Musím

Musím is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb muset, used in Czech and Slovak. It functions as a modal or auxiliary verb meaning “to have to” or “must,” and it is typically used with the infinitive of another verb to express obligation or necessity.

In Czech, the present tense forms are: já musím, ty musíš, on musí, my musíme, vy musíte, oni musí. In Slovak, the corresponding forms are: ja musím, ty musíš, on musí, my musíme, vy musíte, oni musia. Both languages use musím with an infinitive to denote what the subject must do, for example: Musím jít domů (I must go home) and Musím si vzít deštník (I must take an umbrella).

Negation and related nuances: Nemusím means “I don’t have to,” indicating lack of necessity. Nesmím expresses prohibition, meaning “I must not.” The word can be contrasted with other expressions of obligation, such as “mít povinnost” (to have a duty) or softer modal forms like “měl bych” (I should).

Usage notes: Musím conveys speaker-driven necessity or obligation and is commonly used in everyday speech. Its exact strength can vary with context, from routine duties to immediate requirements, and it is typically followed by an infinitive verb describing the required action.

See also: muset (the infinitive form), nemusím, nesmím, and related expressions of obligation in Czech and Slovak.