Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Polish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about To słowo oznacza dom.
What part of speech is to, and why is it used here?
to is a neuter singular demonstrative pronoun meaning “this.” It agrees in gender with słowo (which is neuter) and points to a specific word you’re talking about.
Why can’t I use ten instead of to?
ten is the masculine form of the demonstrative “this.” Polish demonstratives must match noun gender:
- ten for masculine
- ta for feminine
- to for neuter
Since słowo is neuter, you need to.
What conjugation is oznacza, and why third person singular?
The verb oznaczać (“to mean”) is conjugated regularly. Here the subject is to słowo (this word), which is third person singular. Therefore the correct verb form is oznacza.
Why is dom not declined or marked differently? Which case is it in?
dom is the direct object of oznaczać, so it’s in the accusative case. For inanimate masculine nouns, the accusative singular form is identical to the nominative singular (dom), so it looks unchanged.
Why is there no article like “the” or “a” in this sentence?
Polish has no articles. Definiteness (the vs. a) is understood from context or added with demonstratives like to rather than a separate word.
Could I drop to and say Słowo oznacza dom?
Yes. Słowo oznacza dom means “The word means house.” Omitting to makes it more of a general statement, whereas to specifies “this particular word.”
Can I say Słowo to oznacza dom instead?
Grammatically yes, but it’s less common. That word order shifts emphasis onto słowo (“that word—well, it means house”) and can sound awkward. The normal order is To słowo oznacza dom.
What’s the difference between oznaczać and znaczyć?
Both verbs can mean “to mean,” but:
- oznaczać often appears in formal definitions, labels or technical contexts.
- znaczyć is more everyday.
In questions you’ll frequently hear Co to słowo znaczy? though Co to słowo oznacza? is equally correct.