rozumu

Rozumu is the genitive singular form of the Polish noun rozum, which denotes the mind, reason, or sense. It designates the capacity for rational thought, understanding, and judgment. In everyday language the base form rozum is more common, while rozumu appears in phrases and constructions that require the genitive, for example meaning a lack of sense: brak rozumu.

Etymology and cognates: Rozum originates from Proto-Slavic *rozumъ; cognates include Russian разум (razum), Ukrainian розум (rozum), Czech rozum, and related terms in other Slavic languages. In Polish, the noun has a long scholarly and literary history and forms the root of related verbs such as rozumieć, meaning to understand, and rzeczownikowych derivatives tied to reasoning and intellect.

Usage and nuance: Rozum refers to the faculty of rational thought, judgment, and understanding. It is often contrasted with other aspects of the human experience, such as feelings or will, in philosophical and psychological contexts. Common synonyms or near-synonyms include umysł (mind) and rozsądek (practical sense or good judgment), though rozsądek is more closely tied to prudence in action. Idiomatic expressions related to rozum include phrases that emphasize prudent or sensible behavior, such as brać rozum do głowy, meaning to wisen up or regain one's senses, and brak rozumu, indicating a lack of sense or foolishness.

In philosophy and culture: In Polish philosophical and literary usage, rozum is treated as the rational faculty responsible for logic, inference, and abstract thinking. It appears in discussions of knowledge, science, and ethics, often in dialogue with other faculties and with the notion of human rationality within a broader moral and cultural context.