This is the 8500th most frequent Russian word.
николаю
The word "николаю" is the dative case of "Николай," meaning "to Nikolai" or "for Nikolai" in English.
Used as a dative case form of the proper noun Николай, indicating the recipient of an action.
Я подарил книгу Николаю.
I gave a book to Nikolai.
Here, Николаю is in the dative case, indicating who needs time for preparation.
Николаю нужно больше времени на подготовку.
Nikolai needs more time to prepare.
In this sentence, Николаю is in the dative case, used to indicate possession.