zlomek

Złomek is a Polish noun meaning a fragment or small piece that has separated from a larger whole. It is commonly used for physical remnants such as a shard of pottery, a fragment of glass, or a chipped piece of metal, but it can also be used figuratively to denote a short excerpt or a small part taken from a larger text or object.

Etymology and form: the word derives from the verb złamać, “to break,” with the diminutive suffix -ek, signaling a small broken piece. The standard spelling in Polish includes the letter ł (złomek), while in contexts without diacritics it may appear as zlomek.

Usage and nuance: złomek emphasizes that the piece resulted from breaking and is typically used for tangible fragments. It is common in archaeology and material culture to describe pottery or ceramic fragments, as well as in ordinary speech for describing minor broken-off pieces. In literary or textual contexts, złomek can be used metaphorically to refer to a brief excerpt, though the more common term in that sense is fragment.

Relation to related terms: kawałek is a general term for any piece and does not imply breakage. Odłamek is a more technical or precise term for a fragment produced by fracture along a distinct line. Złom (złom metalowy) refers to scrap metal rather than a single fragment.

See also: fragment, kawałek, odłamek, złom.