Learn Hardcore Polish: Jest zgoda szefa, więc potwierdzam nowy termin. - The boss agrees, so I confirm the new appointment.

Literally: “There is the boss’s approval.” It’s a natural, impersonal way to report that approval exists or has been granted—very common in workplace Polish. A more personal equivalent would be “Szef się zgodził” (The boss agreed) or “Szef wyraził zgodę” (The boss gave approval).

Why is it szefa and not szef?

Szefa is the genitive singular of szef. Polish often marks “of X” (possession/source) with the genitive: zgoda kogo? czego? — zgoda szefa (“the boss’s approval”). So the noun after zgoda is in genitive.

Can I say zgoda od szefa instead of zgoda szefa?

You’ll hear zgoda od szefa in everyday speech, but it’s less formal. In careful or written Polish, zgoda szefa is preferred. If you want to specify what the approval concerns, add: zgoda szefa na… (e.g., zgoda szefa na nowy termin).

Could I say Zgoda szefa jest, więc…? How about word order?

You could, but it sounds marked/emphatic. The existential pattern Jest + noun phrase is the default way to say “There is…”. So Jest zgoda szefa is the most natural neutral order.

Why use zgoda and not pozwolenie?

zgoda = consent/approval/agreement (broad, often interpersonal or managerial).
pozwolenie = permission/permit (can imply a formal authorization document). In workplace scheduling, zgoda is usually the best choice. If it’s an official permit, use pozwolenie.

What’s the difference between Jest zgoda szefa and Mamy zgodę szefa?

Jest zgoda szefa highlights the existence of approval (impersonal, neutral).
Mamy zgodę szefa (“We have the boss’s approval”) emphasizes that “we” possess/obtained it; a bit more dynamic/colloquial. Both are correct.

Why is it potwierdzam and not potwierdzę?

potwierdzam (imperfective, present): “I’m confirming (now)” or a neutral statement of action (common in emails: “Potwierdzam…”).
potwierdzę (perfective, future): “I will confirm (later/soon).” If you mean you’re confirming right away (as a result of the approval), potwierdzam fits. If it’s a promise for later, use potwierdzę.

Which case is nowy termin, and why not nowego terminu?

It’s accusative: potwierdzać takes a direct object in the accusative. termin is masculine inanimate, so its accusative equals the nominative: nowy termin (not nowego terminu, which would be genitive or masculine animate accusative).

What exactly does termin mean here?

termin broadly means “date/time slot/deadline.” In scheduling, it’s the meeting/appointment date and time. To be explicit, you can add a noun:

termin spotkania (meeting date/time)
termin płatności (payment due date)
termin oddania (submission deadline)

Is the comma before więc required?

Yes. więc is a coordinating conjunction (“so/therefore”), and Polish punctuation requires a comma before it: …, więc …. Do not add a comma after więc in this sentence.

Can I replace więc with dlatego, zatem, or bo?

dlatego (“therefore”): Jest zgoda szefa, dlatego potwierdzam nowy termin.
zatem (formal “thus”): Jest zgoda szefa, zatem potwierdzam nowy termin.
bo (“because”): flips the order of logic—use it in the second clause: Potwierdzam nowy termin, bo jest zgoda szefa.
Avoid starting with Bo… in formal writing.

Can Więc start a sentence?

Yes, especially in speech or informal writing: Jest zgoda szefa. Więc potwierdzam nowy termin. Some style guides prefer not to start with conjunctions in formal texts, but it’s common and acceptable in everyday use.

Do I need an article for “the new date/time” in Polish?

No. Polish has no articles. nowy termin can mean “a new date” or “the new date” depending on context. Here, context makes it definite (“the new date”).

How would it change for a female boss?

Use the feminine genitive: Jest zgoda szefowej, więc potwierdzam nowy termin.
Other options: przełożonej, kierowniczki, depending on the role.

Can I say Jest zgoda szefa na nowy termin, więc potwierdzam?

Yes. That explicitly ties the approval to the specific matter: zgoda na co? — na nowy termin. It’s perfectly clear and natural.

Any quick pronunciation tips for key words?

Jest: yest
zgoda: ZGO-dah (z + g together)
szefa: SHEH-fah
więc: vyents (the ę is nasalized)
potwierdzam: pot-FYER-dzam (the dz is like the “ds” in “beds”)
Stress is on the first syllable in Polish words.