Psát

Psát is a Czech verb meaning to write. It is imperfective, used for ongoing or habitual writing, and it forms a distinct perfective counterpart napsat, which expresses the act as a completed event. In practice, psát often covers activities from composing a letter to typing a text or taking notes.

In the present tense the personal forms are: píšu, píšeš, píše, píšeme, píšete, píší. The imperfective aspect allows for continuous or repeated writing. The past tense is formed with the auxiliary být and the past participle short form, with gender and number: psal (masc.), psala (fem.), psalo (neut.). Plural forms are psali (masc.), psaly (fem.). The imperative is piš (singular), pišme (we), pište (you, plural or formal).

The future of psát in the imperfective is built with an auxiliary verb: budu psát, budeš psát, bude psát, budeme psát, budete psát, budou psát. The perfective counterpart napsat has a simple future: napíšu, napíšeš, napíše, napíšeme, napíšete, napíší.

Non-finite forms include the infinitive psát, the noun psaní (the act of writing), and the participle psaný (written). The verb forms the common Czech distinction between writing as an activity (psát) and writing as a completed result (napsat).

Usage notes: psát covers letters, notes, emails, or any act of producing text. The choice between psát and napsat depends on aspect and completion. Derived terms include písmo (script, handwriting) and píseň-related etymology, reflecting the historical link between writing and script.

Etymology: psát comes from Proto-Slavic roots related to writing; cognates appear in other Slavic languages, such as Russian pisat′ and Polish pisać.