racji

Racja is a Polish noun that primarily denotes a fixed portion of food or other essential goods allocated to a person or group, especially under conditions of shortage or as part of a rationing system. In everyday language it appears in phrases such as racja żywnościowa (food ration) or racja paliwowa (fuel ration). The term is most often encountered in historical contexts, when governments controlled the distribution of scarce resources through coupons or cards.

Etymology and usage: racja is borrowed from German ration (and related to French ration), with the sense extending from a share or portion to a sanctioned allotment. In addition to its literal meaning, the word appears in the compound expression racja stanu, meaning the public or state interest, a phrase used in political and legal contexts.

Historical context: Rationing systems were implemented in Poland during periods of severe shortage, most notably in World War II and the early postwar years. Authorities issued ration cards to regulate access to staple goods such as bread, sugar, meat, and fuel. The specifics of the system varied by region and era, and the practice gradually declined as output and supply improved in the later decades of the 20th century.

Declension and form: racja is the base form; racji is a common inflected form used in several grammatical cases. The plural racje refers to multiple allocations or types of rations.

See also: rationing, ration card, wartime economy, racja stanu.