Questions & Answers about Ta torebka jest ze skóry.
Why does the sentence use ze instead of just z?
The preposition z changes to ze to make pronunciation easier. This happens when the following word starts with certain consonant clusters, especially those beginning with s, z, sz, rz, or ż, like the sk in skóry.
How is 'made of' expressed here? I don't see a word for 'made'.
In Polish, you don't need an extra word for 'made' to describe what an object consists of. You simply use the verb jest (is) followed by the preposition z or ze (from/out of) and the material. It translates literally as 'is from leather'.
Why is it ze skóry and not ze skórą? Doesn't the preposition z take the instrumental case?
The preposition z (or ze) only takes the instrumental case when it means 'with' (as in 'together with'). When it means 'from' or 'out of' (like a material something is made from), it requires the genitive case. That is why the feminine noun skóra changes to the genitive form skóry.
Does the word skóra only mean leather?
No, skóra is the standard Polish word for both animal hide (leather) and human or animal skin. You rely entirely on the context of the sentence to know which meaning applies.