Próbuj

Próbuj is the second-person singular imperative form of the Polish verb próbować, meaning to try or to attempt (including tasting). It is used to give a direct command or encouragement to someone to undertake an action, or to invite experimentation. As an imperative, it commonly appears in instructions, advice, and casual speech.

Próbować is an imperfective verb, indicating repetition, ongoing effort, or general capability rather than a single completed action. Its imperative forms include próbuj (you try / keep trying), próbujmy (let’s try), and próbujcie (you all try). The related perfective form spróbuj is used when the action is viewed as a single, completed attempt or sample. These forms reflect Polish aspect, a key feature of the language’s verb system.

Usage examples include: “Próbuj nowych potraw” (Try new dishes). “Próbuj ponownie, gdy będziesz gotowy” (Try again when you’re ready). “Próbuj tego, a zobaczysz” (Try this and you’ll see). In some contexts, the same idea can be conveyed with spróbuj, which emphasizes a one-time attempt or tasting, whereas próbuj often suggests ongoing effort.

Etymology and related forms: próba means a trial or attempt, from which the verb próbować is derived with the suffix -ować. The form próbuj is a standard imperative in everyday Polish, widely understood across regions and registers.

Notes: While próbuj and spróbuj are related, they differ in aspect and nuance. Practically, próbuj is suitable for exhortations to continue trying, while spróbuj signals a single, perhaps decisive, attempt or tasting.