jeden

Jeden is a cardinal numeral in the Polish language that expresses the quantity one. It is used both as a determiner before a noun to indicate a single item (for example, jeden kot, one cat) and as a pronoun when the noun is omitted or in phrases such as jeden z moich kolegów (one of my colleagues).

Grammar and forms: The word agrees with the gender of the noun it accompanies. In the nominative case, masculine nouns take jeden, feminine nouns take jedna, and neuter nouns take jedno. In other cases, the forms change: jednego (genitive masculine and neuter), jednej (genitive feminine), jednemu (dative masculine and neuter), and so on. Examples: jeden kot (one cat), jedna dama (one lady), jedno dziecko (one child); bez jednego kota (without one cat); z jedną kobietą (with one woman); dla jednego dziecka (for one child).

Usage notes: When counting or indicating a single unit within a larger set, it is common to pair the numeral with other words in phrases such as jeden z dni (one of the days) or jednego dnia (on one day). The form can also function as a pronoun by itself in contexts like Jeden z gości wygłosił przemówienie (One of the guests gave a speech).

Etymology and cognates: Jeden derives from the Proto-Slavic root *jьdenъ, with cognates including Russian один (odin), Czech jeden, Ukrainian один (odin), and Slovene eden. The term is related to the broader Indo-European concept of the number one. See also Polish numerals.