dość

Enough with Dość

Level 3

Dość (and its synonym dosyć) is used to express a moderate degree ('quite') or sufficiency ('enough'). It is indeclinable and usually comes before the word it describes.

How It Works

1. Usage as a Degree Modifier
When modifying an adjective or adverb, dość indicates a moderate level—better than average but not extreme. It is synonymous with dosyć. While both are common, dość is often preferred in written or formal contexts, whereas dosyć is very frequent in everyday speech.
Example: dość dobry (quite good).

2. Usage as a Quantifier ('Enough')
When dość means 'enough' and refers to a quantity of something, it triggers the Genitive case for the noun that follows.
Example: dość czasu (enough time).

3. Dość vs. Wystarczająco
While dość often translates as 'enough', it usually implies a moderate degree ('quite'). To express that something meets a specific requirement or is 'sufficiently' something, Poles often use wystarczająco.
Example: Jestem wystarczająco wysoki (I am tall enough [to reach the shelf]).

4. The 'Nie dość, że...' Construction
A common advanced structure is nie dość, że..., which means 'not only...'. It is used to add emphasis to a list of facts or complaints.
Example: Nie dość, że jest zimno, to jeszcze pada deszcz. (Not only is it cold, but it's also raining.)

5. Idiomatic 'Fed Up'
The phrase mieć dość is a very common idiom meaning 'to have had enough' or 'to be fed up' with a situation or person. It usually takes the Genitive case for the object of frustration.

6. As an Interjection
Dość! can be used on its own as a command meaning 'Stop!' or 'That's enough!'.
Example: Dość! Nie chcę tego słuchać. (Enough! I don't want to listen to this.)

7. Word Order
A critical difference from English is that dość must come before the adjective. While English says 'good enough', Polish says dość dobry.

Examples (5)

  1. Ten film był dość ciekawy.

    This movie was quite interesting.

    Word by Word: This movie was quite interesting.

    Here, 'dość' acts as a degree modifier for the adjective 'ciekawy'.

  2. Nie mam dość czasu na naukę.

    I don't have enough time for studying.

    Word by Word: Not I have enough time for study.

    When meaning 'enough', 'dość' requires the noun 'czas' to be in the Genitive case ('czasu').

  3. Mam już dość tej pracy!

    I've had enough of this job!

    Word by Word: I have already enough this job!

    This uses the idiom 'mieć dość' to express being fed up. The object 'praca' is in the Genitive case.

  4. On mówi dość szybko.

    He speaks quite fast.

    Word by Word: He speaks quite fast.

    'Dość' can also modify adverbs like 'szybko' (fast).

  5. Czy to jest dość duże?

    Is this big enough?

    Word by Word: Whether this is enough big?

    Notice the word order: 'dość' comes before the adjective 'duże', unlike the English 'big enough'.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'dość' after the adjective (English word order).

    To jest dobre dość.
    To jest dość dobre.

    In Polish, 'dość' must precede the adjective it modifies, even when it translates to 'enough'.

  • Using the Nominative case instead of Genitive for the noun.

    Mamy dość chleb.
    Mamy dość chleba.

    When 'dość' functions as a quantifier of 'enough', the following noun must be in the Genitive case.

  • Using 'dość' to mean 'completely' or 'absolutely'.

    Masz dość rację.
    Masz całkowitą rację.

    In English, 'quite' can mean 'completely' (quite right). As a degree word, Polish 'dość' means 'fairly' or 'moderately' (it can also mean 'enough'). Use 'całkowicie' or 'zupełnie' for 'completely'.

How It Connects

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dośćLevel 3Enough with Dość

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Words in This Pattern

dość