kronika

Kronika is a term used in Polish and several other Slavic languages to denote a chronicle, a written account of events arranged in roughly chronological order. It can describe historical records of a region, community, or institution, as well as narrative works that recount significant occurrences over a fixed period. In modern usage, kronika may also refer to a section of a newspaper or magazine, or to a stand-alone publication that collects recent events into a chronological record.

Etymology and related terms: the word derives from Latin chronica, via Greek chronikon, ultimately from the Greek chronos meaning time. In Polish, the form kronika is related to kronikarz (chronicler) and to other chronicle-related terms. The plural forms kroniki or kroniki-faithful variations appear in reference to multiple chronicles.

Usage and examples: in historical writing, a kronika is an annal-like account focused on a specific locale, family, institution, or period, preserving dates, rulers, wars, and notable events. In contemporary media, many local newspapers and cultural magazines use Kronika as a title for columns, sections, or periodicals that summarize recent events or provide archival overviews. The term also appears in museum, archival, or genealogical contexts to label compilations that preserve a record of events.

See also: Chronicle; kronikarz; kronika rodzinna; annals.