przeciwni

Przeciwni is the plural masculine personal form of the Polish adjective przeciwny, meaning “opposing” or “opposed.” It is used to describe people or groups that stand on the opposite side in a dispute, debate, or policy question. In many contexts przeciwni can function as a substantive to denote “the opponents,” though the standard noun for such people is przeciwnik or przeciwnicy.

Grammatical notes: As an adjective, przeciwny (and its forms) declines like other Polish adjectives. The masculine personal plural nominative form is przeciwni; the genitive plural is przeciwnych. The feminine and neuter forms align with the noun they modify. It is commonly used with a noun in phrases such as przeciwni reformie (opposed to the reform) or with przeciwnik/przeciwnicy when referring to people who oppose something.

Etymology: Przeciwni derives from the base adjective przeciwny, formed from the preposition przeciw meaning “against,” with the standard adjectival suffix -ny. The root przeciw- appears in several Polish expressions related to opposition or counteraction.

Usage notes: While przeciwni can stand in for “opponents” in press or formal prose, more explicit terms like przeciwnik (opponent) or przeciwnicy (opponents) are common when referring directly to people. Przeciwni emphasizes stance or position and is frequently found in contexts describing groups aligned against a proposal, policy, or idea.