osobowe

Osobowe is a Polish adjective and, in certain transport contexts, a noun used to denote passenger-related services or vehicles. It is commonly encountered in phrases such as samochody osobowe (passenger cars) and pojazdy osobowe (passenger vehicles), contrasted with pojazdy ciężarowe (goods vehicles). In rail terminology, pociąg osobowy denotes a local passenger train, and wagony osobowe are passenger carriages designed for the transport of travelers rather than freight. The term can also describe seating or compartments intended for passengers.

In common usage, osobowe is used to distinguish passenger transport from goods or freight services, both in road and rail sectors. In road transport, samochody osobowe are typically privately owned or used for personal travel, and are lighter and smaller than commercial or fleet vehicles such as vans or trucks; regulatory definitions distinguish them by weight and intended use.

The etymology traces to osoba meaning person, with the suffix -owy forming adjectives meaning 'pertaining to' or 'for'. The term is most often encountered in phrases such as pojazdy osobowe or pociągi osobowe rather than as a stand-alone noun.

See also: Samochód osobowy, Pociąg osobowy, Pojazd ciężarowy, Pociąg towarowy.