Plávajú

Plávajú is a Slovak verb form derived from the infinitive plávať, meaning “to swim.” The word plávajú is the third‑person plural present tense, translating literally as “they swim” or “they are swimming.” It is used in both literal contexts—describing aquatic movement—and metaphorical expressions, such as in idiomatic phrases that convey ongoing action or progress.

In Slovak, verbs are conjugated according to person, number, tense, and aspect. Plávajú belongs to the indicative mood of the present tense, which expresses actions occurring at the time of speaking. The conjugation of the verb plávať is as follows: ja plávam (I swim), ty plávaš (you swim), on/ona/ono pláva (he/she/it swims), my plávame (we swim), vy plávate (you all swim), oni/ony plávajú (they swim). The aspect of plávať is imperfective, indicating a repeated or habitual action, rather than a single completed event.

The word is frequently encountered in everyday conversation, literature, and news reporting in Slovakia and other Slovak‑speaking regions. For example, “Dámy a páni, dnes už plávajú na bazéne.” (Ladies and gentlemen, they are already swimming in the pool.) The form plávajú can also appear in sports commentary, describing athletes’ movements in swimming competitions, or in environmental discussions about fish and aquatic life.

In comparative Slovak linguistics, the form plávajú is closely related to the Czech plavají, though phonological differences reflect distinct phonetic inventories: Slovak accent places the stress on the penultimate syllable, whereas Czech may vary. While both are third‑person plural forms of the verbs for “to swim,” the lexical items differ in spelling and pronunciation.

Plávajú as a standalone phrase is rarely used without context; it serves primarily as a grammatical element within declarative sentences. In media and public speaking, it is part of standard Slovak narrative, offering concise information about swimming activities or metaphorically, continuous motion or progress in various domains.