metaforyczne

Metaforyczne is an adjective in Polish meaning metaphorical, used to describe language, imagery, or reasoning that relies on metaphor rather than literal meaning. The term derives from the noun metafora (metaphor), which in turn comes from Greek metafora meaning transfer. In Polish, metaforyczny has the usual adjective inflection, and metaforyczne appears in forms such as metaforyczne wyrażenia or metaforyczne obrazy.

In linguistic and literary analysis, metaforyczne language refers to expressions whose sense is primarily derived from figurative mapping rather than direct designation. These expressions often create new or extended meanings by likening one domain to another, a key idea in discussions of metaphor and conceptual framing. The concept is widely used in studies of cognitive linguistics, literature, rhetoric, and translation, where researchers distinguish metaphorical language from literal description and from other figures of speech like metonymy or simile.

Common uses include metaforyczne wyrażenia (metaphorical expressions), metaforyczne obrazy (metaphorical imagery), and metaforyczne myślenie (metaphorical thinking). Examples such as “czas to pieniądz” (time is money) or “życie to podróż” illustrate how metaforyczne constructions shape understanding by transferring meaning between domains.

Metaforyczne language often appears in poetry, prose, journalism, and everyday speech, where it enhances expressiveness, evokes emotion, or clarify abstract concepts. The opposite phenomenon is literal language, where terms retain their primary, direct meanings.

See also: metafora, metaforyczność, metaforyka.