Dmuchaj

Dmuchaj is a Polish verb in the imperative mood, meaning “blow!” It is the 2nd person singular form of the imperfective verb dmuchać (to blow, to puff). The language also has the 1st person plural form dmuchajmy (let us blow) and the 2nd person plural form dmuchajcie (blow, you all). The root dmuch- is associated with breath and exhalation.

Usage and examples

Dmuchaj is used to instruct someone to blow on something, such as a flame or a soft object. Common contexts include blowing out a candle or fanning a flame to encourage combustion. Examples: Dmuchaj w świeczkę, aż zgaśnie. (Blow on the candle until it goes out.) Dmuchaj w płomień, żeby go rozgrzać.

Pronunciation and orthography

The word is pronounced roughly as dmuch-aj, with the Polish ch representing a velar fricative [x]. The spelling reflects the root dmuch- plus the imperative suffix -aj for the singular form.

Etymology and related forms

Dmuchaj derives from dmuchać, a Slavic verb meaning to blow or puff. Related forms include dmuchanie (blowing, wind) and dmuchający (blowing, figuratively or literally).

See also

Polish verbs of motion and exertion; breath-related verbs in Slavic languages.