Zakrywaj

Zakrywaj is a Polish verb form, not a standalone lexical entry. It is the second-person singular imperative of the imperfective verb zakrywać, which means to cover or to conceal. As an imperative, zakrywaj is used to command one person to perform the action, with the plural form zakrywajcie and the inclusive form zakrywajmy available as alternatives in other moods.

Morphology and usage

Zakrywaj is built on the stem zakryw- and the ending -aj that marks the singular imperative for many Polish imperfective verbs. The related forms include zakrywajcie (you all cover) and zakrywajmy (let us cover). The imperfective aspect of zakrywać implies a repeated, habitual, or ongoing action, in contrast to the perfective form zakryć, which would typically be used for a single, completed act. In practice, zakrywaj appears in instructional or descriptive contexts where a speaker is guiding someone to cover something, such as a plate, container, or opening, with a lid, cloth, or other cover.

Examples and nuances

A typical usage might be: Zakrywaj talerz pokrywką. (Cover the plate with a lid.) The imperative form is primarily found in dialogue, instructions, or didactic text, and its choice signals direct instruction rather than a general statement.

Etymology and related forms

Zakrywaj derives from the prefix za- attached to the root kry- from kryć/kryć (to cover, to conceal). The infinitive zakrywać and the related perfective zakryć share the same semantic core, with zakrywaj functioning as the imperative form of the imperfective variant. Related verbs include kryć and zakryć, which have broader meanings in covering or concealing.

See also

Polish verbs zakrywać, zakryć, and related imperative forms such as zakryj and zakrywajcie.