zarobek

Zarobek is a Polish noun meaning earnings, income or remuneration obtained from work or capital. It denotes money earned as compensation for employment, self-employment, or investments, and can refer to a single earning as well as to earnings in general. In everyday speech one speaks of a "wysoki zarobek" (high earnings) or a "niski zarobek" (low earnings). The term is often contrasted with other financial terms such as "zysk" (profit of a business) and "dochód" (income in a broader sense).

Etymology and formation: Zarobek is derived from the verb zarobić, which means to earn money. The form combines the prefix za- with the root robić (to do, to make), conveying the sense of earning through work or effort.

Usage and contexts: In economics and labor-market discourse, zarobek or zarobki refer to wages, salaries, and other personal income from work or business activity. It is common in statistics and reporting to speak of "średni zarobek" (average earnings) and to distinguish "zarobki brutto" (gross earnings) from "zarobki netto" (net earnings). In formal or legal writing, discussions about taxation and social contributions typically frame earnings within the concept of income (dochód) for tax purposes.

Notes: While related terms exist (zysk for business profit, dochód for income in a broader sense), zarobek emphasizes money earned by an individual as compensation for labor or capital participation.