Learn Hardcore Polish: Ustaw przypomnienie o wizycie u lekarza. - Set a reminder about the doctor’s appointment.

Because Ustaw is the imperative (a direct command) in 2nd person singular. Ustawiasz is present indicative (“you set/are setting”), not a command.

Is this addressed to one person or several? How do I make it polite?

It addresses one person (informal ty). For several people: Ustawcie przypomnienie.... Polite/neutral: Proszę ustawić przypomnienie..., or to a man/woman: Czy mógłby Pan / mogłaby Pani ustawić przypomnienie.... “Let’s set” is Ustawmy....

What aspect is Ustaw and why use it?

It’s from the perfective verb ustawić, used for a single, completed action—ideal for commands. The imperfective imperative (Ustawiaj) would suggest repeated/ongoing action (“keep setting”), which doesn’t fit here.

Can I add “me” or “for myself,” like “Set me a reminder”?

Yes: Ustaw mi przypomnienie... (“Set me a reminder...”) or Ustaw sobie przypomnienie... (“Set yourself a reminder...”). The pronouns mi/ci/mu are dative and normally go right after the verb.

Why o wizycie and not na wizytę?

o + locative says what the reminder is about: przypomnienie o wizycie (“a reminder about the appointment”). na + accusative usually places the reminder at a time or for an occasion: Ustaw przypomnienie na 10:00 / na jutro. You may also hear na wizytę u lekarza when the appointment is the time anchor, but o wizycie is the standard “about” construction.

Which cases are used here and why?

przypomnienie is accusative (direct object), same form as nominative because it’s neuter.
o wizycie: o takes the locative; base noun is wizyta, locative wizycie.
u lekarza: u takes the genitive; base noun is lekarz, genitive lekarza.

Why lekarza and not lekarzu?

Because u requires the genitive (lekarza). lekarzu is locative, used after o (e.g., o lekarzu = “about the doctor”).

What exactly does u lekarza mean?

It means “at the doctor’s (place/office)” or “with the doctor” in the sense of having an appointment there. It does not mean movement “to the doctor” (that would be do lekarza, as in iść do lekarza).

What case is przypomnienie in, and why isn’t there any visible ending change?

Accusative singular. Neuter nouns often have the same form in nominative and accusative, so przypomnienie doesn’t change shape.

Can I change the word order?

Polish word order is flexible, but Ustaw przypomnienie o wizycie u lekarza is the most natural. Keep o wizycie u lekarza together; other orders may sound marked or awkward for learners.

How do I say “Remind me about the doctor’s appointment” (not “set a reminder”)?

Use the verb przypomnieć: Przypomnij mi o wizycie u lekarza.

How do I add a specific time or day?

Use na with a time expression: Ustaw przypomnienie na jutro o 9:00 / na 15:00. You can also specify a date: na 10 października.

What if the doctor is female?

Use the feminine noun lekarka: Ustaw przypomnienie o wizycie u lekarki. In general statements, many speakers still say u lekarza generically.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

rz (in lekarza, przypomnienie) sounds like the “zh” in “measure.”
prz is roughly “psh.”
cie (in wizycie) is like “ch-ye.”
Stress is on the second-to-last syllable: u-STA-w, przy-pom-NIE-nie, wi-ZY-cie, le-KA-rza.

Why is there no article like “a/the reminder”?

Polish has no articles, so przypomnienie can mean “a reminder” or “the reminder,” depending on context.