raczej

Raczej is a Polish adverb used to indicate probability, preference, or hedging of a statement. It corresponds to English words such as probably, rather, or would rather, depending on the context. The word is invariable and can modify verbs, adjectives, or whole clauses, and it can appear at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence.

In probability or likelihood use, raczej expresses something that is more likely than not. For example: “Będzie raczej zimno” means “It will probably be cold,” and “Raczej nie przyjdzie” can be understood as “He will probably not come.” In expressing preference, it often follows a conditional or verb: “Wolałbym raczej kawę niż herbatę” means “I would rather have coffee than tea.” In evaluative contexts, it can indicate that something is more or less evident or suitable: “To raczej oczywiste” or “To raczej dobry film.”

The nuance of raczej is that it signals tendency rather than certainty; it is softer than synonyms like prawdopodobnie (probably) and usually weaker than przeważnie (usually). It is common in spoken Polish and informal writing, frequently used in fixed phrases such as raczej tak and raczej nie to express assent or refusal with hedging.

Etymology is not always specified in concise references, but raczej is a long-standing, stable adverb in Polish that functions as a hedge and a marker of preference, without requiring agreement with gender or number.