poszanowania

Poszanowanie is a Polish noun meaning the act of respecting someone or something, as well as the state of being treated with respect. The form poszanowania appears in phrases where the word is in the genitive case, for example poszanowania praw (respect for rights) or poszanowania dóbr kultury (respect for cultural property). The base noun is poszanowanie, derived from the verb poszanować (to respect, to honor) with the prefix po- and the root szanować.

Usage and contexts: In law, public administration, and ethics, poszanowanie denotes observance or due regard for rights, norms, property, and cultural heritage. It is commonly found in statements about human rights, environmental policy, and cultural preservation, e.g., poszanowanie praw człowieka, poszanowanie środowiska, poszanowanie dóbr kultury. In everyday language, it conveys polite deference and considerate treatment in interpersonal relations, though in casual speech szacunek is more often used to express personal esteem.

Linguistic nuance: poszanowanie emphasizes normative compliance and formal respect, while szacunek more often carries the sense of personal respect or admiration. The term is frequent in formal and institutional discourse and appears in policy documents, charters, and academic texts.

See also: szacunek; poszanowanie prawa; ochrona dóbr kultury; prawa człowieka.