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  What it means

  Literally “to return/direct attention,” this phrase has two related meanings: it can mean “to pay attention to something” (to notice or heed), or “to draw someone’s attention” (to point something out or reprimand). The context determines which meaning is intended. When used reflexively or with ’na coś’ (on something), it usually means to notice or heed; when used with ‘komuś’ (to someone), it often means to admonish or correct.

  Vocabulary

  • zwracać — to return, to direct, to draw (imperfective)
  • uwaga — attention, notice (here in accusative: uwagę)
  • na coś — on/to something
  • komuś — to someone (dative)

  Grammar note

  The verb 'zwracać' (imperfective) governs 'uwagę' in the accusative. When the meaning is 'to reprimand,' the person corrected takes the dative ('zwracać komuś uwagę'). When the meaning is 'to pay attention,' it is followed by 'na' + accusative ('zwracać uwagę na coś'). The perfective form is 'zwrócić uwagę.'

  Cultural context

  This is one of the most common and versatile Polish phrases. In schools and workplaces, 'zwrócić komuś uwagę' is a standard, relatively polite way to reprimand or correct someone. In everyday life, 'zwracać uwagę na coś' means simply to notice or take heed of something. Both uses are fully neutral and appear in all registers from casual speech to formal writing.

  Beginner

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