pocztowym

Pocztowy is a Polish adjective meaning postal or mail-related, used to describe things connected with the post or postal services. It is derived from poczta, the institution of mail delivery, and is used in a wide range of everyday terms such as usługa pocztowa (postal service), kod pocztowy (postal code), adres pocztowy (mailing address), and urząd pocztowy (post office). The word forms part of standard Polish inflection, belonging to the -owy group of adjectives and agreeing with gender, number and case of the noun it modifies. The instrumental singular form is pocztowym, as in listem pocztowym, a common phrase meaning “by postal mail.”

Pocztowy appears in many compound nouns and phrases that specify postal functions or features. For example, "karta pocztowa" (postcard) uses the feminine form pocztowa to agree with karta, while "poczty" occurs in other forms such as "adres pocztowy" or "serwis pocztowy." The adjective can also describe institutions, equipment, or processes associated with the postal system, including "usługi pocztowe" (postal services) and "infrastruktura pocztowa" (postal infrastructure). In everyday language, it is often contrasted with electronically oriented terms when distinguishing traditional mail from digital communication.

Etymology traces pocztowy to poczta (post, mail) with the standard Polish adjective-forming suffix -owy, reflecting its role as a descriptor of postal matters. See also poczta, kod pocztowy, adres pocztowy, usługa pocztowa.