szkoda

Szkoda is a Polish noun with two primary senses: damage or harm to property or persons, and pity or regret. In everyday language it is used to indicate that something is unfortunate, as in szkoda czasu or szkoda pieniędzy, or in constructions like Szkoda, że ... meaning It’s a pity that...

In the sense of damage, szkoda denotes material or financial loss caused by an event. It is commonly used with the genitive after it (szkoda czasu, szkoda pieniędzy) and with verbs such as wyrządzić szkodę (to cause damage) or ponieść szkodę (to sustain damage). In insurance and legal contexts, terms such as szkoda majątkowa (property damage), szkoda całkowita (total loss, e.g., of a vehicle), and szkoda częściowa (partial damage) are common. The value of the damage is referred to as the wartość szkody, and compensation is known as odszkodowanie.

In the sense of pity or regret, szkoda expresses that something is unfortunate. Phrases include szkoda czasu, szkoda pieniędzy, and the clause Szkoda, że ... (It’s a pity that...). This use also often takes the genitive with the following noun or an accompanying clause introduced by że.

Etymology traces szkoda to a roots-based relation with the verb szkodzić, meaning to harm. The word is feminine in form; its plural form szkody is used when referring to multiple damages or instances of harm.