niech
Polish
Etymology
Shortened from niechaj, the second-person imperative singular of niechać (“to cease”). Compare Serbo-Croatian neka.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɲɛx/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -ɛx
- Syllabification: niech
Particle
niech
- forms the third person imperative in the singular and plural; let, may
- Niech moc będzie z tobą! ― May the force be with you!
- Niech cię Bóg błogosławi. ― God bless you.
- forms the first person imperative in the singular; used only with perfective verbs; let, may
- Niech no pomyślę... ― Let me think...
- Niech zgadnę... ty jesteś John? ― Let me guess... you must be John?
Usage notes
- niech + present tense of imperfective verbs or future tense of perfective verbs
- niech + future tense of perfective verbs
Derived terms
particles
- niechby
- niechże
Related terms
particles
- niechaj
- niechajże
Further reading
- niech in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
- niech in Polish dictionaries at PWN