odwaga

Odwaga is a Polish noun meaning courage or bravery. It denotes the quality of facing danger, pain, or difficulty despite fear and can refer to both physical and moral courage. The concept covers acts of risk-taking for a legitimate goal as well as perseverance in adversity.

The etymology of odwaga is rooted in the Polish language; its precise origin is debated, but it is generally linked to Proto-Slavic roots associated with bearing a burden or confronting a challenge, with the prefix od- contributing a sense of turning toward or away from fear. The term appears in medieval Polish texts and remains a stable virtue in Polish culture.

In usage, odwaga describes acts such as defending others, standing up for one's beliefs, or continuing in hardship. The related adjective is odważny, and the adverb is odważnie.

Culturally, odwaga is celebrated in Polish literature, military history, and Catholic moral teaching as a noble virtue. Scholarly discussions often distinguish physical courage, moral courage, and intellectual courage.

Related concepts include męstwo (bravery or manliness) and wytrwałość (perseverance). In contemporary contexts, odwaga appears in organizational names, journalism, and motivational discourse, where it is framed as a valued, but not uncritical, trait.