powód

Powód is a Polish noun with several related meanings. In general use, it denotes the reason or motive behind an action (the cause or justification). In a legal context, powód refers to the plaintiff, the party who brings a civil action. The word is masculine, and its plural forms vary by sense: powody for reasons, and powodowie for people who act as plaintiffs. Related terms include powództwo (lawsuit or claim) and pozew (the written formal complaint filed in court).

In ordinary language, powód answers questions such as “dlaczego?” (why) or “co było powodem…?” (what was the cause…). Examples: “Powodem jego decyzji była chęć zmiany pracy.” (The reason for his decision was the desire to change jobs.) “Nie mogę zrozumieć powodu tej decyzji.” (I cannot understand the reason for this decision.)

In law, the powód initiates proceedings by filing a pozew with the court. The opposing party is the pozwany (defendant). A typical formulation: “Powód wytoczył powództwo przeciwko firmie,” meaning the plaintiff brought a lawsuit against the company. Legal discussions distinguish powód from other participants, such as the pozwan, and use terms like zadanie dowodowe and roszczenie to describe the claims involved.

Etymology traces the term to native Polish roots, with powód primarily meaning reason or cause and acquiring a specialized legal sense as plaintiff through legal language evolution. The word harmonizes with related Polish forms, such as motyw (motive) and uzasadnienie (justification).

Powód thus spans everyday reasoning and formal legal procedure, reflecting its core idea of a cause, explanation, or claimant in a dispute.