brát

Brát is a Czech verb with a broad range of meanings centered on the idea of taking or receiving something. Its core senses include to seize or obtain a physical object, to accept an idea or proposal, to undertake or assume something, and to consume or take a dose of medicine. The verb is imperfective, and its perfective counterpart is vzít. In the present tense the forms are: já beru, ty bereš, on bere, my bereme, vy berete, oni berou. The past tense takes the form bral (masculine), brala (feminine), brali (plural). There is also a habitual or iterative variant used in some contexts (brával, brála, brávali).

Brát is frequently used with a reflexive particle si to form brát si, meaning to take something for oneself or to adopt a habit. For example: Beru si léky ráno a večer (I take my medicines morning and evening). Bral jsem si dovolenou minulý měsíc (I took my vacation last month). Brát si ohled na někoho means to take someone into consideration, and brát to k srdci means to take something to heart. Neber to osobně is the common imperative form meaning “Don’t take it personally.”

Usage notes: brát emphasizes process, repetition, or general habit, whereas vzít is used for a single, completed action. The distinction is especially evident in phrases about taking medications, vacations, or responsibilities. Cognates of brát appear in other Slavic languages, such as Russian брать and Polish brać, reflecting a shared Proto-Slavic origin.