Patrz

Patrz is a Polish word that primarily serves as the imperative form of the verb patrzeć, meaning to look or to see. It also functions as a standalone interjection meaning “look!” and is used to draw someone’s attention to something immediate or to a point in the text or conversation.

In modern usage, patrz varies with the addressee. For a single person in informal speech, the form is patrz. When addressing multiple people, patrzcie is used, and patrzmy is the inclusive form meaning “let’s look.” A common construction is patrz na to, meaning “look at that” or “take a look at this.” In writing or speech, patrz often appears as a brief directive at the start of a clause or sentence to focus attention.

Etymology and relatives: patrz derives from the Polish verb patrzeć, which denotes looking. This verb belongs to the core set of Slavic words related to vision and has long-standing use in Polish. The imperative form patrz reflects typical Polish verb conjugation patterns for addressing a single person, with patrzcie used for groups and patrzmy for “let’s look.”

Usage notes: Patrz is most common in direct address and informal speech. It can appear in dialogues, instructions, or narrative to cue the reader or listener to observe a particular element. While primarily a verb form and interjection, it does not function as a separate noun in standard Polish.

See also: patrzeć; patrzcie; patrzmy.