The "-kolwiek" Suffix
In Polish, adding the suffix -kolwiek to a question word creates an "-ever" word:
- kto (who) -> ktokolwiek (whoever)
- co (what) -> cokolwiek (whatever)
- gdzie (where) -> gdziekolwiek (wherever)
- kiedy (when) -> kiedykolwiek (whenever)
Universal Concessive Clauses
To express "whatever might happen" or "wherever it might go," Polish uses a specific hypothetical structure: [Wh-word + -kolwiek] + by + [Past-Tense Verb]
Just like in standard conditionals, the particle by adds the meaning of "might" or "would" and is followed by a past-tense verb.
| Whatever might happen underwater, the submarine must reach the bottom. | Cokolwiek by się działo pod wodą, okręt podwodny musi osiągnąć dno. |
| Wherever this submarine might sail, the ocean is very dark. | Gdziekolwiek by popłynął ten okręt podwodny, ocean jest bardzo ciemny. |
Gender Agreement
Because this structure uses a past-tense verb, the verb must match the gender of the subject.
If you use the adjective jaki (what kind), the pronoun itself must also agree. For feminine nouns like kamera (camera) or pogoda (weather), you use the feminine form jakakolwiek alongside a feminine past-tense verb like była or spojrzała.
| Whatever this camera might be like, we won't succeed in recording the bottom. | Jakakolwiek by była ta kamera, nie uda nam się nagrać dna. |
| Wherever this camera might have looked, only empty darkness can be seen. | Gdziekolwiek by spojrzała ta kamera, widać tylko pusty mrok. |
| Whatever the weather might be like, our expedition sails around the ocean. | Jakakolwiek by była pogoda, nasza ekspedycja pływa po oceanie. |
Entering the Abyss
This pattern applies to any subject or scenario as you explore the deep ocean:
| Whatever the sonar might have shown, the ocean floor was still unexplored. | Cokolwiek by pokazał sonar, dno oceanu było wciąż niezbadane. |
| Whoever might descend into this abyss must watch out for the pressure. | Ktokolwiek by zszedł do tej otchłani, musi uważać na ciśnienie. |
| Whenever our ship might submerge, the darkness is always the same. | Kiedykolwiek by się zanurzył nasz okręt, mrok jest zawsze taki sam. |