Adjectives acting as nouns
In Polish, certain words act entirely as nouns—representing people, roles, or relationships—but decline exactly like adjectives.
For masculine forms, the Nominative usually ends in -y. In the Instrumental case (used to state someone's profession or role with the verb "to be"), the ending becomes -ym.
| My fiancé is a young scholar. | Mój narzeczony jest młodym uczonym. |
| This unemployed person is looking for a job. | Ten bezrobotny szuka pracy. |
Declining masculine forms
Because these nouns follow adjectival declensions, the masculine Genitive and Accusative ending is -ego.
| The stranger is waiting for my superior. | Nieznajomy czeka na mojego przełożonego. |
| The stranger came without her fiancé. | Nieznajoma przyszła bez swojego narzeczonego. |
Feminine forms
When referring to a woman, the Nominative ending changes to the feminine -a. They take standard feminine adjectival endings: -ą in the Instrumental case, and -ej in the Genitive, Dative, and Locative cases.
| My fiancée lives with her relative. | Moja narzeczona mieszka ze swoją krewną. |
| We are at this stranger's place. | Jesteśmy u tej nieznajomej. |
Professional relationships
You will see this pattern frequently with professional roles like przełożony (superior) and podwładny (subordinate). They follow the exact same adjectival rules.
| The subordinate does not like his superior. | Podwładny nie lubi swojego przełożonego. |
| The superior does not want to talk with the subordinate. | Przełożony nie chce rozmawiać z podwładnym. |