Protegnite se tijekom radne pauze.

It is the imperative form, so it gives a command or instruction: Stretch.

More specifically, protegnite is the 2nd person plural imperative of protegnuti se. In Croatian, that same plural form is also used for polite singular, so Protegnite se can mean:

• you all stretch
• please stretch (when speaking politely to one person)

That is why this form is common in instructions, signs, health advice, and workplace notices.

Se is the reflexive clitic. It shows that the action is done to oneself.

So:

• protegnuti = to stretch something / to extend
• protegnuti se = to stretch oneself

In this sentence, the meaning is not stretch something, but stretch yourself / have a stretch, so se is required.

It can be either:

• plural: speaking to more than one person
• formal singular: speaking politely to one person

Croatian uses the same verb form for both. So without more context, Protegnite se could be addressing:

• a group of workers
• one person politely
• a general audience in an instruction

In practice, in a sentence like this, it often feels like a general instruction aimed at readers.

Tijekom means during.

It is a preposition, and it requires the genitive case. That is why the words after it are not in their basic dictionary form.

So:

• tijekom = during
• tijekom radne pauze = during the work break

This is a fairly standard, neutral, slightly formal way to say during.

No, it is not plural here.

The basic form is:

• radna pauza = work break

After tijekom, Croatian uses the genitive singular, so:

• radna pauza → radne pauze

Both words change because the adjective and noun must agree.

So in this sentence:

• radne = genitive singular feminine of radna
• pauze = genitive singular of pauza

This is a very common point of confusion, because -e can look plural to English speakers, but here it is singular genitive.

Radna pauza means a work break or break during work.

It can refer to:

• a short break while working
• a scheduled break at work
• sometimes a lunch or coffee break, depending on context

It is broader than just lunch break. If Croatian specifically wanted to say lunch break, it would usually use a more specific expression.

Yes. Croatian word order is more flexible than English.

For example, these are both natural:

• Protegnite se tijekom radne pauze.
• Tijekom radne pauze protegnite se.

The first version starts with the command, so it feels a bit more direct.
The second starts with the time phrase, so it emphasizes when to do it.

Both are correct.

Yes. You could also hear:

• za vrijeme radne pauze
• u radnoj pauzi in some contexts, though this can sound a bit different

The closest alternatives are:

• tijekom radne pauze
• za vrijeme radne pauze

Both mean during the work break.
Tijekom is concise and common in written, instructional, or neutral language.

The dictionary forms are:

• protegnuti se = to stretch oneself
• tijekom = during
• radan / radna / radno = work-related
• pauza = break, pause

In the sentence, those appear as:

• protegnite se = imperative form
• tijekom = unchanged
• radne pauze = genitive singular after tijekom

Yes. It sounds natural, clear, and slightly instructional.

You might see something like this:

• in workplace wellness advice
• on a poster in an office
• in health or ergonomic recommendations
• in app reminders or exercise tips

It has a neutral, polite, practical tone—very suitable for general advice.