kiedy

Kiedy is a common Polish word meaning “when.” It functions as an interrogative word, a subordinating conjunction, and, in relative clauses, a temporal connector. As an interrogative, it asks about time: Kiedy wracasz? (When are you coming back?) Kiedy zaczyna się lekcja? (When does the lesson start?)

As a subordinating conjunction, kiedy introduces adverbial clauses of time and can refer to past, present, or future events: Spotkajmy się, kiedy wrócisz. (Let’s meet when you return.) In these clauses the verb is finite and agrees with the main clause in tense when appropriate. When used in questions, it can imply expectation about a future moment.

Kiedy can also function as a temporal relative conjunction, introducing a clause that specifies the time of another noun: To jest dzień, kiedy wszystko się zmieniło. (This is the day when everything changed.) In this role, it is closely related to other temporal connectives and often replaces other forms in more formal or literary contexts.

Related forms include kiedyś (at some time in the past; formerly), and kiedykolwiek or kiedykolwiek (whenever, at any time). These derivatives expand the temporal meaning to past, indefinite, or repeated occasions.

Nuance and usage notes: kiedy tends to be used for concrete time references or specific moments, while gdy can express a similar idea with a slightly different nuance, often in more narrative or conditional contexts. Proper use depends on whether the speaker refers to a definite moment, a general time frame, or a recurring occasion.

In sum, kiedy is a versatile temporal word essential for forming questions, time-related clauses, and temporal references in Polish.