Nadávají

Nadávají is the third-person plural present tense form of the Czech verb nadávat, which means to swear, insult, or give someone a hard time. The verb can refer to using profane language toward someone, or to harshly criticizing or complaining about a situation.

Grammatical notes and usage: Nadávají agrees with the subject oni. The verb is transitive and can take a direct target (nadávají mu; they swear at him) or be followed by a complement with na for what they are complaining about (nadávají na situaci). In past narration, related forms appear as nadávali, nadávala, etc., depending on gender and number. The meaning can shift from direct insult to general complaint, depending on context and intonation.

Semantics and context: The core sense is hostile language or verbal abuse, but nadávat can also mean to complain vehemently about something. The nuance ranges from informal, often heated speech to explicit profanity, and it is generally considered inappropriate in formal writing or polite conversation. In everyday speech, nadávají is common in conversations among friends or in media portraying realistic dialogue, though it remains a stigmatized register in formal or professional settings.

See also: nadávka, nadávat.