Odgrywaj

Odgrywaj is the second-person singular imperative form of the Polish verb odgrywać. The verb odgrywać means to play a role, to perform, to depict, or to pretend, and the imperative odgrywaj is used to give a direct command or instruction to one person in informal speech. Its plural form is odgrywajcie, and the negative imperative is nie odgrywaj (singular) or nie odgrywajcie (plural).

Etymology and form: odgrywaj is built from the prefix od- and the verb grywać, which together convey the sense of performing or acting out. The imperative aligns with other Polish verbs in its stem odgrywa- for present forms, with the endings -aj for singular and -ajcie for plural in the imperative. The root connects to related expressions such as odgrywać rolę or odgrywanie.

Usage: Odgrywaj is common in theatre, directing, and instruction, but it also appears in everyday speech when telling someone to act out a scene, a part, or a situation. Metaphorically, it can mean to pretend or to behave as if a certain role is true, for example in phrases like nie odgrywaj ofiary (don’t pretend to be a victim) or odgrywaj swoją prawdziwą postawę (act out your true stance).

Lexical notes: Odgrywaj is specifically a verb form and not a standalone noun. Related forms include odgrywanie (gerund/noun meaning “acting out” or “pretending”), odgrywać (infinitive), and odgrywający (present participle). In contrast to odgrywać, other verbs with similar meanings include odtworzyć (to recreate) or odgrywać rolę (to play a role) in broader contexts.

See also: odgrywanie, odgrywać, odgrywać rolę, odtworzyć.