podtrzymanie

Podtrzymanie is a Polish noun formed from the verb podtrzymywać, meaning to hold up, sustain, or maintain. The term is used in a range of technical and everyday contexts to denote the act, mechanism, or state that keeps something in a supported or functioning condition.

In a physical and engineering sense, podtrzymanie refers to structures, braces, or systems that keep objects upright, in position, or able to bear loads. Examples include the podtrzymanie konstrukcji (supporting of a structure) or components that stabilize and prevent movement.

In medical and caregiving contexts, podtrzymanie can denote measures that sustain life or bodily functions. This includes life support or ongoing supportive care that maintains vital processes when a patient cannot do so independently. The term can also appear in discussions of nutritional or therapeutic support.

In everyday language, podtrzymanie can describe emotional or social support, such as keeping someone’s spirits up or providing sustained encouragement. It is also used more abstractly to express maintenance of a status, tradition, or activity, for example, podtrzymywanie kontaktów (maintaining contacts) or podtrzymanie tradycji (preservation of tradition).

Synonyms and related forms include utrzymanie, wspieranie, and podtrzymanie się, the latter used reflexively to indicate oneself maintaining a position or state. The word emphasizes continuity and steadiness across contexts.