znamy

Znamy is the first-person plural present indicative form of the Polish verb znać, meaning to know. It is used when the subject is "we" and expresses knowledge, familiarity, or acquaintance with a person, place, thing, or fact. In English, znamy translates to "we know." The form is commonly encountered in everyday Polish speech and writing.

Etymology and form: znać derives from theProto-Slavic root meaning knowledge or recognition, shared across many Slavic languages. In present tense, znamy appears alongside other person forms of znać: znam, znasz, zna, znamy, znacie, znają. The past tense forms vary by gender and number (znałem, znała, znaliśmy, znaliście, znali), while future can be expressed with various compound forms or the present tense to indicate upcoming knowledge.

Usage: Znamy is typically used with direct objects or clauses that indicate what is known. Examples include:

- Znamy odpowiedź. We know the answer.

- Znamy to miejsce. We know this place.

- Znamy jego brata od dzieciństwa. We have known his brother since childhood.

Notes: Polish verbs often rely on context to convey nuances of familiarity versus recognition. Znamy emphasizes collective knowledge by the subject "we," making it suitable for statements about shared information, common experiences, or mutual acquaintance.

See also: znać (to know), znajomość (knowledge, familiarity), know-how in Polish contexts.