Expressing "every" with co
When talking about regular, repeated actions like transport schedules or maintenance routines, Polish uses the word co to mean "every."
Place co before the time interval. (While co means "what" in other contexts, here it indicates frequency). To talk about public transport running on a schedule, use the verb kursować.
| This train runs every two hours. | Ten pociąg kursuje co dwie godziny. |
| The ferry runs every forty-five minutes. | Prom kursuje co czterdzieści pięć minut. |
Use the same structure for maintenance schedules, such as when you need to service (serwisować) or adjust (regulować) equipment.
| You should adjust this device every month. | Powinien pan regulować to urządzenie co miesiąc. |
| We service the elevators every six months. | Serwisujemy windy co sześć miesięcy. |
Most time intervals following co take the Accusative case, but "every year" is a fixed exception using the Genitive: co roku.
| Maintenance of the machine is necessary every year. | Konserwacja maszyny jest konieczna co roku. |
Equal intervals and frequency
To describe actions happening at regular but unspecified times, use the phrase w równych odstępach (at equal intervals).
| Buses run at equal intervals. | Autobusy kursują w równych odstępach. |
| One needs to adjust this mechanism at equal intervals. | Trzeba regulować ten mechanizm w równych odstępach. |
To ask about or describe how often something happens, use the noun częstotliwość (frequency).
| What is the frequency of these flights? | Jaka jest częstotliwość tych lotów? |
Here is a practical example of a routine task performed at a set frequency:
| I inflate the tires every two weeks. | Pompuję opony co dwa tygodnie. |