kozak
badass, legend, boss (admiring slang)
Pronunciation
/ˈkɔzak/
Cultural Note
'Kozak' originally refers to a Cossack warrior, but in Polish slang it means someone impressive, tough, or cool — a badass. Saying 'ale kozak!' about someone is high praise. It can also be used about things: 'kozacki samochód' (a badass car). The word perfectly captures the Polish admiration for toughness and cleverness. It's been slang since the early 2000s and is used across ages. There's an ironic edge sometimes — you can call someone 'kozak' sarcastically if they're trying too hard to look tough. The female form is sometimes 'kozaczka.'
📝 Example Sentences
Zdał egzamin bez nauki? Kozak!
He passed the exam without studying? What a legend!
Jesteś kozak, nikt inny by się nie odważył.
You're a badass, nobody else would have dared.