zaliczaj

Zaliczaj is the second-person singular imperative form of the Polish verb zaliczać, meaning to count, to include, or to pass (for example, a test). As an instruction form, it is used to give direct commands or guidance in informal or procedural contexts. The sense of passing an exam is common in educational settings, where you might encounter phrases like zaliczaj egzamin, meaning “pass the exam.”

Linguistically, zaliczaj comes from the imperfective verb zaliczać, which describes ongoing or repeated actions of counting or tallying. Polish verbs also have a perfective counterpart, zaliczyć, whose imperative forms are typically zalicz (singular) and zaliczcie (plural). The imperfective and perfective aspects reflect different nuances: the imperfective focuses on the process of counting or tallying, while the perfective emphasizes the completed action of passing or meeting a criterion.

Usage and nuances: zaliczaj is primarily a direct, informal command. It can appear in instructional text, guidance notes, or casual conversation where someone is being told to perform the action of counting or ensuring a criterion is met. Beyond exams, it can mean to tally points, to add someone to a list, or to recognize that a requirement has been met, depending on context.

Examples:

- Zaliczaj egzamin, a będziesz miał zaliczenie. (Pass the exam, and you will have passed.)

- Zalicaj punkty w raporcie, żeby suma była zgodna. (Count the points in the report so the total matches.)

Etymology: zaliczaj derives from liczyć (to count) with the prefix za-, which can add a sense of completion or inclusion within a set.