Expressing "Already" with Już
To express that something has happened earlier than expected or is currently completed, use the temporal particle już (already).
| We already know the weight of the package. | Znamy już wagę paczki. |
| The shipment is already ready, but I have to print the labels. | Wysyłka jest już gotowa, ale muszę wydrukować etykiety. |
Expressing "Not Until" with Dopiero
The particle dopiero emphasizes that something is happening later than expected ("not until", "only just", or "only").
Note an important difference: while English often uses a negative verb with "until" (e.g., "We aren't printing"), Polish uses an affirmative verb, letting dopiero shift the timeline.
| The sender only knows the weight now. | Nadawca zna wagę dopiero teraz. |
| We aren't printing the labels until tomorrow. | Drukujemy etykiety dopiero jutro. |
| I don't want to deliver the package to the recipient until the evening. | Chcę dostarczyć paczkę do odbiorcy dopiero wieczorem. |
Tracking and Logistics
You will frequently use these temporal particles to discuss exactly where a package is in the delivery process.
| You can already track the status of the delivery. | Można już śledzić status dostawy. |
| Why is the package only at the sorting office? | Dlaczego paczka jest dopiero w sortowni? |
Contrasting Expectations
Because już and dopiero represent opposite expectations, they are perfectly suited to be contrasted in the same sentence to explain timelines.
| The package status is already in the system, but the courier will not deliver it until tomorrow. | Status paczki jest już w systemie, ale kurier dostarczy ją dopiero jutro. |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io