powinna

Powinna is the feminine singular present tense form of the Polish verb powinien, used to express obligation or advisability when paired with an infinitive. It agrees with feminine subjects. The corresponding forms for other genders and numbers are powinien (masculine singular), powinno (neuter singular), powinni (masculine plural), and powinny (feminine plural).

Powinna is typically combined with an infinitive to indicate what someone should do, similar to the English should. Examples: Ona powinna iść do lekarza. This construction conveys advice or obligation and is common in everyday speech. The related neuter form powinno is used with neuter subjects, as in To powinno być jasne.

Grammatical notes: powinna functions as a finite verb form and can participate in broader verb phrases. It is used in both formal and informal registers. For general, non-gender-specific statements about obligation, Polish also uses the impersonal construction Powinno się, meaning “One should.” Example: Powinno się pić dużo wody.

Etymology and related terms: powinna derives from the verb powinien, which denotes obligation or advisability. It is connected to nouns such as powinność (duty, obligation) and is part of a family of forms expressing modality in Polish, alongside other mood and tense alternatives used to express recommendation, necessity, or expectation.

Usage notes: The choice among forms (powinna, powinien, powinno, powinni, powinny) depends on the grammatical gender and number of the subject. While it often translates as “should” in English, its strength can vary with context, ranging from mild advice to a stronger expectation.