Being Surrounded: Wśród and Pośród
When you want to describe being surrounded by things or included in a group, use the prepositions wśród (among) or pośród (amidst). These two words mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably.
Both prepositions always require the noun that follows them to be in the Genitive case. Because you are usually "among" multiple things, you will most often use the plural Genitive form. For example, drzewa (trees) becomes drzew, and krzaki (bushes) becomes krzaków.
| A wild roe deer is standing among the trees. | Dzika sarna stoi wśród drzew. |
| Did you see a wild roe deer amidst the bushes? | Czy widzieliście dziką sarnę pośród krzaków? |
Wildlife and Habitats
These prepositions are perfect for describing animals in their natural habitats, whether a predator is hunting or a bird is building its nest.
Notice below how gałęzie (branches) changes to its Genitive plural form, gałęzi.
| The predator is hunting amidst the bushes. | Drapieżnik poluje pośród krzaków. |
| The birds built themselves a nest among the branches. | Ptaki zbudowały sobie gniazdo wśród gałęzi. |
Among a Group or Herd
While you will often use plural nouns with wśród and pośród, you can also use singular collective nouns, such as a "herd" or "flock". The neuter noun stado (herd) simply changes to its Genitive singular form, stada.
| The wolf is hiding amidst the herd of sheep. | Wilk ukrywa się pośród stada owiec. |