przerwa

Przerwa is a Polish noun meaning a pause, break, or interruption. It denotes a temporary halt in an ongoing activity, schedule, or sequence, allowing rest, change of pace, or a passage to the next phase. The term is used in various domains to indicate an interruption that is not permanent, and that activity is expected to resume afterward.

Etymology and usage notes: The word is derived from the verb przerwać, meaning to interrupt, with the nominal suffix -a. It is closely related to similar terms in other Slavic languages that express a break or pause. In Polish, przerwa can describe both a short rest and a broader disruption in a process or schedule.

Common senses and contexts: In daily life, przerwa appears in phrases such as przerwa w pracy (a break at work) and przerwa obiadowa (a lunch break). In education, it refers to a recess between classes (przerwa międzylekcyjna). In media and broadcasting, przerwa reklamowa denotes an advertising break. In industry and transport, terms like przerwa techniczna describe a maintenance stop or service interruption, while in sports, przerwa w meczu refers to halftime or other stoppages in play. It can also denote gaps in a sequence, such as a przerwa w serii danych (a gap in a data series) or a textual hiatus.

See also: Related terms include przerwać (to interrupt) and przerwanie (an interruption), as well as plural przerwy for multiple breaks.