Hrát

Hrát is a Czech verb meaning to play in several senses: to play a game, to play a musical instrument, or to perform a role in theater or film. It is an imperfective verb, used for ongoing or general activities, and it contrasts with the perfective counterpart zahrát, which emphasizes completing the action.

In everyday use, hrát covers a wide range of activities. You can say hrát fotbal (to play football), hrát hru (to play a game), or hrát na klavír (to play the piano). When describing acting or performing a role, the phrase to play a role is hrát roli ve filmu or hrát postavu ve hře. The reflexive form hrát si is also common, meaning to play for amusement or to pretend, as in děti si hrají or hrát si na doktora.

Grammatically, hrát is a regular verb of the -at family. Present tense forms are: já hraju, ty hraješ, on/ona hraje, my hrajeme, vy hrajete, oni hrají. The imperative forms are hraj and hrajte. Past tense is formed with the auxiliary jsem and the appropriate past participle: hrál (masc), hrála (fem), hráli (pl). The perfective counterpart is zahrát, used for completing the action, as in zahrát píseň (to perform a song) or zahrát roli (to play a role to completion).

Notes on usage: hrát does not always take a direct object; with games or instruments, it is often followed by a preposition on or using the accusative for the game, instrument, or role, e.g., hrát na klavír, hrát hru, hrát roli. The form hrát si emphasizes playful, pretend, or casual activity.

See also: imperfective vs perfective Czech verbs; hrát si; zahrát.