Głudna

Głudna is a relatively rare, archaic Polish word with no direct and commonly used equivalent in modern Polish. It signifies a period of great hunger, famine, or starvation, often affecting a large population. It implies a severe and widespread lack of food.

Historically, the word was used to describe times of crop failure, war, or other catastrophes that led to widespread starvation and death. It carries a connotation of extreme hardship and suffering due to lack of sustenance. While the modern Polish word głód means "hunger," głudna emphasizes the scale and severity of the hunger event.

The term is less frequently used in contemporary language, replaced by phrases like "wielki głód" (great hunger) or descriptions of famine-stricken areas. However, it remains a part of the historical and literary lexicon, evoking powerful images of societal distress and survival challenges in the face of starvation.