Learn Hardcore Polish: Robi się zimno.

The phrase breaks down into robi się and zimno. The verb robić means "to do/make", and when combined with the reflexive się, it literally forms "it makes itself". Zimno means "cold". So, word-for-word, the sentence can be seen as "it makes itself cold", which idiomatically translates to "it is getting cold" in English.

What is the function of the reflexive pronoun się in this sentence?

The reflexive się is used to create an impersonal construction. This means the sentence doesn’t have an explicit subject like "it" in English, but the construction implies a general subject. In this context, się helps express that the action (becoming cold) is happening on its own, much like saying "it gets" or "it becomes".

Why is there no explicit subject in Robi się zimno?

Polish often uses impersonal constructions to describe weather or changing conditions. In Robi się zimno, the structure naturally omits an explicit subject because the process of becoming cold is seen as a general, natural occurrence. The reflexive form robi się already carries the impersonal meaning, analogous to the English "it" in "it is getting cold".

How does Robi się zimno differ from simply saying ?