zatka

Zatka is a Polish noun meaning blockage or obstruction in a passage, duct, or cavity. It is derived from the verb zatkać, which means to block or clog. The term is used in everyday language to describe physical blockages as well as the state of something being blocked.

In medical contexts, zatka can refer to nasal congestion or other bodily blockages, as in expressions describing a nose that is blocked. In technical or mechanical contexts, the word can denote a blockage in a pipe, tube, or channel, though more specialized terminology is often used in engineering disciplines. The sense of obstruction can also be extended figuratively to indicate a halt or impediment in progress, a project, or a discussion, though more common Polish equivalents exist for such figurative uses.

Zatka is part of the broader Slavic vocabulary related to obstructions. In related languages such as Czech and Slovak, there are cognate forms (for example zátka) that also convey the idea of a stopper or plug, reflecting a shared linguistic heritage around sealing or blocking openings.

Overall, zatka functions as a versatile term for describing something that prevents passage or flow, with clear medical, technical, and figurative applications in everyday Polish usage.