Slibovat

Slibovat is a Czech verb meaning to promise or pledge to do something. It denotes the act of giving a promise, expressing intention, commitment, or assurance to another person or about a future action. The form is imperfective, used for promises that may be repeated, ongoing, or not necessarily completed.

Etymology and related terms: the verb is built from the noun slib (promise) with the common Slavic verb-forming suffix -ovat. In Czech, related forms appear with different aspects: the perfective counterpart is typically slíbit (to promise once or to make a single commitment). In Slovak, the corresponding verb is sľubovať (imperfective) with a separate perfective sľúbiť.

Grammar and usage: slibovat describes ongoing or repeated promises rather than a single completed commitment. Present tense forms include já slibuji, ty slibuješ, on slibuje, my slibujeme, vy slibujete, oni slibují. Past tense forms are sliboval (masculine), slíbovala (feminine), slibovalo (neuter). Future is commonly formed periphrastically with budu slibovat (I will be promising) or by using the perfective counterpart slíbiti/slíbit for a single promise.

Typical usage patterns include slibovat něco (to promise something) and slibovat, že + clause (to promise that…). The verb can appear in formal or informal registers and often conveys a sense of commitment or assurances given to another party.

See also: slib (a promise), sľubovať (Slovak parallel).