Popíjame

Popíjame is the first-person plural present tense form of the Slovak verb popíjať, meaning to sip or drink slowly. The prefix po- attached to piť (to drink) gives the sense of taking small sips rather than guzzling. The form popíjame is used with the subject my, translating to “we sip” or “we are sipping.”

In Slovak, popíjať is imperfective, and its present tense forms include ja popíjam, ty popíjaš, on/ona popíja, my popíjame, vy popíjate, oni popíjajú. Popíjame specifically marks the 1st person plural. The verb can take direct objects, as in Popíjame čaj (We are sipping tea) or Popíjame víno pomaly (We are sipping wine slowly). The construction is common in everyday speech and can describe repeated or habitual action as well as a current moment.

Usage notes: popíjať describes drinking in small sips, often with beverages such as tea or wine, rather than consuming quickly. It is distinct from píť, which more generally means “to drink.” The form popíjame is primarily used in Slovak, though closely related Czech varieties have a cognate form (popíjíme) with the same basic meaning, reflecting shared West Slavic roots.

See also: popíjat (to sip, to drink slowly) and píť (to drink).