dAj

Daj is the Latin-script spelling of the imperative form of the verb dati, meaning “to give,” in several South Slavic languages. It is used as the second-person singular command, as in giving someone an instruction or request, for example, Daj novac ("Give the money") or Daj mi to ("Give me that"). In addition to its literal sense, daj commonly functions as an interjection or discourse marker to urge action or express encouragement, similar to “come on” in English.

Linguistic usage and variation

In Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian, and related varieties, the imperative of dati yields daj in the singular and dajte in the plural or formal address. The form is part of everyday speech and appears in both direct commands and more abrupt or colloquial requests. In Cyrillic-script varieties, the corresponding spellings are дај (Serbian, Montenegrin, Macedonian) or дай (Bulgarian), reflecting language-specific orthographic conventions.

Etymology and distribution

Daj derives from the Proto-Slavic verb *dati “to give.” The word is widespread across the central and southern Slavic linguistic area and is among the most common imperatives, frequently appearing in everyday conversation, media, and informal writing. Its meaning remains tied to giving or offering, while its interjective use conveys emphasis, motivation, or encouragement.

See also

Dati, imperative mood, Slavic languages, Serbian Cyrillic, Macedonian Cyrillic.