oprócz
/ˈɔ.prut͡ʂ/
The English phrase 'but' (meaning 'except') can be translated into Polish as oprócz or z wyjątkiem.
Meaning: except (conj)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA |
|---|---|
| oprócz | /ˈɔ.prut͡ʂ/ |
| z wyjątkiem | /z‿vɘˈjɔnt.kjɛm/ |
In the sense of 'except', use these forms to exclude someone or something from a group or statement. Note that if you mean 'but' as a conjunction to connect two contrasting ideas, you should use a different word like ale.
How does it change in a sentence?
The preposition oprócz must be followed by a noun or pronoun in the genitive case (dopełniacz).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of oprócz is /ˈɔ.prutʂ/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The preposition z used in z wyjątkiem is one of the most versatile words in Polish, serving as both 'with' and 'from' depending on the context.
- The word oprócz is actually a combination of two separate words, where the first part o originally stood alone.
- Using z wyjątkiem often sounds slightly more formal or bureaucratic than using oprócz in daily conversation.
Examples in context
- Był tam każdy oprócz Toma.Everyone but Tom was there.This sentence shows how to use oprócz to exclude a specific person from a group.Tatoeba #4837716 by gin, translation #1048687 by CK
- Tu nie ma nikogo oprócz nas.There isn't anyone here but us.This sentence demonstrates the use of oprócz to indicate an absence of people except for a specific group.Tatoeba #4953023 by aleksandraeska, translation #4429512 by Hybrid
- Nie mogę nikogo winić oprócz siebie.I have no one to blame but myself.This sentence illustrates using oprócz to exclude oneself from blame.Tatoeba #2150125 by jeedrek, translation #1698738 by darinmex
- Mam dużo pracy do zrobienia, ale muszę też iść na spotkanie.I have a lot of work to do, but I also have to go to a meeting.
- Lubię góry, jednak nie lubię wspinaczki.I like mountains, but I don't like climbing.
- Mógłbym kupić ci prezent, tylko nie mam wystarczająco dużo pieniędzy.I could buy you a present, but I don't have enough money.
- Lubię deszcz, ale nie lubię być zmoknięty.I like rain, but I don't like getting wet.
- Kupiłem nowy samochód, ale teraz nie mam na co jeść.I bought a new car, but now I have nothing to eat.
- Chciałbym wyjść na spacer, ale za oknem jest zimno.I would like to go for a walk, but it's cold outside.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Katarzyna and Tomasz are discussing who attended a small party.
- KatarzynaKto był na urodzinach?Who was at the birthday party?
- TomaszWszyscy byli, oprócz Marka.Everyone was there, except Marek.
- KatarzynaNaprawdę? Nie było go tam?Really? He wasn't there?
- TomaszTak, był zbyt zajęty.Yes, he was too busy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “but” translations and entries oprócz, z wyjątkiem, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oprócz, z, z wyjątkiem, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
