miejscowych

Miejscowych is a Polish term that functions as the genitive plural form of the adjective-noun mieszczowy? Actually of miejscowy, meaning local or local resident. In practice, miejscowych is used to refer to the people who live in a particular place, i.e., the locals, often in contrast with outsiders or newcomers. The word can describe people, places, or relationships associated with a locality.

Morphology and scope

The base form miejscowy can function as an adjective (local) or as a noun meaning a local resident. Its plural nominative is miejscowi (the locals). Miejscowych, by contrast, is the genitive plural (of the locals) or the accusative plural form, used when the noun is not explicitly stated, for example in phrases like bez udziału miejscowych (without involvement of the locals) or między miejscowych (among the locals). In everyday language, the plural noun form miejscowi is more common when referring directly to the people.

Usage and nuance

Miejscowych appears primarily in formal or written contexts where the noun is specified in construction, often paired with another noun such as mieszkańców (residents) or as part of a larger clause. It conveys an in-group sense (the residents of a place) and contrasts with outsiders, obcokrajowcy or przyjezdni. The term is neutral but can carry sociological or ethnographic connotations when used in analyses of local communities.

Examples

- Nie znam miejscowych. (I don’t know the locals.)

- Wśród miejscowych panuje cisza. (Among the locals there is quiet.)

See also

Local residents, locals, sociolinguistic terms for communities.