Zapadaj

Zapadaj is a Polish term best known as the second-person singular imperative form of the verb zapadać, which means to sink in, to settle, or to cave in. As an imperative, zapadaj is used to issue a direct command to one person. The corresponding plural form is zapadajcie, used when addressing more than one person. In dictionaries and grammars, zapadaj is cited as an example of the imperative mood formed from the infinitive by using the stem plus the typical 2sg ending, with zapadajcie serving as the 2pl counterpart.

Etymology and form

Zapadać belongs to a common Polish verb class that combines a prefix with a root related to falling or sinking. The prefix za- often signals a direction or completion, while the root pad- is linked to the sense of falling or sinking. The imperative zapadaj exemplifies how Polish forms the 2sg imperative for many -ać verbs, while zapadajcie serves the 2pl form.

Usage and context

In contemporary Polish, the imperative zapadaj is primarily encountered in grammars, language-learning materials, historical texts, or literary examples rather than in everyday speech. It illustrates standard Polish mood formation and may appear in discussions of verb conjugation, syntax, or quoted dialogue to show how commands are rendered in the language. The form can also appear in figurative language, where “sinking” or “settling” is used metaphorically.

See also

Zapadać, Polish grammar, Imperative mood, Polish verb conjugation.