grammatical form used in Polish and other Slavic languages. It is the instrumental singular masculine/neuter and the locative singular form of the adjective drugi, which means “second” or “other.” In Polish, drugim is used to mark the second item in an enumeration or to refer to an alternative to the first item in contexts that require these cases.

Etymology and related forms: Drugim derives from the Proto-Slavic root *drugъ, meaning “second” or “other.” It has cognates in other Slavic languages, such as Russian drugim (другим), Czech druhým, and Slovak druhým, all serving similar functions in their respective case systems.

Usage: The form appears in constructions requiring the instrumental or locative case. Typical examples include z drugim człowiekiem (with another man) and na drugim miejscu (in the second place). It is used with masculine and neuter nouns, with feminine forms appearing in other case endings of drugi (e.g., druga, drugą, druge).

Cross-linguistic notes: Many Slavic languages have closely related forms of the same root meaning “second” or “other.” While pronunciation and exact endings vary by language, the underlying idea of a variant or second item remains consistent.

See also: drugi, pierwszy.