wolny vs niezajęty
Polish word comparison
Listen to wolny
Listen to niezajęty
| wolny | niezajęty |
|---|---|
VOL-nih adjective | nyeh-zah-YEH-ty adjective |
| not occupied or busy; available; free (in the sense of spare time or an unoccupied place) | not occupied or busy; unengaged (person or place) |
How they differ
Niezajęty specifically emphasises that a person or place is not currently engaged or occupied (the direct opposite of 'zajęty'), while 'wolny' is more general and can also mean 'free' in other senses (free time, free of charge). 'Niezajęty' is less ambiguous when you want to stress absence of engagement.
When to use each
When to use wolny: Prefer 'wolny' when you want a general, everyday word for something being free or when referring to spare time.
When to use niezajęty: Prefer 'niezajęty' when you need to emphasise that someone or something is not currently busy or taken.
Side-by-side examples
- Czy to miejsce jest wolne?
(Is this seat free?) - To miejsce jest niezajęte.
(This seat is unoccupied.)
Register & nuance: Both are neutral, but 'niezajęty' is slightly more explicit/formal and commonly used in contexts where you contrast with 'zajęty' (busy/occupied).