zpívat en 30 segundos
- Zpívat is the basic Czech verb for 'to sing', following regular conjugation patterns.
- It is an imperfective verb used for habits, ongoing actions, and general abilities.
- It is deeply rooted in Czech culture, from folk songs to modern pop music.
- Commonly paired with adverbs like 'hezky' (nicely) or 'falešně' (out of tune).
The Czech verb zpívat is a fundamental pillar of the Czech language, primarily translating to the English verb 'to sing'. At its core, it describes the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, but in the context of Czech culture, it carries a weight of communal history and personal expression. Whether you are talking about a professional opera singer on the stage of the National Theatre or a group of friends gathered around a campfire in the Šumava mountains, zpívat is the word you need. It is an imperfective verb, meaning it focuses on the process, the duration, or the habit of singing rather than a single, completed performance.
- Musical Expression
- This is the literal use. It covers everything from humming a tune to performing complex arias. In Czechia, singing is often a collective activity, deeply tied to the 'tramp' movement and folk traditions.
- Nature and Animals
- Just as in English, birds 'sing' in Czech. When the forest wakes up in the morning, the birds zpívají, creating a natural soundscape that is frequently described in Czech literature and poetry.
Moje babička velmi ráda zpívá lidové písně, když pracuje na zahradě.
The verb follows the standard '-at' conjugation pattern, which makes it one of the first verbs English speakers learn. However, its usage extends into figurative realms. For instance, if a machine makes a high-pitched, rhythmic sound, a Czech person might poetically say it is 'singing'. It is also used in the context of praise; to 'sing praises' about someone is pět chválu, though zpívat remains the more common everyday term for the physical act.
Celá hospoda začala zpívat českou hymnu.
Understanding the nuance between zpívat (imperfective) and zazpívat (perfective) is crucial. Use zpívat when you are describing the hobby, the ongoing action, or the general ability. Use zazpívat when you are asking someone to perform one specific song or when a single instance of singing occurs and finishes.
Using zpívat correctly requires attention to the subject-verb agreement and the objects that follow. Since it is a transitive verb, it usually takes a direct object in the accusative case (4. pád) when you specify what is being sung. For example, 'zpívat píseň' (to sing a song).
- Present Tense Conjugation
- Já zpívám (I sing)
- Ty zpíváš (You sing)
- On/ona/ono zpívá (He/she/it sings)
- My zpíváme (We sing)
- Vy zpíváte (You all sing)
- Oni zpívají (They sing)
Děti ve škole zpívají velmi nahlas.
When describing the manner of singing, we use adverbs. Common adverbs paired with zpívat include hezky (nicely), falešně (out of tune), potichu (quietly), and vášnivě (passionately). If you want to say you are singing 'to' someone, you use the dative case (3. pád). For instance, 'Zpívám ti' means 'I am singing to you'.
Petr neumí zpívat, ale stejně to zkouší.
In the past tense, the verb changes based on the gender and number of the subject. 'On zpíval' (He sang), 'Ona zpívala' (She sang), 'Ono zpívalo' (It sang), 'Oni zpívali' (They sang - masculine animate). This is standard for Czech past tense formation using the l-participle.
You will encounter the word zpívat in a vast array of social and professional contexts in the Czech Republic. Czechs have a saying: 'Co Čech, to muzikant' (Every Czech is a musician), which highlights the cultural importance of music. This means you will hear this word more often than you might expect.
- Social Gatherings
- At a 'táborák' (campfire), someone will inevitably ask: 'Budeme zpívat?' (Shall we sing?). It is an invitation to communal bonding through traditional songs.
- Media and Entertainment
- On talent shows like 'Česko hledá SuperStar', judges will comment on how a contestant zpívá. In radio interviews, singers discuss their passion for zpívání (the gerund form).
V kostele lidé zpívají náboženské písně každou neděli.
In educational settings, music class is called 'hudební výchova', where the primary activity is zpěv (singing), but teachers will frequently use the verb: 'Dnes budeme zpívat novou koledu' (Today we will sing a new carol). You will also hear it in nursery rhymes and lullabies, as parents zpívají to their babies to help them sleep.
Slyšíš, jak ten pták krásně zpívá?
Learning to conjugate and use zpívat is generally straightforward, but there are several pitfalls that English speakers often fall into. These range from aspectual errors to simple pronunciation slips.
- The Aspect Trap
- The most common mistake is using 'zpívat' when 'zazpívat' is required. If you want to ask someone to sing one specific song right now, say 'Zazpívej mi tu písničku'. Using 'Zpívej' sounds like a command to 'start singing generally' or 'continue singing'.
- Confusion with 'Pít'
- It sounds silly, but in fast conversation, some beginners confuse 'zpívat' with 'pít' (to drink) due to the 'pí' sound. Ensure you include the 'z' at the beginning to avoid telling someone to drink when you want them to sing!
Špatně: Chci zpívat tuhle jednu píseň. Správně: Chci zazpívat tuhle jednu píseň.
Another mistake involves the preposition 'v'. English speakers often say 'zpívat v sboru' (sing in a choir), which is correct, but they might struggle with 'zpívat na koncertě' (sing at a concert). Remember that 'na' is used for events. Also, avoid using the English-style progressive tense 'I am singing' as 'Já jsem zpívat'. In Czech, 'Já zpívám' covers both 'I sing' and 'I am singing'.
While zpívat is the go-to verb, Czech offers several alternatives that can add color and precision to your speech. Depending on the register and the specific type of singing, you might choose a different word.
- Prozpěvovat si
- This means 'to hum' or 'to sing to oneself' in a lighthearted, often distracted way. It implies the person is doing it for their own pleasure while doing something else.
- Pět
- This is a poetic, archaic, or very formal version of 'to sing'. You mostly hear it in fixed expressions like 'pět chválu' (to sing praises) or in high-style literature.
- Notovat
- Similar to 'prozpěvovat si', this means to hum a melody or to follow a tune. It is often used when someone is trying to recall a song.
Maminka si v kuchyni vesele prozpěvovala.
In a slang or very informal context, you might hear 'vystřihnout' (to cut out), which can mean to perform a song perfectly and with great energy. For example: 'Vystřihl tu árii skvěle!' (He belted out/performed that aria perfectly!). However, for beginners, sticking to zpívat is always safe and universally understood.
How Formal Is It?
"Operní pěvkyně bude zpívat v Rudolfinu."
"Můj bratr zpívá v kapele."
"Hele, pojďme si něco zpívat!"
"Ptáček zpívá: píp, píp!"
"Ten to tam včera hrozně vyzpíval."
Dato curioso
The word is related to the English word 'poem' through very distant Indo-European roots relating to 'making' or 'composing'. In Czech, the connection between 'singing' and 'poetry' remains strong.
Guía de pronunciación
- Shortening the 'í' to a short 'i'.
- Pronouncing 'z' as 's'.
- Over-aspirating the 'p'.
- Putting stress on the second syllable.
- Mispronouncing the final 't' as 'd'.
Nivel de dificultad
Very easy to recognize and read.
Simple conjugation, but remember the long 'í'.
Easy to pronounce, but requires correct vowel length.
Clear sound, but don't confuse with 'pít'.
Qué aprender después
Requisitos previos
Aprende después
Avanzado
Ejemplos por nivel
Já zpívám každý den.
I sing every day.
Present tense, 1st person singular.
Ty zpíváš velmi hezky.
You sing very nicely.
Present tense, 2nd person singular.
On zpívá ve sprše.
He sings in the shower.
Present tense, 3rd person singular.
My zpíváme v autě.
We sing in the car.
Present tense, 1st person plural.
Vy zpíváte ve škole?
Do you all sing at school?
Present tense, 2nd person plural, question.
Děti zpívají písničku.
The children are singing a song.
Present tense, 3rd person plural.
Ráda zpívám.
I (female) like singing.
Use of 'rád/ráda' with a verb.
Neumím zpívat.
I don't know how to sing.
Negative 'neumím' + infinitive.
Včera jsme zpívali u ohně.
Yesterday we sang by the fire.
Past tense, 1st person plural.
Budeš dneska zpívat?
Will you sing today?
Future tense, 2nd person singular.
Zpívala jsi tu píseň?
Did you (female) sing that song?
Past tense, feminine singular.
Oni nechtějí zpívat nahlas.
They don't want to sing loudly.
Negative modal verb + infinitive.
Můžeme zpívat spolu.
We can sing together.
Modal verb 'můžeme' + infinitive.
Když jsem byl malý, zpíval jsem v sboru.
When I was little, I sang in a choir.
Past tense narrative.
Zpívat je moje hobby.
Singing is my hobby.
Infinitive as a subject.
Ona zpívá jako anděl.
She sings like an angel.
Comparison with 'jako'.
Zazpívej nám něco veselého.
Sing us something happy.
Imperative of the perfective verb 'zazpívat'.
Často si zpívám, když jdu domů.
I often sing to myself when I go home.
Reflexive 'zpívat si'.
Byla to krásná píseň, kterou zpívali.
It was a beautiful song that they were singing.
Relative clause.
Už jsi někdy zpíval před lidmi?
Have you ever sung in front of people?
Past tense question with 'někdy'.
Musíš zpívat víc od srdce.
You must sing more from the heart.
Adverbial phrase 'od srdce'.
Zpívání mě uklidňuje.
Singing calms me down.
Gerund 'zpívání'.
Slyšel jsem ho zpívat v rádiu.
I heard him singing on the radio.
Accusative + infinitive construction.
Zpívali jsme až do rána.
We sang until the morning.
Prepositional phrase 'až do'.
Kdybychom víc trénovali, zpívali bychom lépe.
If we practiced more, we would sing better.
Conditional mood.
Zpěvák začal zpívat falešně hned v první sloce.
The singer started singing out of tune right in the first verse.
Adverb 'falešně'.
Je těžké zpívat a zároveň tancovat.
It is hard to sing and dance at the same time.
Conjunction 'zároveň'.
Zpívala tak procítěně, že se publikum rozplakalo.
She sang so soulfully that the audience burst into tears.
Result clause with 'tak... že'.
Přestaň si prozpěvovat, snažím se soustředit.
Stop humming, I'm trying to concentrate.
Imperative of 'přestat' + reflexive 'prozpěvovat si'.
Tato lidová píseň se zpívá po celém světě.
This folk song is sung all over the world.
Reflexive passive.
Zpívali jsme sborově na vánočním trhu.
We sang as a choir at the Christmas market.
Adverb 'sborově'.
Vyzpíval se ze svého smutku.
He sang his way out of his sadness.
Prefix 'vy-' indicating completion/exhaustion of emotion.
Její hlas zpíval v dokonalé harmonii s orchestrem.
Her voice sang in perfect harmony with the orchestra.
Personification of 'hlas'.
Básník v této sbírce zpívá o kráse rodné země.
The poet sings about the beauty of his native land in this collection.
Metaphorical use of 'zpívat'.
Ačkoli byl unavený, nepřestal zpívat svou labutí píseň.
Although he was tired, he did not stop singing his swan song.
Idiom 'labutí píseň'.
Zpívat v Národním divadle je snem každého tenoristy.
Singing at the National Theatre is the dream of every tenor.
Infinitive as a subject with 'je snem'.
Melodie zpívala v mých uších ještě dlouho po koncertě.
The melody sang in my ears for a long time after the concert.
Metaphorical use for a lingering sound.
Zpívali jsme, co nám hrdlo ráčilo.
We sang to our heart's content.
Idiomatic expression 'co hrdlo ráčí'.
Slyšel jsem je zpívat žalozpěv za padlé hrdiny.
I heard them singing a dirge for the fallen heroes.
Specific noun 'žalozpěv'.
Zpívat takové náročné party vyžaduje roky tréninku.
Singing such demanding parts requires years of training.
Complex subject phrase.
V jeho podání píseň doslova zpívala o lidském utrpení.
In his rendition, the song literally sang of human suffering.
Advanced metaphorical use.
Zpívat o věcech, které jsou nevyslovitelné, je údělem umění.
To sing about things that are unspeakable is the destiny of art.
Philosophical subject.
Nezbývalo mu než zpívat, aby přehlušil ten vnitřní křik.
He had no choice but to sing to drown out that inner scream.
Negative restrictive construction 'nezbývalo než'.
Zpívali s takovou vervou, že se otřásaly základy budovy.
They sang with such vigor that the foundations of the building shook.
Hyperbolic expression.
Zpívat v tomto zapadlém koutě světa se zdálo být marné.
Singing in this remote corner of the world seemed to be futile.
Infinitive phrase with 'zdálo se být'.
Ptačí zpěv, který zpíval ranní les, byl jako balzám na duši.
The birdsong that the morning forest sang was like a balm for the soul.
Complex poetic personification.
Zpívat falešně v tomto sboru se rovnalo společenské sebevraždě.
Singing out of tune in this choir was equivalent to social suicide.
Metaphorical 'sebevražda'.
Zpívali jsme hymnu s pokorou a úctou k předkům.
We sang the anthem with humility and respect for our ancestors.
Abstract nouns in instrumental case.
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
Zpívat jako o život
Zpívat si pod fousy
Zpívat stejnou písničku
Zpívat jinou notu
Zpívat jako slavík
Zpívat u táboráku
Zpívat v koupelně
Zpívat na playback
Zpívat z donucení
Zpívat pro radost
Modismos y expresiones
"Zpívat labutí píseň"
To perform one's final work or act before death or retirement.
Tento film je jeho labutí písní.
literary"Zpívat jako když bičem mrská"
To sing very fast or with great rhythmic precision.
Vystřihla tu lidovku, jako když bičem mrská.
informal"Zpívat jinou"
To change one's tune (metaphorically changing an opinion).
Když viděl výsledky, začal zpívat jinou.
informal"Zpívat někomu do noty"
To say exactly what someone wants to hear or to agree with them completely.
Vždycky mu zpívá do noty.
neutral"Zpívat podle toho, jak kdo píská"
To dance to someone else's tune; to do exactly what a superior wants.
Musí zpívat podle toho, jak šéf píská.
informal"Zpívat na pohřbu"
To be out of place or to do something inappropriate (context-dependent).
Tenhle vtip byl jako zpívat na pohřbu.
informal"Zpívat jako u výslechu"
To confess everything (to 'sing' to the police).
Zloděj u výslechu hned začal zpívat.
slang"Zpívat o něčem, o čem člověk nic neví"
To speak authoritatively about a subject one is ignorant of.
Zpívá o politice, ale nic o ní neví.
neutral"Zpívat si svou"
To stubbornly stick to one's own way or opinion regardless of others.
Nikdo ho neposlouchal, ale on si zpíval svou.
informal"Zpívat chválu"
To praise someone excessively.
Všichni na něj zpívali chválu.
formalFamilia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of a 'Z' shaped 'PIpe' that 'VAT's of music flow through. Z-PI-VAT.
Asociación visual
Imagine a bird standing on a 'Z' shaped branch, singing into a 'VAT' (large container) of golden honey.
Word Web
Desafío
Try to conjugate 'zpívat' in all present tense forms while actually singing the words to a simple melody like 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'.
Origen de la palabra
Derived from the Proto-Slavic *pěti, which also gave rise to the Czech noun 'píseň' (song). The 'z-' prefix was added over time to form the modern verb 'zpívat'.
Significado original: The original root related to vocalizing sounds in a rhythmic or sacred manner.
Indo-European -> Balto-Slavic -> Slavic -> West Slavic -> Czech.Contexto cultural
No specific sensitivities; singing is universally regarded as positive, though singing political songs from the communist era can be polarizing.
Unlike the often-individualistic karaoke culture in the West, Czech singing is frequently collective and folk-oriented.
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
Concert
- Kdo tam bude zpívat?
- Zpíval skvěle.
- Bude se zpívat naživo?
- Chci slyšet tuhle píseň zpívat.
School
- Budeme dnes zpívat?
- Zpívejte se mnou.
- Kdo chce zpívat sólo?
- Učíme se zpívat lidovky.
Campfire
- Máš zpěvník?
- Budeme zpívat u ohně?
- Znáš tuhle písničku?
- Zpívej víc nahlas!
Church
- Lidé zpívají žalmy.
- Sbor zpívá krásně.
- Zpíváme každou neděli.
- Budeme zpívat koledy.
Nature
- Slyšíš zpívat ptáky?
- Les zpívá.
- Ráno ptáci zpívají nejvíc.
- Zpívající cvrčci.
Inicios de conversación
"Zpíváš rád/a ve sprše nebo v autě?"
"Jaká je tvoje nejoblíbenější písnička na zpívání?"
"Umíš zpívat, nebo jenom posloucháš hudbu?"
"Chtěl/a bys zpívat v profesionálním sboru?"
"Zpíváte ve vaší zemi často lidové písně?"
Temas para diario
Napiš o svém nejoblíbenějším zážitku, kdy jsi slyšel někoho zpívat.
Proč je podle tebe zpívání pro lidi důležité?
Popiš, jak se cítíš, když zpíváš svou oblíbenou píseň.
Kdyby ses mohl/a naučit zpívat jako kdokoli na světě, kdo by to byl?
Summary
The verb 'zpívat' is essential for describing musical expression in Czech; remember to use the imperfective form for the act of singing and the perfective 'zazpívat' for a single performance. Example: 'Rád zpívám' (I like to sing).
- Zpívat is the basic Czech verb for 'to sing', following regular conjugation patterns.
- It is an imperfective verb used for habits, ongoing actions, and general abilities.
- It is deeply rooted in Czech culture, from folk songs to modern pop music.
- Commonly paired with adverbs like 'hezky' (nicely) or 'falešně' (out of tune).
