odcinaj

Odcinaj is the second-person singular imperative form of the Polish verb odcinać, meaning to cut off, detach, or sever something. It is used to issue a direct command or instruction to perform the action, typically in manuals, everyday speech, or stage directions.

Etymology and grammar: Odcinać is formed with the prefix od- added to the root related to cutting, and odcinaj represents the imperfective aspect in the imperative mood. In Polish, the corresponding plural imperative is odcinajcie, and the first-person plural is odcinajmy. The perfective counterpart of odcinać is odciąć, whose singular imperative is odetnij.

Usage: Odcinaj appears mainly in direct-address contexts where repeated or habitual cutting off is being instructed, or where a general instruction is being conveyed. It is commonly found in technical writing, safety instructions, or dialogues. In everyday language, speakers may prefer other modal constructions or switch to the perfective form (odetnij) when the intention is to complete the action.

Examples:

- Odcinaj dopływ prądu przed otwieraniem obudowy. (Turn off the power supply before opening the enclosure.)

- Odcinaj połączenia z niepewnymi źródłami, aby uniknąć zagrożeń.

See also:

- odcinać

- odciąć

- imperatyw in Polish grammar

Note: As a grammatical form, odcinaj is primarily of interest in language description and does not denote a separate concept or entity beyond its use as a verb form.