szalestwa

Szaleństwo, commonly rendered in English as madness or insanity, is a Polish term that denotes a state of severe mental disturbance or wildly irrational behavior. In everyday speech it can describe both clinical symptoms and extreme, impulsive actions driven by strong emotion. The word is also used metaphorically to signify intense enthusiasm, fanaticism, or a rapid, uncontrolled surge of activity.

Etymologically, szaleństwo derives from the verb szaleć, meaning to go wild or run berserk. The noun has long been part of Polish, appearing in literature and medical discourse from the medieval period onward. Grammatically, szaleństwo is a neuter noun; related forms include szaleństwa in various cases.

In modern Polish usage, szaleństwo is mostly a colloquial, non-technical term; clinical discussions prefer specific diagnoses such as psychotic disorders or mood disorders rather than the general label. In culture and literature, szaleństwo is a frequent motif representing loss of rational control, moral crisis, or the allure of extreme behavior. It also appears in idioms such as szaleć, to go wild, or porównać kogoś do szaleńca, to call someone mad.

See also: insanity, madness, szaleństwo in Polish literature.