krzyk

Krzyk is a Polish noun meaning a loud vocal expression, such as a scream or a shout. It denotes a moment of vocalization tied to strong emotion, including fear, pain, alarm, protest, or a call for attention. In everyday use, it can describe both literal cries and more figurative outcries.

The word is derived from the verb krzyczeć, which means to cry out or shout. As a masculine noun, krzyk has the plural form krzyki and the genitive plural krzyków, and it is commonly used in a variety of contexts to refer to audible expressions or appeals.

In usage, krzyk appears in both casual speech and formal writing. It can describe an individual cry, a crowd’s outcry, or a broader sense of urgent appeal. The term is also employed metaphorically to express social or political outcry, such as protests or calls for change, where vocal expression serves to attract attention or convey strong emotion.

In Polish culture, Krzyk is also the title used for Edvard Munch’s famous painting The Scream, reflecting the direct translation of the work’s central expression into Polish. The term remains a common descriptive word in journalism, literature, and everyday language for any striking vocal expression or alarm.