Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA |
|---|---|
| drzeć | /ˈdʐɛt͡ɕ/ /ˈdr̝ɛt͡ɕ/ (Middle, Polish) |
| rozerwać | /rɔˈzɛ.rvat͡ɕ/ |
| rozrywać | /rɔzˈrɘ.vat͡ɕ/ |
| rwać | /ˈrvat͡ɕ/ /ˈrvat͡ɕ/ (Middle, Polish) |
| rozdzierać | /rɔzˈd͡ʑɛ.rat͡ɕ/ |
The core meaning of these verbs is to divide or separate the parts of an object. Depending on the specific form used, the meaning can shift from a physical act of tearing to a figurative expression of intense emotional pain, such as 'tearing one's heart apart', which is expressed with rozdzierać.
Which one should you use?
rozerwać is the perfective form, used for a single, completed act of ripping something like a piece of paper. In contrast, rozrywać is the imperfective form, describing an ongoing process or a repeated action of tearing. The form rwać is also imperfective, but it is more commonly used to mean 'to pluck' (such as flowers) or 'to pull' (such as teeth) rather than just to rip. Finally, rozdzierać is used for more intense or figurative rending.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
drzeć is the imperfective base form and is often used in literary or archaic contexts. rozerwać is the perfective aspect used for completed actions.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdʐɛtɕ/
When do people say it?
When referring to a deceased person, the abbreviation śp. (short for 'świętej pamięci') is the standard way to say 'rest in peace'. For formal expressions of this sentiment, you might say Niech spoczywa w pokoju wiecznym. or Niech odpoczywa w pokoju wiecznym, which translates to 'May they rest in eternal peace.'
Did you know?
- The verb drzeć is used in a common Polish idiom drzeć się, which means to shout or scream at the top of one's lungs.
- While the English abbreviation 'RIP' stands for 'rest in peace', the Polish equivalent śp. is an abbreviation for świętej pamięci, meaning 'of holy memory'.
- The word drzeć comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *derH-, which is a very ancient ancestor shared by many words for tearing across different languages.
Examples in context
- Niech spoczywa w pokoju. Wyrazy szczerego współczuciaMay they rest in peace. My deepest sympathy
- Niech spoczywa w pokoju wiecznym. Przyjmijcie moje najszczersze kondolencje w tym trudnym czasie. Jesteście obecni w moich myślach i modlitwach.May they rest in eternal peace, and please accept my deepest condolences during this difficult time. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
- Nie chcę drzeć tego papieru.I don't want to rip this paper.
- On może drzeć te materiały.He can rip these materials.
Example conversation
Agnieszka and Paweł are cleaning an old attic.
- AgnieszkaCo ty robisz z tymi dokumentami?What are you doing with these documents?
- PawełMuszę drzeć te papiery przed wyrzuceniem.I have to rip these papers before throwing them away.
- AgnieszkaZrób to ostrożnie, Paweł.Do it carefully, Paweł.
- PawełDobrze, już kończę.Alright, I am finishing now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rip” translations and entries drzeć, rozerwać, rozrywać, rwać, rozdzierać, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries drzeć, rozerwać, rozrywać, rwać, CC BY-SA 4.0.
