Gurni polugu.

Gurni is the imperative form, used for giving a command to one person.

It comes from the verb gurnuti, which means to push or to give a push.

So Gurni polugu. is a direct instruction: Push the lever.

A few useful comparisons:

• gurni = command to one person
• gurnite = command to more than one person, or a polite/formal command to one person

For example:

• Gurni polugu. = Push the lever. (to one person)
• Gurnite polugu. = Push the lever. (plural/formal)

Because polugu is in the accusative case, which is the case normally used for the direct object of the verb.

The basic dictionary form is:

• poluga = lever

But after a verb like gurnuti (to push), Croatian uses the direct object in the accusative:

• gurnuti polugu = to push the lever

So:

• poluga = nominative, the basic form
• polugu = accusative, used here because it is the thing being pushed

This is very common with feminine nouns ending in -a:

• vrata are different, but for a regular feminine noun:
• knjiga → knjigu
• lopta → loptu
• poluga → polugu

Not exactly. This is a very useful aspect difference in Croatian.

• gurni comes from gurnuti, a perfective verb
• guraj comes from gurati, an imperfective verb

In many contexts:

• Gurni polugu. suggests one definite push or push it now
• Guraj polugu. suggests keep pushing or push repeatedly/continuously

So if you are talking about a single action, especially in instructions, gurni is very natural.

A rough contrast:

• Gurni vrata. = Push the door. / Give the door a push.
• Guraj vrata. = Keep pushing the door.

Because Croatian usually does not need to state the subject pronoun when the verb form already makes it clear.

In gurni, the ending itself shows that this is a command to you (singular).

So Croatian often leaves out ti (you, singular), because it is already understood.

You could say:

• Ti gurni polugu.

but this usually adds emphasis, contrast, or emotion, something like:

• You push the lever.

In neutral instructions, simply Gurni polugu. is the normal form.

A simple pronunciation guide for an English speaker would be:

• Gurni ≈ GOOR-nee
• polugu ≈ POH-loo-goo

A few details:

• g is always a hard g, like in go
• u is like oo in food
• r in Croatian is a tapped or rolled r
• stress can vary by dialect and teaching style, but a learner will be understood with something close to GOOR-nee POH-loo-goo

Yes. Croatian word order is more flexible than English word order, because case endings help show the grammatical roles.

The neutral, most straightforward order is:

• Gurni polugu.

You might also see:

• Polugu gurni.

That version is more marked and can sound emphatic, as if focusing on the lever in particular.

For most learners, Gurni polugu. is the safest and most natural version to use.

It is informal singular, because gurni is the imperative used when speaking to one person in an informal way.

If you wanted to be formal or address more than one person, you would use:

• Gurnite polugu.

So:

• gurni = singular informal
• gurnite = plural or formal

This is the same kind of distinction Croatian often makes between informal singular and formal/plural forms.

No. Croatian does not have articles like English a/an/the.

So polugu can mean:

• a lever
• the lever

The exact meaning depends on context.

In an instruction like Gurni polugu., English usually translates it as Push the lever, because a specific lever is probably meant.

It is a common verb, and it usually refers to a physical push or shove.

Depending on context, it can range from a simple push to a stronger shove.

In a mechanical or instructional context like Gurni polugu., it usually means a straightforward physical push.

Learners should also know that Croatian has several related verbs for movement by force, and the best one can depend on context. But gurnuti is perfectly natural for physically pushing something.

Yes, it can be natural, especially in direct spoken instructions or short commands.

However, manuals and technical instructions may also use other styles, for example:

• Povucite polugu. = Pull the lever.
• Pomaknite polugu. = Move the lever.
• Gurnite polugu. = Push the lever. (formal/plural style, common in written instructions)

So if the sentence is meant as a command said to one person, Gurni polugu. is natural. If it is from a written instruction or warning label, Gurnite polugu. may sound more standard because Croatian often uses the formal/plural imperative in public instructions.