Podaj

Podaj is a Polish verb form that functions as the second-person singular imperative of the verb podawać, meaning to hand over, to give, or to provide. In everyday speech it is used to tell someone to pass or hand something to the speaker, often with a direct object in the accusative: Podaj sól. Proszę, podaj mi długopis.

Etymology and meaning: podaj comes from the prefix pod- combined with dawać (to give), conveying the sense of handing something over to another person. As an imperative form, it directly addresses the listener in a casual or informal register.

Usage and variants: In informal, singular address, the common form is podaj. For plural or more formal contexts, Polish uses podajcie (you all pass) or, in polite requests, the construction Proszę podać (please pass/to give), followed by the object. The imperative can also appear in a progressive sense as podawaj (keep passing) in some phrases, and podajmy is used for a proposal or inclusive “let us pass/give.” Examples: Podaj sól. Podajcie mi ten długopis. Proszę podać mi wodę.

Pronunciation and grammar: podaj is stressed on the first syllable: PO-daj [ˈpɔdaj]. It is a finite verb form, with the implied subject you (ty) performing the action. The form changes with other moods and persons, but podaj remains the standard singular imperative.

See also: podawać, podanie (the noun forms related to giving or offering), and related phrases used to request items or information.