dovolit

Dovolit is a Czech verb meaning to permit, to allow, or to grant permission. It is a transitive verb that typically takes a recipient in the dative and the thing or action that is allowed in the accusative. The common construction is dovolit někomu něco (to allow someone something), as in Dovolím ti jít na večírek (I will allow you to go to the party).

The verb can also govern a subordinate clause or an infinitive to express that someone is permitted to do something. Examples include Dovolil mu, aby šel domů (he allowed him to go home) and Dovolil mu jít (he allowed him to go). The imperative Nedej si to? is not standard; more common is Nedovol si to (don’t you dare do that).

Aspects and forms: dovolit is the perfective form; its imperfective counterpart is dovovolovat. This distinction affects sense of completion versus ongoing or repeated permission. The reflexive form dovolit si is used to express permitting oneself to do something, often with a nuance of daring or presumptuousness (for example, Nedovol si to!). Past tense forms align with the perfective or imperfective aspect.

Usage notes: in many contexts, synonyms such as povolit, umožnit, or připustit may be preferred depending on nuance. Povolit emphasizes granting formal permission; umožnit stresses enabling or making possible; připustit focuses on admitting or acknowledging. Dovolit is common in formal, administrative, or legal language, as well as in everyday conversation when clearly stating allowance.

See also: povolit, umožnit, připustit, dovolování.