kierunku

Kierunek is a Polish noun meaning direction, course, bearing, or orientation. It can denote the line toward which something moves, the route or trajectory it follows, or a field of study or specialization, as in kierunek studiów (a major or area of study).

Grammatical notes: Kierunek is a masculine noun of the 2nd declension. In singular it appears as kierunek (nominative), kierunku (genitive and locative), kierunkowi (dative), and kierunkiem (instrumental). In plural it forms as kierunki (nominative), kierunków (genitive), kierunkom (dative), kierunki (accusative), kierunkami (instrumental), and kierunkach (locative). The form kierunku is used for genitive singular and locative singular (for example, w kierunku—“towards”).

Usage: The word is common in spatial expressions, often with prepositions such as w kierunku or ku kierunkowi to express orientation or movement (e.g., w kierunku północnym, kierunek jazdy). It also appears in figurative phrases describing goals or aims (kierunek polityki, kierunek rozwoju). In education, kierunek studiów designates a specific field of study or major.

Origin: Kierunek derives from the verb kierować (“to direct, to steer”). The noun form with the suffix -unek marks a concept related to directing or orienting, a pattern shared with related words in Polish and other Slavic languages.

See also: kierować; kierunek geograficzny; północny; kierunki (plural).