zotówkowa

Zotówkowa is a Polish term that refers to a very small amount of money, typically a single coin of the lowest denomination. It is often used colloquially to denote a negligible sum, implying that something is either very cheap or that a person has very little money to spare. The word itself is a diminutive form derived from "złotówka," the Polish currency unit. The suffix "-ówka" in Polish often signifies a smaller or less significant version of the root word.

The concept of zotówkowa is not tied to a specific historical coin but rather to the general idea of a minimal monetary value within the Polish zloty system. It evokes the image of a coin that is barely worth using, perhaps left forgotten in a pocket or a jar. In everyday conversation, someone might say they have "tylko zotówkową" (only a zotówkowa) to express that they are nearly broke. Conversely, if an item is described as costing only "jedna zotówkowa," it implies it is incredibly inexpensive. The term highlights the perception of value, suggesting that even the smallest unit of currency can sometimes be significant in its absence or its mere existence.