swobód

Swobód is the genitive plural form of the Polish noun swoboda, which in modern Polish means freedom, liberty, or ease of movement, depending on context. The form is used when referring to multiple freedoms or when governed by a noun in the genitive plural, for example in phrases like prawa i swobody obywatelskie (rights and civil freedoms). Swobód appears frequently in legal, political, and historical texts.

Etymology and cognates: Swoboda derives from Old Polish and is closely related to other Slavic words for freedom, such as Russian svoboda, Czech svoboda, and Ukrainian svoboda. The word reflects a broad semantic field that includes civil liberties, personal autonomy, and absence of restrictions.

Usage and nuance: Swoboda often denotes a scope granted by laws or customs and can refer to civil liberties or freedom of action, sometimes with a narrower or more practical nuance than wolność. In contrast, wolność tends to express freedom in a broader or philosophical sense, while swoboda may emphasize absence of constraints or regulatory leeway, such as economic swoboda in market contexts.

Historical context: The concept plays a notable role in the history of Poland, including the idea of szlachecka swoboda (noble liberty), which described extensive privileges and immunities enjoyed by the szlachta within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In contemporary discourse, references to swobody are common in discussions of constitutional rights and civil liberties.

See also: wolność, swoboda gospodarcza, szlachecka swoboda, prawa i swobody obywatelskie, civil liberties.