Polako provjeri brojčanik.

Polako is an adverb. It often means slowly, but in commands it can also sound like take it easy, carefully, or do it without rushing.

So in this sentence, it is not only about speed. It suggests a calm, careful action.

Examples:

• Polako hodaj. — Walk slowly.
• Polako otvori vrata. — Open the door carefully / gently.
• Polako provjeri brojčanik. — Check the dial calmly/carefully.

Because the infinitive is provjeriti (to check / to verify), and the ti drops off to make the singular imperative:

• provjeriti → provjeri!

This is the normal 2nd person singular imperative, used when speaking to one person.

Examples:

• pogledati → pogledaj!
• otvoriti → otvori!
• provjeriti → provjeri!

So provjeri means check!

In Croatian, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows who is meant.

Here, provjeri clearly tells you this is a command to one person:

• (ti) provjeri — you check

The pronoun ti is usually unnecessary unless you want emphasis:

• Ti provjeri brojčanik. — You check the dial.
  (This sounds more emphatic or contrastive.)

It is in the accusative singular, because it is the direct object of provjeri.

However, brojčanik is a masculine inanimate noun, so its accusative singular looks the same as the nominative singular:

• nominative: brojčanik
• accusative: brojčanik

This is very common in Croatian with masculine inanimate nouns.

Compare:

• Vidim stol. — I see the table.
• Provjeri brojčanik. — Check the dial.

Brojčanik usually refers to a dial, clock face, watch face, or some kind of numbered display/face on an instrument.

The exact English translation depends on context. For example, it could mean:

• the face of a clock or watch
• a dial on a meter or device
• a numbered panel or display

So learners should remember it as a physical face/dial with numbers on it, not just a random “number thing.”

Provjeri comes from the perfective verb provjeriti. Perfective verbs in commands often mean do this action once / complete it.

So:

• Provjeri brojčanik. = Check the dial.
  (one completed check)

The imperfective command would be something like:

• Provjeravaj brojčanik. = Keep checking the dial / Check the dial repeatedly.

That is a different meaning. In your sentence, the speaker wants one deliberate check, so the perfective imperative is the natural choice.

Yes, Croatian word order is fairly flexible, but not all versions sound equally natural.

The original:

• Polako provjeri brojčanik.

This is natural and clear: first the manner (polako), then the command, then the object.

Other possible orders:

• Provjeri brojčanik polako. — also possible, but a little less neutral
• Brojčanik provjeri polako. — possible for emphasis on brojčanik
• Provjeri polako brojčanik. — understandable, but usually less natural than the original

For a learner, Polako provjeri brojčanik is a very good standard order.

Yes, usually polako sounds more natural in this kind of instruction.

Both words can relate to slowness, but they are not identical:

• polako = slowly, gently, carefully, without rushing
• sporo = slowly in a more purely speed-related sense

In commands to a person, polako is often preferred because it sounds more idiomatic and softer.

Compare:

• Polako provjeri brojčanik. — Check the dial carefully / slowly.
• Sporo provjeri brojčanik. — grammatically possible, but less natural in many contexts

You would use the plural imperative:

• singular: Polako provjeri brojčanik.
• plural: Polako provjerite brojčanik.

So:

• provjeri = check! (to one person)
• provjerite = check! (to several people / or formal singular)

This is important because Croatian uses the same plural form for:

1. you all
2. formal you to one person

A simple pronunciation guide:

• Polako ≈ po-LAH-ko
• provjeri ≈ pro-VYE-ri
• brojčanik ≈ broi-CHA-nik

A few useful notes:

• j is pronounced like English y
• č sounds like ch in church
• lj, nj, dj are separate topics, but none of them appear here
• broj sounds roughly like broy

So the whole sentence is approximately:

po-LAH-ko pro-VYE-ri broi-CHA-nik