Namáháte

Namáháte is the present tense form of the Czech verb namáhat. It means to exert effort, to strain, or to overwork something, either physically or mentally, and to cause wear or fatigue. The verb is transitive and takes a direct object in the accusative; it can also be used reflexively with si to mean to strain oneself. The form is used when addressing you plural or a formal you.

Usage and examples: Namáháte svaly při zvedání těžkých krabic. Při dlouhé práci na počítači namáháte oči. If you overexert yourself, you may feel fatigue or discomfort, so the construction can carry a warning or advice: Pokud namáháte své tělo, dávejte si pravidelné přestávky.

Etymology and related forms: The verb namáhat is derived from the noun námaha, meaning exertion or effort. It belongs to the imperfective aspect, describing ongoing or repeated action. Related forms include namáhám, namáháte, namáhají (present), namáhal/a/o (past), and the participle namáhaný (strained). The adjective namáhavý (burdensome, demanding) is closely related in meaning.

Notes on usage: Namáháte is common in everyday speech and writing when describing activities that require effort or cause wear, such as physical labor or prolonged visual work. When the action is directed at a body part, the sentence typically specifies the part being strained (e.g., svaly, oči, záda). The reflexive si form emphasizes the subject’s own exertion.

Overall, namáháte conveys a sense of active, potentially exhausting effort by the addressed party.