At the A1 level, the word 'půjčit' is taught as a basic survival verb. Students learn it primarily in the context of polite requests and classroom objects. The focus is on the distinction between 'půjčit' (to lend) and 'půjčit si' (to borrow). At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex financial terms; instead, you should focus on simple phrases like 'Můžeš mi půjčit tužku?' (Can you lend me a pen?) or 'Můžu si půjčit tvůj slovník?' (Can I borrow your dictionary?). You will learn the present-tense-looking future forms (půjčím, půjčíš...) and the basic past tense (půjčil). The dative case for the person (mi, ti, nám) is introduced here as well. Understanding that 'si' means you are the one getting the item is the most important takeaway for a beginner. You will likely use this word in 'at the store' or 'at school' role-play scenarios. It's about immediate, physical objects and short-term actions. You should also learn the word for library, 'knihovna', as these two words often go together in early lessons.
At the A2 level, your use of 'půjčit' expands into more social and travel-related contexts. You will learn to use it at a 'půjčovna' (rental shop), such as when renting a car, a bike, or ski equipment during a holiday. You will start to handle more complex sentences with modal verbs, like 'Musíme si půjčit auto, abychom mohli jet na výlet' (We must borrow a car so that we can go on a trip). You will also become more comfortable with the past tense across all genders (půjčil, půjčila, půjčili). The concept of the perfective aspect vs. the imperfective ('půjčovat') starts to become relevant here; you'll notice that 'půjčit' is for a specific time, while 'půjčovat' is for habits. You might also encounter the noun 'půjčka' in the context of small personal loans between friends. At A2, you are expected to correctly use the dative case for the person you are lending to, and the genitive with 'od' for the person you are borrowing from.
At the B1 level, 'půjčit' enters the realm of everyday adult responsibilities, including banking and formal agreements. You will learn to discuss 'bankovní půjčky' (bank loans) and 'hypotéky' (mortgages). You will be expected to understand the nuances of the perfective aspect—using 'půjčit' for the one-time act of signing a loan and 'půjčovat' for the monthly process of the bank providing funds. You'll also encounter the verb in more abstract or idiomatic contexts, such as 'půjčit někomu ucho' (to lend someone an ear). Your grammatical precision should increase; you should rarely confuse 'půjčit' and 'půjčit si' at this stage. You will also learn more formal synonyms like 'zapůjčit' for professional settings. Reading tasks might include rental agreements or library rules where the verb 'půjčit' is used to define terms and conditions. You'll also start to use the conditional mood: 'Půjčil bys mi to, kdybych tě poprosil?' (Would you lend it to me if I asked you?).
At the B2 level, you should have a sophisticated grasp of 'půjčit' and its family of words. You will use it to discuss economic trends, such as interest rates on loans ('úroky z půjček') or the ethics of borrowing. You will be able to distinguish between 'půjčit', 'pronajmout', and 'najmout' with ease. In literature or higher-level journalism, you might see 'půjčit' used metaphorically to describe the temporary nature of life or power. You will also be familiar with the passive voice: 'Peníze byly půjčeny za nevýhodných podmínek' (The money was lent under disadvantageous conditions). Your ability to use the verb in all tenses and moods, including the imperative and conditional, should be fluid. You will also understand the difference between 'vypůjčit si' (often used for borrowing ideas or words) and the standard 'půjčit si'. Discussion of 'půjčovní řád' (lending rules) in various institutions will be part of your vocabulary.
At the C1 level, 'půjčit' is used with high precision in professional, legal, and academic contexts. You will understand the subtle differences between 'zapůjčení', 'vypůjčení', and 'půjčka' in legal contracts. You can discuss complex financial instruments where 'půjčit' is the foundational concept. You will also be able to recognize and use the word in stylized or archaic contexts in Czech literature. Your understanding of the verb's aspectual pairs will be perfect, allowing you to describe complex sequences of events involving lending and borrowing. You might encounter the reflexive 'půjčit se' in very rare, specific poetic contexts, though it remains non-standard. You will be able to debate the socio-economic impacts of 'půjčování' in modern society, such as the rise of the sharing economy. You can also handle complex word formations like 'připůjčit' or 'dopůjčit' (to finish borrowing/lending the remaining amount).
At the C2 level, you possess a native-like intuition for 'půjčit'. You understand its place in the history of the Czech language and can use it in any register, from street slang to the highest levels of judicial or academic discourse. You can play with the word's meaning in puns or sophisticated metaphors. You are fully aware of the cultural weight the word carries in Czech history—for example, in stories about the 'National Theatre' where the people 'lent' their support and money. You can analyze the etymological roots of the word and its cognates in other Slavic languages. Your usage is flawless, and you can even identify when a native speaker uses the word incorrectly or in a non-standard dialectal way. You are comfortable using the verb in highly complex syntactic structures, including nested clauses and various participial constructions. The word is no longer a 'vocabulary item' but a flexible tool in your linguistic arsenal.

půjčit en 30 segundos

  • Perfective verb for lending (without 'si') or borrowing (with 'si').
  • Requires the dative case for the person and accusative for the object.
  • Used for physical items, money, or abstract concepts like time and attention.
  • Essential for everyday interactions, rentals, and banking in Czechia.
The Czech verb půjčit is a cornerstone of daily communication, representing the act of temporary transfer, whether you are the one giving or the one receiving. At its core, it is a perfective verb, which means it focuses on a completed action or a single instance of lending or borrowing. In English, we use two distinct words—'lend' and 'borrow'—to describe the direction of the transaction. In Czech, the direction is determined by the presence or absence of the reflexive pronoun si. Without 'si', půjčit means to lend (to give something to someone for a while). With 'si', půjčit si means to borrow (to take something from someone for a while). This distinction is vital for learners to master early on, as using the wrong form can completely flip the meaning of your request.
Lending Direction
When you use 'půjčit' alone, you are the provider. Example: 'Půjčím ti moji knihu' (I will lend you my book). Here, the focus is on the act of giving.
Borrowing Direction
When you add 'si', you are the recipient. Example: 'Půjčím si tvoji knihu' (I will borrow your book). The 'si' effectively means 'to oneself'.
The usage of this word spans from the most casual interactions, like asking a classmate for a pen, to formal financial contexts like taking out a mortgage from a bank. Because it is perfective, it is often used in the future tense to make promises or in the past tense to describe a completed transaction. If you want to talk about the ongoing process or a habit of lending, you would use the imperfective counterpart, půjčovat.

Mohl bys mi prosím půjčit deset korun? (Could you please lend me ten crowns?)

Culturally, Czechs value the 'půjčit' contract highly. Whether it is a cup of sugar from a neighbor or a large sum of money, the expectation is always a prompt return, reflecting the perfective nature of the verb—the action is not complete until the item is back with its owner. In business, 'zapůjčit' might be used as a more formal alternative, but in 95% of life, 'půjčit' is your go-to verb. It is also used metaphorically, such as 'půjčit někomu ucho' (to lend someone an ear), though this is less common than in English. The word's versatility makes it one of the first fifty verbs a student should learn to navigate social and commercial spaces in the Czech Republic. Understanding the nuances of 'půjčit' allows you to participate in the social economy of sharing, which is quite robust in Czech culture, especially in smaller communities or among students.

Musím si v knihovně půjčit tuhle učebnici. (I must borrow this textbook from the library.)

Financial Context
Banks 'půjčují' money to clients. The client 'si půjčí' a loan (půjčku). The transaction is formal and governed by a contract (smlouva).

On mi půjčil své auto na víkend. (He lent me his car for the weekend.)

Chci si půjčit tvoje kolo. (I want to borrow your bike.)

Using půjčit correctly requires a firm grasp of Czech cases, specifically the dative (3rd case) and the accusative (4th case). The person receiving the item is in the dative, while the item itself is in the accusative. For example, in the sentence 'Půjčím Petrovi (Dative) knihu (Accusative)', you are lending the book to Petr. If you were borrowing it from him, you would say 'Půjčím si od Petra (Genitive with preposition 'od') tu knihu'. This structural difference is where most English speakers stumble because English relies on prepositions like 'to' or 'from' rather than case endings and reflexive pronouns.
The Perfective Aspect
Because 'půjčit' is perfective, it cannot be used in the present tense to mean 'I am currently lending'. If you say 'Půjčím ti to', it translates to 'I will lend it to you'. To say 'I often lend', you must use 'půjčovat'.

Banka nám půjčila peníze na dům. (The bank lent us money for a house.)

When forming questions, the word order can shift for emphasis, but the grammatical relationships remain fixed. 'Můžeš mi to půjčit?' is the standard way to ask to borrow something. Notice the 'mi' (short form of 'mně' in dative). If you are borrowing something for yourself, the 'si' usually follows the first conjugated verb or the pronoun: 'Můžu si to půjčit?'. In more complex sentences, 'půjčit' can be combined with modal verbs like 'muset' (must), 'chtít' (want), or 'moci' (can). 'Musím si půjčit auto, protože moje je v opravně' (I must borrow a car because mine is in the repair shop). Here, 'půjčit' remains in the infinitive form.
Negation
To negate the action, simply add 'ne-' to the front: 'Nepůjčím ti ani korunu!' (I won't lend you even one crown!). This is a very common way to express refusal.

Kdy mi půjčíš tu hru? (When will you lend me that game?)

In the past tense, the verb changes according to gender and number: 'půjčil' (masculine), 'půjčila' (feminine), 'půjčilo' (neuter), 'půjčili' (plural). 'Maminka mi půjčila svůj šátek' (Mom lent me her scarf). This agreement is a fundamental part of Czech grammar that applies to all verbs in the past tense.

Oni si půjčili vybavení na lyžování. (They borrowed skiing equipment.)

Imperative Mood
To tell someone to lend you something, use 'Půjč mi...' (Lend me...). For a formal or plural request, use 'Půjčte mi...'.

Sestře jsem půjčil svůj notebook. (I lent my laptop to my sister.)

The word půjčit echoes through various corridors of Czech life. One of the most common places is the 'knihovna' (library). Librarians will ask 'Chcete si tuto knihu půjčit?' (Do you want to borrow this book?). The entire system of public libraries in the Czech Republic is built around the concept of 'půjčování' (the process of lending), but the specific act of checking out a book is 'půjčit si'.
At the Bank
Financial institutions are the primary 'lenders' in society. You will see advertisements saying 'Půjčíme vám na cokoli' (We will lend to you for anything). The noun 'půjčka' (a loan) is directly derived from this verb.

V autopůjčovně si můžete půjčit auto na celý týden. (At the car rental, you can borrow a car for the whole week.)

Another common setting is among friends and family. Czech culture has a strong tradition of mutual aid. If someone is short on cash at a pub, a friend might say 'Já ti půjčím' (I'll lend [it] to you). It is also frequently heard in schools; students are constantly asking 'Půjčíš mi propisku?' (Will you lend me a pen?). In the digital age, 'půjčit' is also used for streaming services that allow you to 'rent' a movie for 48 hours. The button on the website will likely say 'Půjčit si film'. This demonstrates how the word has adapted to modern technology while maintaining its core meaning of temporary possession.
Real Estate and Tools
While 'pronajmout' is used for long-term apartment rentals, 'půjčit' is often used for short-term tool rentals. A 'půjčovna nářadí' is where you go to get a drill for a day.

Můžu si od vás půjčit telefon? Můj se vybil. (Can I borrow a phone from you? Mine died.)

Soused nám půjčil sekačku na trávu. (The neighbor lent us a lawnmower.)

Formal Events
For proms (maturitní ples) or weddings, many Czechs go to a 'půjčovna šatů' (dress rental) to borrow formal wear rather than buying it.

Potřebuju si půjčit peníze do výplaty. (I need to borrow money until payday.)

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with půjčit is failing to distinguish between lending and borrowing. In English, 'Can I lend your pen?' is a common error for non-native speakers, but in Czech, saying 'Můžu ti půjčit propisku?' when you actually want to borrow it means 'Can I lend you a pen?'. You must use the reflexive 'si' to indicate you are the one receiving the item: 'Můžu si půjčit...'.
Aspect Confusion
Learners often use 'půjčit' in the present tense to describe a general habit. 'Já ti vždycky půjčím peníze' is grammatically awkward because 'půjčím' is future/perfective. It should be 'Já ti vždycky půjčuju' (imperfective).

Špatně: Chci půjčit knihu od tebe. (Wrong: I want to lend a book from you.) Dobře: Chci si půjčit knihu od tebe.

Another pitfall is the case system. Beginners often use the nominative or the wrong preposition. You don't 'půjčit na Petra', you 'půjčit Petrovi' (dative). Similarly, you borrow 'od někoho' (from someone), not 'z někoho'. Word order with 'si' is also a hurdle. In a sentence like 'Já jsem si půjčil auto', the 'si' must come second. Putting it elsewhere, like 'Já jsem půjčil si auto', sounds very unnatural and 'broken'.
Confusion with 'Pronajmout'
Learners often use 'půjčit' for renting an apartment. While 'půjčit' can mean rent (like a car), for real estate, you should use 'pronajmout' (to rent out) or 'najmout si' (to rent for oneself).

Špatně: Půjčil jsem pokoj. (Wrong: I lent/borrowed a room - ambiguous). Dobře: Pronajal jsem si pokoj.

Lastly, watch out for the conjugation in the past tense. Because 'půjčit' ends in '-it', the past participle is 'půjčil'. Some learners try to apply '-at' verb endings, creating non-existent words like 'půjčal'.

Nikdy mu nic nepůjčuj, nevrací to. (Never lend him anything, he doesn't return it - using the imperative of the imperfective for a general rule.)

While půjčit is the most common verb for this action, several synonyms and related terms can add precision to your Czech. Knowing when to use 'zapůjčit' versus 'půjčit' can make you sound more professional or native.
Zapůjčit
This is a more formal, bureaucratic version of 'půjčit'. It is often used in legal documents, contracts, or by institutions. For example, 'Muzeum zapůjčilo exponáty' (The museum lent out exhibits).
Vypůjčit si
This is specifically 'to borrow' and often implies a more formal or official borrowing process, such as from a library or an archive. It emphasizes the act of taking something out from a collection.

Musíme si vypůjčit terminologii z jiného oboru. (We must borrow terminology from another field.)

For monetary transactions, you might encounter 'poskytnout úvěr' (to provide credit) or 'dát půjčku' (to give a loan). These are more technical than the simple 'půjčit peníze'. On the flip side, 'dlužit' (to owe) is the state you are in after you have borrowed something. 'Půjčil jsem si stovku a teď mu dlužím' (I borrowed a hundred and now I owe him).
Pronajmout vs. Půjčit
'Pronajmout' is for commercial renting (apartments, long-term leases). 'Půjčit' is for free lending or short-term commercial rentals (skis, bikes, cars).

Můžu ti věnovat chvilku času? (Can I give you a moment of my time? - 'Věnovat' is more poetic/formal than 'půjčit' here.)

In slang, you might hear 'střelit' (literally 'to shoot') used very informally to mean lending or giving something quickly, but this is very specific to certain youth subcultures. For a learner, sticking to 'půjčit' is always safe. Another related verb is 'vrátit' (to return), which is the logical conclusion of any 'půjčit' action. 'Kdy mi to vrátíš?' (When will you return it to me?).

Banka nám nabídla možnost si znovu půjčit. (The bank offered us the option to borrow again.)

Ejemplos por nivel

1

Můžeš mi půjčit tužku?

Can you lend me a pen?

Dative 'mi' (to me).

2

Půjčím si tuhle knihu.

I will borrow this book.

Reflexive 'si' indicates borrowing.

3

Půjčíš mi deset korun?

Will you lend me ten crowns?

Future tense (perfective).

4

On mi nepůjčil svůj telefon.

He didn't lend me his phone.

Past tense negation.

5

Můžu si půjčit tvoje kolo?

Can I borrow your bike?

Infinitive after 'můžu'.

6

Půjč mi prosím gumu.

Lend me an eraser, please.

Imperative form 'Půjč'.

7

Tatínek mi půjčil auto.

Dad lent me the car.

Masculine past tense.

8

Kde si můžu půjčit deštník?

Where can I borrow an umbrella?

Reflexive 'si' in second position.

1

Půjčili jsme si auto na dovolenou.

We borrowed a car for the holiday.

Plural past tense with 'si'.

2

Banka nám půjčila peníze.

The bank lent us money.

Feminine past tense (banka).

3

Chci si v knihovně půjčit tři knihy.

I want to borrow three books from the library.

Accusative plural 'knihy'.

4

Můžeš mi půjčit nabíječku?

Can you lend me a charger?

Everyday utility request.

5

Půjčil jsem mu svůj notebook na víkend.

I lent him my laptop for the weekend.

Dative 'mu' (to him).

6

Musíš si půjčit lyže v půjčovně.

You must borrow skis at the rental shop.

Modal 'musíš' + infinitive.

7

Půjčíte mi váš pas, prosím?

Will you lend (hand) me your passport, please?

Formal 'vy' form.

8

Sestra si půjčila moje šaty.

My sister borrowed my dress.

Feminine past tense 'půjčila'.

1

Půjčil si vysokou částku u banky.

He borrowed a large amount from the bank.

Context of financial debt.

2

Mohl byste mi půjčit vaši pozornost?

Could you lend me your attention?

Conditional mood 'mohl byste'.

3

Půjčili jsme mu peníze, ale ještě je nevrátil.

We lent him money, but he hasn't returned it yet.

Contrast between lending and returning.

4

Musím si půjčit víc času na ten projekt.

I need to borrow (get) more time for that project.

Abstract usage of 'time'.

5

Knihovna mi už nepůjčí žádnou knihu.

The library won't lend me any more books.

Future negation.

6

Půjčil bys mi svou chatu na léto?

Would you lend me your cottage for the summer?

Informal conditional.

7

Zapůjčili nám vybavení pro náš výzkum.

They lent us equipment for our research.

Formal 'zapůjčit'.

8

Vždycky si půjčí peníze a pak zmizí.

He always borrows money and then disappears.

Describing a habit (though usually 'půjčuje' is better here, 'půjčí' implies each specific instance).

1

Stát si musel půjčit na mezinárodních trzích.

The state had to borrow on international markets.

Macroeconomic context.

2

Půjčil jsem mu ucho, když mu bylo nejhůř.

I lent him an ear when he was at his worst.

Idiomatic expression.

3

Půjčená kniha se musí vrátit včas.

A borrowed book must be returned on time.

Passive participle 'půjčená'.

4

Půjčili si nápad od konkurence.

They borrowed an idea from the competition.

Metaphorical borrowing.

5

Banka odmítla půjčit peníze začínajícím podnikatelům.

The bank refused to lend money to starting entrepreneurs.

Dative plural 'podnikatelům'.

6

Půjčíte-li mi svůj nástroj, ukážu vám to.

If you lend me your tool, I will show you.

Formal conditional suffix '-li'.

7

Vypůjčil si slova slavného básníka.

He borrowed the words of a famous poet.

Verb 'vypůjčit' for intellectual property.

8

Bez potvrzení vám nic nepůjčíme.

Without confirmation, we won't lend you anything.

Conditional 'bez' + Genitive.

1

Instituce se rozhodla zapůjčit vzácný rukopis.

The institution decided to lend the rare manuscript.

Formal 'zapůjčit' in official context.

2

Půjčil své jméno pochybnému projektu.

He lent his name to a dubious project.

Metaphorical lending of reputation.

3

Dluhy, které si půjčili, budou splácet generace.

The debts they borrowed will be paid back for generations.

Relative clause 'které'.

4

Půjčil si identitu svého bratra.

He borrowed his brother's identity.

Criminal/Literary context.

5

Není radno si půjčovat od lichvářů.

It is not advisable to borrow from loan sharks.

Infinitive as a subject complement.

6

Filozofie si často půjčuje koncepty z přírodních věd.

Philosophy often borrows concepts from natural sciences.

Abstract academic usage.

7

Půjčil jsem mu svou důvěru, a on ji zklamal.

I lent him my trust, and he failed it.

Deeply metaphorical usage.

8

Byl nucen si půjčit za lichvářský úrok.

He was forced to borrow at a usurious interest rate.

Passive 'byl nucen'.

1

Text si nepokrytě půjčuje motivy z antické tragédie.

The text undisguisedly borrows motifs from ancient tragedy.

Literary criticism context.

2

Půjčit si na úkor budoucích generací je morálně neobhajitelné.

Borrowing at the expense of future generations is morally indefensible.

Complex ethical statement.

3

Svébytnost díla spočívá v tom, co si nepůjčilo.

The originality of the work lies in what it did not borrow.

Philosophical negation.

4

Půjčil své charisma hnutí, kterému sám nevěřil.

He lent his charisma to a movement he didn't believe in himself.

Nuanced psychological description.

5

Vypůjčená krása nikdy nenahradí vnitřní hodnotu.

Borrowed beauty will never replace inner value.

Adjectival participle 'vypůjčená'.

6

Marně si půjčoval odvahu z alkoholu.

He borrowed courage from alcohol in vain.

Poetic/Metaphorical usage.

7

Národ si půjčil naději od svých hrdinů.

The nation borrowed hope from its heroes.

Collective/National context.

8

Půjčit si cizí peří a vydávat ho za své.

To borrow someone else's feathers and pass them off as one's own.

Idiom (plagiarism/vanity).

Sinónimos

zapůjčit vypůjčit si poskytnout pronajmout svěřit přenechat dát k dispozici věnovat

Antónimos

vrátit darovat vlastnit vzít

Colocaciones comunes

půjčit peníze
půjčit si knihu
půjčit auto
půjčit si na dům
půjčit ucho
půjčit si nápad
půjčit nářadí
půjčit si vybavení
půjčit telefon
půjčit si identitu

Frases Comunes

Půjč mi to.

— Lend it to me. (Informal request)

To je hezká propiska, půjč mi to.

Můžu si to půjčit?

— Can I borrow it? (Polite request)

Můžu si půjčit tvůj deštník?

Půjčím ti.

— I'll lend [it] to you. (Offer to help)

Nemáš peníze? Já ti půjčím.

Kdo ti to půjčil?

— Who lent it to you? (Inquiry about source)

Máš nové auto? Kdo ti to půjčil?

Půjčit si na úrok.

— To borrow at interest. (Financial context)

Půjčili si na vysoký úrok.

Půjčit si od rodičů.

— To borrow from parents. (Family context)

Půjčil si od rodičů na byt.

Půjčit si z knihovny.

— To borrow from the library. (Educational context)

Musím si to půjčit z knihovny.

Půjčit si na splátky.

— To borrow on installments. (Commercial context)

Televizi si koupili a půjčili si na splátky.

Půjčit si na dovolenou.

— To borrow for a holiday. (Lifestyle context)

Lidé si často půjčí na dovolenou.

Půjčit si na dobré slovo.

— To borrow on someone's word (withou

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