trzech

Trzech is the genitive form of the Polish cardinal numeral trzy, meaning three. In Polish, numerals decline like adjectives, and trzech appears in cases other than the nominative. It is used especially before masculine personal nouns in the genitive plural and in the locative after certain prepositions.

Declension and usage: The full paradigm for trzy includes nominative trzy, genitive trzech, dative trzem, accusative trzy, instrumental trzema, locative trzech, and vocative trzy. Trzech is the form you typically encounter before nouns in genitive or locative positions. Examples include Trzech mężczyzn przyszło to miasto (Three men came to the city) and Trzech studentów przystąpiło do egzaminu. In the locative, you will see phrases like o trzech ludziach (about three people) or po trzech dniach (after three days).

Etymology and distribution: The Polish numeral trzy derives from the Proto-Slavic root for “three” and has cognates across Slavic languages, such as Russian tri and Czech tři. The form trzech reflects regular Polish numeral decline patterns and is part of standard grammar taught in schools and used in formal and everyday language.

Notes: Trzych is not used as a standalone nominative form to mean “three.” When counting objects that are not masculine personal nouns or when the subject is in nominative, the form trzy is used (for example, trzy koty or trzy osoby). The use of trzech therefore signals the noun that follows is in genitive or locative cases, typically with masculine personal nouns or with prepositional phrases after certain prepositions.