chýba
Chýba is a Slovak verb meaning to be missing or to lack. It describes the absence of something or someone and can refer to tangible things (time, water, money) as well as intangible ones (courage, information, company). In everyday use, the verb often appears with a dative pronoun to indicate the experiencer, most commonly in the construction chýba mi/ti mu …, which translates to “I miss …” or “I lack …” depending on context.
- chýbať expresses a state of absence rather than a deliberate action. It is used for both concrete
- The phrase chýba mi X emphasizes that the speaker experiences a lack of X; shifting the emphasis
- The verb can describe the absence of people (Chýba nám učiteľ) as well as objects or information
- Chýbať is distinct from the noun chyba, which means fault, error, or defect. Although etymologically related
- In Slovak, chýbať has cognate forms in other Slavic languages, each with its own grammar, but Slovenian,
- Chýba mi čas. (I lack time / I miss time.)
- V regióne chýba pitná voda. (The region lacks drinking water.)
- Chýba mu spoločnosť. (He misses company / He lacks companionship.)