dobry vs świetny
Polish word comparison
Listen to dobry
Listen to świetny
| dobry | świetny |
|---|---|
DO-bry adjective | SHVYET-nih adjective |
| good; having positive qualities, satisfactory, or kind | excellent; very good or outstanding |
How they differ
Świetny indicates a higher degree of quality than dobry — it means 'excellent' or 'great' rather than just 'good'. It is used for strong praise of performance, results or things, and is not normally used to describe moral character.
When to use each
When to use dobry: Prefer dobry when you want a neutral, general positive judgement or to speak about moral goodness or adequacy.
When to use świetny: Use świetny when you want to say something is notably above average or outstanding (e.g., a great movie, performance, or idea).
Side-by-side examples
- To był dobry film.
(That was a good movie.) - To był świetny film.
(That was an excellent/great movie.)
Register & nuance: Świetny is neutral-to-informal and common in spoken and written praise; it is stronger and more colloquial than dobry in quality judgments.