drukarza

Drukarza is the genitive singular form of the Polish noun drukarz, which means a printer or operator of a printing press. In modern usage, drukarz refers to a professional in the printing industry, including activities such as setting type, preparing printing plates, and running presses. The form drukarza is used in phrases that require the genitive or accusative case, for example: narzędzia drukarza (printer’s tools) or widok drukarza (view of the printer).

Etymology and usage: The word drukarz is formed from the root druk, meaning print, with the agent suffix -arz. The inflected form drukarza appears whenever the sentence requires the genitive or accusative case, which is common in descriptions of possessions, roles, or interactions with printers or printing equipment.

Historical context: The profession emerged with the introduction of movable type and organized printing workshops in Central Europe, including Poland, from the 15th century onward. Druckers and typesetters worked in early printing houses in major cities such as Kraków and Gdańsk, contributing to the production of books, religious texts, legal codes, and periodicals. The term drukarz is part of the broader history of book craft, typography, and the dissemination of knowledge.

Modern context: In contemporary language, the occupation is more commonly described by terms such as operator of a printing press, print shop technician, or specialist in offset or digital printing. The form drukarza remains in use as the genitive or accusative of drukarz in standard Polish grammar and in contexts referring to the printer's tools, work, or possessions. See also printing, typography, publishing.