The Locative Case (Miejscownik) in Polish

Benjamin Paddags Published: 2024-11-03
Updated: 2024-11-26

The locative case, or miejscownik, is unique in that it’s always used with prepositions. Its primary function is to indicate location or position and sometimes to describe the topic of a conversation or thought. This chapter will explain the main uses of the locative, how it is formed, and provide some memory aids for mastering it.

1. When to Use the Locative Case

The locative case is used in the following situations:

• Location and Place: Used to describe where something is, especially in relation to other things. It typically appears with prepositions such as przy (next to), w (in), na (on), and po (after, along).

  • Mieszkam w Polsce ("I live in Poland").

• Topic of Thought or Speech: Used to describe what someone is thinking or talking about, often with the preposition o (about).

  • Myślę o pracy ("I’m thinking about work").

While przy always requires the locative, w (in), na (on), o (about), po (after, along) can also be used with the accusative. Usually, the locative needs to be used for more static purposes (be at a place, think about sth), whie the accusative is for movement and intentions (go to a place, go for sth, ask for sth). More on the accusative in the next chapter.

2. Forming the Locative Case

The locative case endings depend on the noun’s gender. Here’s how they typically form:

Masculine Nouns

There are two possible endings, -(i)e and -u. They depend on the previous letter. Here's a table, but t will probably be easier to get a feeling for it by reading instead of learning it by heart ;)

Don't let the few exceptions confuse you, such as dom →domu, even though it ends in m.

Feminine Nouns

Most feminine nouns change -a to -(i)e (exactly like the dative form, which we will see in an upcoming chapter).

• • szkoła (school) → w szkole ("in school").

If it ends in aconsonant or is offoreign origin: Add -y/-i (= genitive).

• • noc (night) → w nocy ("at night").
  • myśl (thought) → o myśli ("about a thought").

Neuter Nouns

Use the same endings as masculine nouns, -(i)e/-u. Usually, it will be -u for nouns ending in -e and -(i)e for nouns ending in -o. 

• • miasto (city) → w mieście ("in the city").
  • okno (window) → w oknie ("in the window").
  • miejsce (place) → w mieszkaniu ("in an apartment").

Plural Forms

Good news, it's simple! All plural nouns generally take -ach.

• • domy (houses) → w domach ("in the houses").
  • książki (books) → o książkach ("about the books").
  • miasta (cities) → w miastach ("in the cities").

3. Adjectives in the Locative Case

Adjectives in the locative must match the gender and number of the noun. Here are the endings:

Masculine and Neuter Adjectives

Change -y or-i endings to -ym.

• • dobry dom → w dobrym domu ("in a good house").
  • małe miasto → w małym mieście ("in a small city").

Feminine Adjectives

Change -a endings to -ej.

• • dobra szkoła → w dobrej szkole ("in a good school").
  • ładna książka → o ładnej książce ("about a nice book").

Plural Adjective Forms

Nice and simple again! -ych or -ich, regardless of the noun’s gender.

• • dobre domy → w dobrych domach ("in good houses").
  • ładne książki → o ładnych książkach ("about nice books").
  • małe miasta → w małych miastach ("in small cities").

4. Memory Aids for the Locative Case

• Location Cue: Remember “locative = location” and connect this case with being in, on, or about something.
• Preposition Patterns: Keep in mind that przy, w, na, po and o will often indicate locative.

Now give yourself some time to spot the patterns in real texts (e.g. using LanGam, where words in the locative are highlighted in the fourth chapter). Qué loco!
Got the gist of it? Let’s continue with the Accusative case!

The Accusative Case (Biernik) in Polish

Learn how to say who or what is affected by an action in Polish in this chapter of my grammar guide for Polish.