polski · A1 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Months and seasons
Use w + locative for months and seasons.
Understand the choice
Calendar phrases show two time patterns. Months use locative chunks such as w styczniu/w lipcu, while seasons commonly appear as instrumental time adverbs.
Core rule: Months use w + locative; seasons often use instrumental adverbially: latem, zimą, wiosną, jesienią.
Notice it in context
W lipcu jedziemy nad morze, a zimą zostajemy w domu.
In July we go to the seaside, and in winter we stay home.
W lipcu is month locative; zimą is instrumental time expression; nad morze marks destination.
Wiosna zaczyna się w marcu.
Spring begins in March.
Wiosna is subject; w marcu locates start.
Jesień jest chłodna, a lato zwykle ciepłe.
Autumn is cool, and summer is usually warm.
Jesień and lato appear in nominative as two contrasted season subjects.
What to remember
- Latem means in summer; lato is nominative.
- Month and season names are lowercase.
Common trap: Do not use one ending for all months; learn w styczniu, w kwietniu, w lipcu.