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Questions & Answers about Dobranoc, dziecko.
Why is dobranoc written as one word?
It comes from combining the words dobra (good) and noc (night). Over time, they merged into a single word that is used specifically as a set phrase to say goodbye right before going to sleep.
Can I use dobranoc to say "hello" to someone late at night?
No, dobranoc is strictly a farewell used at the end of the day or when going to bed. If you want to greet someone in the evening or at night, you should say dobry wieczór (good evening).
Why does the word for night use the feminine dobra instead of the masculine dobry?
We are speaking directly to the child. Why didn't the ending of dziecko change?
When you address someone directly in Polish, you usually use a special grammatical form called the Vocative case, which often changes the end of the word. However, for neuter nouns ending in -o like dziecko, this direct-address form is exactly the same as the basic dictionary form. No change is needed!