wolny vs pusty
Polish word comparison
Listen to wolny
Listen to pusty
| wolny | pusty |
|---|---|
VOL-nih adjective | POOS-ty adjective |
| not occupied or busy; available; free (in the sense of spare time or an unoccupied place) | empty (containing nothing; vacant in the sense of lacking content) |
How they differ
Pusty describes the absence of content or things (an empty room, an empty cup), while 'wolny' indicates availability or not being occupied; a place can be 'pusty' (empty) yet not intended for use, so not necessarily 'wolny'.
When to use each
When to use wolny: Prefer 'wolny' when you mean 'available' or 'not busy', especially for people or places intended for use.
When to use pusty: Prefer 'pusty' when you want to describe that something contains nothing or is vacant in a literal sense.
Side-by-side examples
- W tym pokoju jest wolne łóżko.
(There is a free bed in this room.) - Ten pokój jest pusty.
(This room is empty.)
Register & nuance: Pusty is neutral and literal; it is used in everyday speech to describe emptiness rather than availability.