stulecia

Stulecia is a Polish noun that denotes centuries, i.e., periods of one hundred years. It is the nominative plural form of the singular stulecie, which refers to a single hundred-year period. The term is used in historical, chronological, and cultural contexts to describe spans of time measured in centuries.

Etymology and formation: The word is formed from the numeral sto (hundred) together with a suffix pattern common for time-span nouns in Polish. Its meaning aligns with similar terms in many languages that refer to long, multi-decade periods.

Usage: Stulecia appears in various grammatical contexts to discuss long spans of time. Common phrases include trzy stulecia temu (three centuries ago), w stuleciach (in the centuries), and przełom stuleci (the turning point between centuries). It is frequently found in historical narratives, demographic studies, and cultural histories.

Variations and related terms: The singular form is stulecie, meaning one century. The expression stulecia is often encountered in scholarly and public discourse when referring to multiple centuries, such as in timelines or historical summaries. The term also appears in place names and institutional titles, such as Hala Stulecia (Centennial Hall) in Wrocław, which preserves the concept of a century in its name.

See also: Stulecie; historical terminology; Centuries in Polish history.